Author Topic: Lawmakers Call for Domestic Spying Probe  (Read 2116 times)

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Offline FWiedner

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« Reply #30 on: January 06, 2006, 03:35:34 AM »
Quote from: ironglow
All the rights in the world are worth nothing if you have no viable nation to practice them in ..
  No, those "winghnuts" couldn't run a proper nation...but they can destroy the economy and the cohesiveness of existing ones..

   As you can clearly see, our cohesiveness is starting to become threadbare.

   Folks that on 9/11/01 wanted to fight the terrorists, now would rather fight their own President.... and " cut and run " from the terrorists...


I disagree wholeheartedly with this particular outlook.

As has been discussed so many times, the first several articles of amendment to the U.S. Constitution simply acknowledge preexisting rights.

A nation is not necessary to either have or to enforce one's rights.  All that is required are two human beings meeting face to face who are intelligent enough to recognize where the lines are drawn.

Yes, cohesiveness is a problem, because the government that was created for the sole purpose of protecting the rights of The People who created it is now treating those people whom it serves as the enemy, and taking every opportunity to violate those same rights that it is supposed to be protecting for reasons of "national security", of course.  :roll:

More and more people are starting to recognize the fact that everytime the president or one of his lackeys opens his mouth, something smells strangely like bullsh_t.

Being vigilant to defend this nation from the actions and policies of a hostile government Neither equates to supporting nor cowering from terrorists.  It is a recognition that there is a "right" way and a "wrong" way that the campaign might be conducted, and an examination as to whether or not the current path is the "right" way.  I personally don't believe that it is.

 :?
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline PA-Joe

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« Reply #31 on: January 06, 2006, 03:57:53 AM »
If you are willing to give up one Consitutional Right then start with the Second Amendment and turn in your guns! It's all or none when it comes to the Constitution!

Offline ironglow

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« Reply #32 on: January 06, 2006, 04:02:34 AM »
Yeah FW;

    Your last post put the proof to my last post !

  We have terrorists trying to destroy the United States...and you it seems, are much more concerned in your last post with fighting our elected leaders than taking the fight to the enemy..

    Maybe you're right:

  Maybe we "don't need no stinking nation"...sure worked good in the Balkans or the Sudan and Somalia...

   FW; you're comical without trying to be...
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline FWiedner

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« Reply #33 on: January 06, 2006, 05:34:31 AM »
Quote from: ironglow
Yeah FW;

    Your last post put the proof to my last post !

  We have terrorists trying to destroy the United States...and you it seems, are much more concerned in your last post with fighting our elected leaders than taking the fight to the enemy..

    Maybe you're right:

  Maybe we "don't need no stinking nation"...sure worked good in the Balkans or the Sudan and Somalia...

   FW; you're comical without trying to be...



"Terrorists" don't want to destroy the United States.

They want the U.S. to get the hell out of their countries, and to mind  it's own business.  To keep it's "democracy" to itself.

As to "we don't need no stinkin' nation", that is your silly statement, not mine.

What I said was that a man doesn't need a nation to have rights, he just needs the next guy to understand what his rights are.

.
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline Dano Bofano

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« Reply #34 on: January 06, 2006, 05:50:00 AM »
Check out www.theamericanview.com. :idea:
Proud to be a true American.

Offline nomosendero

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« Reply #35 on: January 06, 2006, 02:50:02 PM »
I know he doesn't have a right to do me harm.
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline nomosendero

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« Reply #36 on: January 06, 2006, 04:50:27 PM »
I hope all of this is not from the New York Times because I just read the
entire post & I said I would never read their lying Socialist material again.

Yes, I believe that we should adhere ALWAYS to the Constitution, that's
why I have the Bill Of Rights posted right by this desk, but again in these wiretaps, do we know of a case where one end of the phone
line was not AlQuiada/ terrorist? Again, the Constitution does not protect them in War. I don't see any particulars from your posts that say so. If it turns out that innocent citizens were involved, I will be upset too,
but I am willing to wait for the real facts & please no Dan Blather or New York Times info or other sources that have ZERO credibility.

Look's like the FBI oversteped their bounds here. Thanks for that info. If so, let's get them. The FBI has been this way for a while, otherwise how did Clinton obtain those files, you know those files that libs never thought was a problem.

I made the example early in this thread that we could listen in on conversations from a Nazi to a traiter during WWII whether listening
in person, or phone, whichever, in War the President has the authority to
order this & this applies in any War, whether the enemy wears uniforms or
not. Maybe though, if enough stink is made of it, the program will cease
anyway. Then WHEN we are hit, the Libs can say, if only Bush would have
done something & everyone knows they would. There is no need for me
to get too worked up about this, the people who are doing the whining are
for the most part living in the areas that are most likely to get hit. I guess
I can handle that if they can.
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline ironglow

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« Reply #37 on: January 06, 2006, 07:43:24 PM »
Sure FW...and where is this non-nation Utopia you speak of where each person fully repects his neighbors rights...with no formalized national identity to keep a semblance of order ?
    Anarchy and nihilism doesn't work that way; survival of the strongest and all that rot !...LOL
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Leverdude

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« Reply #38 on: January 07, 2006, 04:36:35 AM »
Personally I dont care what the libs say, or anyone else for that matter. Words mean little compared with facts & actions. The facts seem to say that OUR Gov't has taken actions that violate the constitution.

Another point I think is relevent is the difference between this war & the previous ones that involved an identifiable enemy. While we can call this a war & congress & the President can call it a war I'm not sure thats actually an acurate description.

We were attacked by a forien nation in WW2 & reacted accordingly as America should. Iraq didn't attack us but we percieved a threat & took care of it. Terrorists attacked us, terrorists from Saudi Arabia, not Iraq so it stands to reason if we were to go to war on anyone it should be them. What we are involved in is a police action against a group of Muslim fanatics. They have zero chance of actually conquering anything. All they can do is cause death & disruption.
The only way they can win is if we let them. Even if they blew something up once a month they cant win & they know that. Terrorism by definition is an attempt to terrify a people into acting one way or the other.
I sure understand how alot of patriotic folks see any criticism of our Gov't as bad publicity but at some point people need to look around & ask what we're even fighting for if we're willing to let our freedoms go down the tubes.
 The way I see things letting the Gov't abuse or diminish our rights is a concession to terrorism.
If we're really in a war then we sure need to start acting like it. Kill the enemy & then search out more to kill. Not kill some & then make ourselves targets while we rebuild the enemies homeland at the same time we're so scared we feel the need to let the Gov spy on us.
We may have helped rebuild Germany & Japan but we waited till after the war was won, not the first battle.
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Offline Leverdude

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« Reply #39 on: January 07, 2006, 04:53:11 AM »
Quote from: ironglow
All the rights in the world are worth nothing if you have no viable nation to practice them in ..
  No, those "winghnuts" couldn't run a proper nation...but they can destroy the economy and the cohesiveness of existing ones..

   As you can clearly see, our cohesiveness is starting to become threadbare.

   Folks that on 9/11/01 wanted to fight the terrorists, now would rather fight their own President.... and " cut and run " from the terrorists...


We are no less cohesive now than before 9/11. Theres been a rediculous amount of party politics for as long as I can remember. Liberals love the Democrats regardless of what they do or say & Conservatives do the same for Republicans. Seems to me that a large portion of our citizenry thinks all they need to do is decide Republican or Democrat & deride the other party on any matter that comes up.

They cant destroy our economy or our cohesiveness unless we let them.
The division of opinions on this thread was caused by the Gov not the terrorists.
Everyone supports the police looking for & catching criminals right? Well if they forgot about our rights & busted in our doors or tapped our phones just because they could I bet alot of folks would be in an uproar. Doesn't mean they support criminals, just that they value their rights.

The folks that wanted to fight terrorism on 9/11 still do I imagine. They just want to do it within the confines of our law with no loss to our liberties, as anyone who places value on what America really is should.
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Offline ironglow

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« Reply #40 on: January 07, 2006, 01:31:17 PM »
Lever

      They can't destroy our cohesiveness ? They are not doing too bad so far ...

Just a week or two ago a political party chairman said "the war is unwinnable".

  In the same time frame recent candidate for president called our troops terrorists.
   That person is a despicable wretch ! My grandson, my young neighbor, my nephew and fellow church members..now serving in Iraq are NOT TERRORISTS !!
 
  Many politicians and people in the street made loud and long noises about a few dizzy troops ridiculing (not torturing) some suspected terrorists at Abu Gharib...
 
    Yet not a peep out of these same people about the wonderful, courageous and self-sacrificing job the other 159,993 military people of ours are doing there.
   ...Still these mental giants are whining about Abu Gharib, even after the wrongdoers have been tried and punished..DUH
   
   I can recall WW2 that you spoke of , Pres Roosevelt's opposition was what we call "the LOYAL opposition"...yes..both democrats and Republicans & the rest pulled together..there was no pot-shooting at the Prez. We all "pulled together", we had a genuine feeling and belief that "we  are Americans...you foreigners may at times, catch us fighting between ourselves..but if you try us, we close together, and you're dead meat"
   I see nothing like that now ! We know historically, that the President's opposition could have questioned the fact of a "Pearl Harbor", the abandoning of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, the loss of the Bataan peninsula & the subsequent torturte and death of thousands of American troops.
   I could go on with many mistakes, but at that time Americans were cohesive..they didn't divide into warring sections at the drop oF a hat.
   Back then, Americans learned history in school...that many mistakes were made in all the wars we ever fought...but we never turned to devour each other or formed circular firing squads..
 
   Guess most Americans had more common sense then.

  Even as late as the war in Bosnia, many of us felt that was Europe's problem but the C in C sent our guys to war. OK..we're at  war, we have to back the Comm in Chief..
    Many of us could have railed about Faulty Intelligence that caused our pilots to bomb the Chinese embassy and done our best to mess up the C in C's mission...but we didn't.

   Personally, I believe the crack in our national character started in the " sickening sixties", when the spoiled brats ( pumped by marxist profs.) of  weak parents, started asserting themselves...even though most of them had not yet earned an honest day's living, tasted hunger or danger.
 
   They are the ones today who are "leaders" that are truly only concerned with what's good for themselves..
    Hence; they are ready to destroy the country.. if they can just "have their spoiled way" for a short while..

   Sorry; we're not nearly as cohesive as once we were...and it seems certain senior political leaders are taking the lead in attempting to destroy that cohesiveness.
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Leverdude

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« Reply #41 on: January 07, 2006, 04:04:07 PM »
Iron Glow,

What I meant was they can't unless we let them. Your a bit older than me but all my adult life its been Rep against Dem in local, state & federal politics calling each other names & rarely actually putting their heads together for the sake of our country.
I think a big portion of this uncohesiveness this time around is theres no clear enemy. Terrorists are the enemy I know but who's a terrorist & who's not. WW2 was before my time & your much more versed in the times I'm sure than I can be. But the Nazi's were German & wore Gernman uniforms, the Japenese were from Japan & Musilinni was Italian. They were clearly the enemy & I imagine it was a simpler matter to get Americans on the same page.
I'm sure not against the war on terrorism. I think we're wasting valuable men, money & resources in Iraq but thats another matter.

When I see American willing to make concessions to terrorism I'm baffled & thats what I see this as.

This war may well be unwinnable. How many countries before us & even now are fighting terrorists to no avail?  The best we'll be likely able to do is keep them out of the US for the most part but it should be plain to see theres no clear way to win. We beat the Nazi's & Germany surrendered, We beat the Japs & Japan surrendered. Who needs to be beaten to gain a surrender in a war against an ideology? The more we kill the more there will be created.
Make no mistake, I'm not saying we should quit. I'm saying we need to look at this differently because its different. Theres no clear political goal. Theres no clear geographical goal. The only goal is self preservation on our part & failure of our society on theirs.
If throwing away our freedom, any part of it, is deemed necessary then they are winning & I find that unacceptable.
I'd rather we nuke them all than give up what makes us great.

While I dont agree with the idea its easy to see how we could be made to look like the bad guys. No one in his position should vocalize such a thing but its all relevent to who's side your on or what comes to pass in your life.
If you lived in Iraq & never bothered a soul & one day we blew up your block I reckon you'ld hate us & view us as no better than terrorists.
The fellow we're talking about is a no account lowlife traitor IMHO & really oughtta know better than to say what he does but I guess he cant hide his true colors.

That the people wont or cant pull together on this war is in large part the fault of Washington. They say we're at war with terror  yet we are babysitting Iraq. They say the attackers were all Saudis yet we attack Afganistan. They say Bin Ladens likely in Pakistan & we dont invade. They say the fighters are coming from Syria & Iran & we dont attack. If our President showed a clear unwavering forward moving advance against terrorism wherever it may be instead of focusing on the nations we know the world wont object to I think things might be different. If we are gonna do this & actually acomplish things it will get nasty. PC cant count, world opinion cant count the only thing that can count is US sovereinity. If the world wants to count they need to join the fray. Not a few token men or companies but armies, man for man they need to match the US otherwise they quite simply dont care enough to matter.
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Offline nomosendero

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« Reply #42 on: January 07, 2006, 04:54:59 PM »
Leverdude
You have a point about Pakistan, Syria & Iran, but The Libs & the media would squeel like a pig stuck under a fence if we did that! I think we would
have to be attacked again (God forbid) before we could do that.

And it is so true, to fight the terrorist full bore, PC & World Opinion would
have to go out the window. As far as other Countries helping us other than
England or Austrailia, I don't think it will ever happen, but they sure don't
mind our help.

Have a good rest of the weekend!   :-)
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline FWiedner

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« Reply #43 on: January 07, 2006, 07:01:39 PM »
Homeland Security opening private mail

Retired professor confused, angered when letter from abroad is opened

By Brock N. Meeks

WASHINGTON - In the 50 years that Grant Goodman has known and corresponded with a colleague in the Philippines he never had any reason to suspect that their friendship was anything but spectacularly ordinary.  

But now he believes that the relationship has somehow sparked the interest of the Department of Homeland Security and led the agency to place him under surveillance.

Last month Goodman, an 81-year-old retired University of Kansas history professor, received a letter from his friend in the Philippines that had been opened and resealed with a strip of dark green tape bearing the words “by Border Protection” and carrying the official Homeland Security seal.

“I had no idea (Homeland Security) would open personal letters,” Goodman told MSNBC.com in a phone interview. “That’s why I alerted the media. I thought it should be known publicly that this is going on,” he said.  Goodman originally showed the letter to his own local newspaper, the Kansas-based Lawrence Journal-World.

“I was shocked and there was a certain degree of disbelief in the beginning,” Goodman said when he noticed the letter had been tampered with, adding that he felt his privacy had been invaded. “I think I must be under some kind of surveillance.”

Goodman is no stranger to mail snooping; as an officer during World War II he was responsible for reading all outgoing mail of the men in his command and censoring any passages that might provide clues as to his unit’s position.  “But we didn’t do it as clumsily as they’ve done it, I can tell you that,” Goodman noted, with no small amount of irony in his voice. “Isn’t it funny that this doesn’t appear to be any kind of surreptitious effort here,” he said.

The letter comes from a retired Filipino history professor; Goodman declined to identify her.  And although the Philippines is on the U.S. government’s radar screen as a potential spawning ground for Muslim-related terrorism, Goodman said his friend is a devout Catholic and not given to supporting such causes.

A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn’t speak directly to Goodman’s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it’s deemed necessary.

“All mail originating outside the United States Customs territory that is to be delivered inside the U.S. Customs territory is subject to Customs examination,” says the CBP Web site.  That includes personal correspondence.  “All mail means ‘all mail,’” said John Mohan, a CBP spokesman, emphasizing the point.

“This process isn’t something we’re trying to hide,” Mohan said, noting the wording on the agency’s Web site.  “We’ve had this authority since before the Department of Homeland Security was created,” Mohan said.  

However, Mohan declined to outline what criteria are used to determine when a piece of personal correspondence should be opened, but said, “obviously it’s a security-related criteria.”

Mohan also declined to say how often or in what volume CBP might be opening mail.  “All I can really say is that Customs and Border Protection does undertake [opening mail] when it is determined to be necessary,” he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10740935/

.
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline nomosendero

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« Reply #44 on: January 08, 2006, 08:33:35 AM »
That looks like a problem to me & more credible that what I have heard
before. Please keep us posted.
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline ironglow

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« Reply #45 on: January 09, 2006, 07:04:08 AM »
Could be fact ...could be fallacy...have to see how it shakes out..

  Don't know if we will ever find out ..one major news figure (Dan Blather) had to resign after he took a "made-up" story for fact !
   If the major news media had remained honest and credible...that would have helped. ..But since the genie is out of the bottle...Whom can we trust ?
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline nomosendero

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« Reply #46 on: January 09, 2006, 05:07:41 PM »
ironglow
Yes, I should have qualified that with a big if. It could be true or this guy
could be just a average Lib. Bush hater. Like you said, we will see later.
Since he contacted MSNBC, you can bet that if it is true he will be a guest
on the Chris Matthews or similar Liberal show with the letter for all to see.
Let's see.
You will not make peace with the Bluecoats, you are free to go.

Offline FWiedner

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« Reply #47 on: January 11, 2006, 04:21:30 AM »
Justice Watchdog: No Probe of NSA Eavesdropping

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's independent watchdog says it does not have jurisdiction to open an investigation into the legality of the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program.

Also Tuesday, the Pentagon referred a Democratic request for an internal review on the subject to the National Security Agency's inspector general.

In a three-paragraph letter, Justice's Inspector General Glenn Fine forwarded the request to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which reviews allegations of misconduct involving employees' actions when providing legal advice.

President Bush's decision to authorize the NSA to monitor -- without warrants -- people inside the United States has sparked a flurry of questions about the program's legal justification.

Bush and his top aides say the activities of the nation's largest spy agency were narrowly targeted to intercept calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to Al Qaeda.

But a growing chorus of legal experts from both parties are raising doubts about Bush's authority to order such monitoring on U.S. soil and questioning whether the White House should have sought changes in law.

Congress also plans to investigate. As part of its work, the House and Senate intelligence committees will soon hear from former NSA officer Russell T. Tice. The whistleblower told lawmakers in Dec. 16 letter that he had information about "probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts" involving the NSA director, the defense secretary and other officials as part of highly classified government operations.

ABC News reported Tuesday night that Tice claims to be one of the dozen sources who spoke to The New York Times about monitoring programs.

Over three dozen House Democrats -- led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees -- have also requested separate investigations by Justice's inspector general, the Pentagon's inspector general and Congress' watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office.

A senior Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public, said the Pentagon's watchdog will not do a review because the NSA's inspector general is "actively reviewing aspects of that program."

Lofgren said she thought the Pentagon's watchdog was best suited for the work.

She and a number of her colleagues also wrote to Fine on Monday, saying his decision not to open an inquiry was wrong. Under the Patriot Act, the Democrats said, his office is designated as the "one entity responsible for the review of information and complaints regarding civil rights and civil liberties violations" by Justice officials.

Deputy Inspector General Paul Martin said neither the Patriot Act nor the law that governs all inspectors general gives Fine jurisdiction to look into the attorney general's actions concerning the electronic surveillance program. Issues dealing with that legal authority are "jurisdiction of the department's Office of Professional Responsibility," Martin said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181259,00.html

.

FW Comment:

Since it's the Justice department's job to look into reports of civil rights violations, and the Justice Department is controlled by the White House, the subject had been deemed unworthy of further investigation.

How does that make you feel about the Administration's regard for your civil rights?

 :shock:
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline FWiedner

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« Reply #48 on: January 11, 2006, 04:29:17 AM »
Justice Watchdog: No Probe of NSA Eavesdropping

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's independent watchdog says it does not have jurisdiction to open an investigation into the legality of the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program.

Also Tuesday, the Pentagon referred a Democratic request for an internal review on the subject to the National Security Agency's inspector general.

In a three-paragraph letter, Justice's Inspector General Glenn Fine forwarded the request to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which reviews allegations of misconduct involving employees' actions when providing legal advice.

President Bush's decision to authorize the NSA to monitor -- without warrants -- people inside the United States has sparked a flurry of questions about the program's legal justification.

Bush and his top aides say the activities of the nation's largest spy agency were narrowly targeted to intercept calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to Al Qaeda.

But a growing chorus of legal experts from both parties are raising doubts about Bush's authority to order such monitoring on U.S. soil and questioning whether the White House should have sought changes in law.

Congress also plans to investigate. As part of its work, the House and Senate intelligence committees will soon hear from former NSA officer Russell T. Tice. The whistleblower told lawmakers in Dec. 16 letter that he had information about "probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts" involving the NSA director, the defense secretary and other officials as part of highly classified government operations.

ABC News reported Tuesday night that Tice claims to be one of the dozen sources who spoke to The New York Times about monitoring programs.

Over three dozen House Democrats -- led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees -- have also requested separate investigations by Justice's inspector general, the Pentagon's inspector general and Congress' watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office.

A senior Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public, said the Pentagon's watchdog will not do a review because the NSA's inspector general is "actively reviewing aspects of that program."

Lofgren said she thought the Pentagon's watchdog was best suited for the work.

She and a number of her colleagues also wrote to Fine on Monday, saying his decision not to open an inquiry was wrong. Under the Patriot Act, the Democrats said, his office is designated as the "one entity responsible for the review of information and complaints regarding civil rights and civil liberties violations" by Justice officials.

Deputy Inspector General Paul Martin said neither the Patriot Act nor the law that governs all inspectors general gives Fine jurisdiction to look into the attorney general's actions concerning the electronic surveillance program. Issues dealing with that legal authority are "jurisdiction of the department's Office of Professional Responsibility," Martin said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181259,00.html

.

FW Comment:

Since it's the Justice department's job to look into reports of civil rights violations, and the Justice Department is controlled by the White House, the subject had been deemed unworthy of further investigation.

How does that make you feel about the Administration's regard for your civil rights?

 :shock:
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline FWiedner

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Lawmakers Call for Domestic Spying Probe
« Reply #49 on: January 11, 2006, 04:36:18 AM »
Justice Watchdog: No Probe of NSA Eavesdropping

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's independent watchdog says it does not have jurisdiction to open an investigation into the legality of the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program.

Also Tuesday, the Pentagon referred a Democratic request for an internal review on the subject to the National Security Agency's inspector general.

In a three-paragraph letter, Justice's Inspector General Glenn Fine forwarded the request to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility, which reviews allegations of misconduct involving employees' actions when providing legal advice.

President Bush's decision to authorize the NSA to monitor -- without warrants -- people inside the United States has sparked a flurry of questions about the program's legal justification.

Bush and his top aides say the activities of the nation's largest spy agency were narrowly targeted to intercept calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to Al Qaeda.

But a growing chorus of legal experts from both parties are raising doubts about Bush's authority to order such monitoring on U.S. soil and questioning whether the White House should have sought changes in law.

Congress also plans to investigate. As part of its work, the House and Senate intelligence committees will soon hear from former NSA officer Russell T. Tice. The whistleblower told lawmakers in Dec. 16 letter that he had information about "probable unlawful and unconstitutional acts" involving the NSA director, the defense secretary and other officials as part of highly classified government operations.

ABC News reported Tuesday night that Tice claims to be one of the dozen sources who spoke to The New York Times about monitoring programs.

Over three dozen House Democrats -- led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees -- have also requested separate investigations by Justice's inspector general, the Pentagon's inspector general and Congress' watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office.

A senior Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public, said the Pentagon's watchdog will not do a review because the NSA's inspector general is "actively reviewing aspects of that program."

Lofgren said she thought the Pentagon's watchdog was best suited for the work.

She and a number of her colleagues also wrote to Fine on Monday, saying his decision not to open an inquiry was wrong. Under the Patriot Act, the Democrats said, his office is designated as the "one entity responsible for the review of information and complaints regarding civil rights and civil liberties violations" by Justice officials.

Deputy Inspector General Paul Martin said neither the Patriot Act nor the law that governs all inspectors general gives Fine jurisdiction to look into the attorney general's actions concerning the electronic surveillance program. Issues dealing with that legal authority are "jurisdiction of the department's Office of Professional Responsibility," Martin said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181259,00.html

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FW Comment:

Since it's the Justice department's job to look into reports of civil rights violations, and the Justice Department is controlled by the White House, the subject had been deemed unworthy of further investigation.

How does that make you feel about the Administration's regard for your civil rights?

 :shock:
They may talk of a "New Order" in the  world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and worst tyranny.   No liberty, no religion, no hope.   It is an unholy alliance of power and pelf to dominate and to enslave the human race.

Offline Leverdude

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Lawmakers Call for Domestic Spying Probe
« Reply #50 on: January 11, 2006, 11:36:10 AM »
Got the hiccups Fweid?  :grin:
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