Dangerous liar

In his increasingly futile attempts to justify a patently illegal domestic spying program, Bush again shows why America needs to be very afraid that a lying and stupid man occupies the White House. The president said that he is conscious of people's civil liberties. “This is a limited program designed to prevent attacks on the United States of America and, I repeat, limited....I think most Americans understand the need to find out what the enemy's thinking...The NSA program is one that listens to a few numbers.”

If it's a limited program, then why couldn't he go to the FISA court and legally obtain the warrants needed for surveillance? If it's limited, there should no concern about “paperwork” or the time required to get approval. The government has emergency capability that allows immediate monitoring anyways – where's the problem? Who sets the boundaries for this “limited” program – what is the definition of “limited” that is being followed?

If it's a limited program, then why wouldn't Acting Attorney General James Comey extend authorization for the program in March, 2004 when Attorney General John Ashcroft was in the hospital for surgery? If it's a limited program, why did Attorney General Ashcroft refuse to extend it after being appealed to by Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Alberto Gonzales while he was in his hospital bed?

If it's a limited program, why was a compromise crafted sometime in the summer of 2004, where the Department of Justice and the NSA refined a checklist to be followed in deciding whether "probable cause" existed to start monitoring someone's conversations? “Someone's” conversations? What does that mean? It means US citizens - not one of the few calls made from outside the US as Bush claims.

If it's a limited program and it just listens to a few numbers, why has the NSA information been given to other government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, DIA, and Homeland Security for further analysis?

All of these questions lay bare the truth – it is not a limited program. The Bushies are using high technology to data mine all e-mails, all phone calls, all forms of electronic communication. While protesting America should not get excited, “we're doing this to protect you,” these neocon fanatics keep proving they cannot be trusted.

How long will it be before “them” becomes “us?” Think they couldn't be listening to people who oppose them politically? Think they couldn't be listening to reporters? Think they couldn't be listening to war protesters and peace activists? Think they couldn't be listening to environmentalists? Think they couldn't be listening to human rights advocates? Think they couldn't be listening to you?

Think again.

Posted on The Human Stain