1. COMINT. This is what the government is doing and 'communications intelligence', or COMINT, is what I used to do while serving in the U.S.Navy. However, searching the ether for military comms to collect, translate and analyze is considerably different than what NSA is about these days.
The attack of 9-11-2001 changed how intelligence acquisition is conducted. Unfortunately the laws and means to conduct that spying has also endangered our Republic and its citizen's inalienable rights.
2. Republic v. Democracy was starkly described here and I have to tell you the description of our nation as a democracy has been bandied about since early in the 19th century.
I'm presently reading a biography of James K. Polk, POTUS no. eleven (11): A Country of Vast Designs. The biographer, Robert W. Merry, quotes many letters in which the word 'democracy' is used to describe the United States system of government. These letters were written in the 1830s and 1840s, mostly by Democrats. The other party then were the 'Whigs'.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone concerned with the situation of our relationship with Mexico. Polk was the president most responsible for acquiring parts of our present southwest and west coast for U.S. territories. Merry describes some of the incredibly stupid and criminal actions of Mexicans and the Mexican government during 1800 to 1840 that 'catalyzed' U.S. attitudes towards Mexico and Mexicans in general. It makes for good reading.
3. The government operating outside the law results in its citizens ignoring all laws.
This was how Karl finished his article. No more words need be added by me: it is evidently in progress now.
He told us lies.
The NSA and our intel community in general is pretty worthless as far as stopping terrorism goes. Even with all the warnings they had from the Russians on the Tsarnev brothers, they did not stop their terrorist act.
Glad to see Karl Denninger back. I thought he had quit.
..he spoke for 25 minutes and said NOTHING...he’s still going to SNOOP AND SPY on US CITIZENS....ILLEGALLY!
“We are not spying on the american people. Period.
“And besides, I told them to stop.
Trust me! Period!”
Now wait just a minute. Wasn’t this the patriot act that all the RAT congress critters had their panties in a wad over when Bush was president. But, then changed their tune about when Obama came into office. I seem to remember that is was his administration that expanded what we were capturing. Typical destroy and rescue by the RAT, then trumpeted by the press as a saving act.