Posted on 12/15/2005 8:35:28 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States — without getting search warrants — following the Sept. 11 attacks, the New York Times reports.
The presidential order, which Bush signed in 2002, has allowed the agency to monitor the international phone calls and international e-mails of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of people inside the United States, according to a story posted Thursday on the Times' Web site.
Before the new program began, the NSA typically limited its domestic surveillance to foreign embassies and missions and obtained court orders to do so. Under the post-Sept. 11 program, the NSA has eavesdropped, without warrants, on as many 500 people inside the United States at any given time. Overseas, 5,000 to 7,000 people suspected of terrorist ties are monitored at one time.
The Times said reporters interviewed nearly a dozen current and former administration officials about the program and granted them anonymity because of the classified nature of the program.
Government officials credited the new program with uncovering several terrorist plots, including one by Iyman Faris, an Ohio trucker who pleaded guilty in 2003 to supporting al-Qaida by planning to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge, the report said.
But some NSA officials were so concerned about the legality of the program that they refused to participate, the Times said. Questions about the legality of the program led the administration to temporarily suspend it last year and impose new restrictions.
Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group's initial reaction to the disclosure was "shock that the administration has gone so far in violating American civil liberties to the extent where it seems to be a violation of federal law."
Asked about the administration's contention that the eavesdropping has disrupted terrorist attacks, Fredrickson said the ACLU couldn't comment until it seems some evidence. "They've veiled these powers in secrecy so there's no way for Congress or any independent organizations to exercise any oversight."
The Bush administration had briefed congressional leaders about the program and notified the judge in charge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the secret Washington court that handles national security issues.
Aides to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte and West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, declined to comment Thursday night.
The Times said it delayed publication of the report for a year because the White House said it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. The Times said it omitted information from the story that administration officials argued could be useful to terrorists.
I find the following remark a bit ironic being as the ACLU is as guilty as anyone of violating the Constitution rights of more citizens than anyone , imo, all in the name of "protecting" a select few, including sworn enemies of the nation, that seek to destroy this nation by any means available.
Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington legislative office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group's initial reaction to the disclosure was "shock that the administration has gone so far in violating American civil liberties to the extent where it seems to be a violation of federal law."
I thought the NSA was always able to run surveylance in the U.S. It was the CIA that was chartered to only surveil overseas. At least what I've always heard.
We really don't know what the NSA was up to, so to say that Bush allowed something new in nonsense. No one knows
Yeah, just more hypocrisy from the anti-American left.
How many attacks were thwarted after 9/11 as a result of this act?
It doesn't matter to the pantywaists of FReedom who would rather we lose in Iraq and elsewhere and openly seek to disrupt and cause distress in any manner to support that or any cause that they think reflects badly on the US..
These liberals are truly despicable. Selling us out in a time of war. Read the article where it says this stopped a scumbag from blowing up the Brooklyn Bridge! And of course after waiting a year, this is timed to distract from the Iraq vote.
More classified info leaked to the world..
With you 100% -- I would rather have surveillance in the US and not attacks. Living in Norman, I would welcome surveillance at a certain mosque; however, I have a hunch it is no longer off the radar and ignored after the lone, suicide bomber with the roommate with tickets for Pakistan the next day! :)
Today dems, specifically Dusty Harry and Kerry, essentially ignored the Iraqi election and its smooth operation today and went after the Bush admin on other issues like nothing was happening there to pay any attention too.
Despicable. Yes.
They will pay a price for it, a very severe price and have no one but themselves to blame.
"President Bush authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States —without getting search warrants — following the Sept. 11 attacks, the New York Times reports."
Thanks heavens Bush did! Emergency National Security!
Can we count on the NY Times to advertise to the world the U.S. War on Terror strategies?
Liberals would rather be deaf, blind and dumb in the war we are fighting for our lives.
They deserve to buy the farm.
Heck, I'd pay 'em a fee if they let me know how much my wifey calls QVC and the other shopping channels. ;-)
On second thought. lol
Nope. NSA can't either. They got into a lot of trouble some time ago doing exactly that.
Personally, I think GWB was correct in letting them have at these bastards.
Probably better the NSa than the CIA doing this stuff. Can you just imagine the leaks out Langley?
I can't wait for someone at the NSA to actually testify to this.
Hope they listened in on some of the TRAITORS' in Congress phone conversations
Neither can I.
Still, it could happen:
But some NSA officials were so concerned about the legality of the program that they refused to participate, the Times said.In earlier times, this type of action was called "losing the paper."
So basically you'd rather have security than freedom.
I didn't think it was possible but I know one guy who retired from the NSA that is probably to the left of Mickey Moore.
What laws were supposedly broken? I see they conveniently left that out.
It's been said the Constitution is not a suicide pact. I want my daughter to live, and yes in wartime the government has to do stuff like this, and always has.
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