Posted on 12/16/2005 6:31:55 PM PST by Jay777
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed shock about revelations reported in the New York Times that President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on conversations of Americans and others in the United States. According to the report, this spying occurred without any court order and was focused on telephone and e-mail communications of "hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people inside the United States" with persons abroad. Electronic surveillance law generally prohibits non-consensual eavesdropping in the U.S. without a court order based on probable cause.
The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:
"Eavesdropping on conversations of U.S citizens and others in the United States without a court order and without complying with the procedures of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is both illegal and unconstitutional. The administration is claiming extraordinary presidential powers at the expense of civil liberties and is putting the president above the law. Congress must investigate this report thoroughly. We also call upon Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a special prosecutor to independently investigate whether crimes have been committed.
(Excerpt) Read more at aclu.org ...
let's see if the administration has learned anything from the Fitzgerald fiasco - or if they just go into the usual "defense" mode on this nonsense.
that doesn't mean DOJ can't appoint an independent counsel.
Can the New York Times be prosecuted for sedition?...
(they're leaking classified info during wartime)
It's very bad, when the nation's "most influential" newspaper, is actively giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
How 'bout a special porsecuter to look into ACLU subversive and Un-American activities?
The ACLU is an anti-American subversive pro-crime organization that hates religion.
That's true. It would be unprecedented that the DoJ would appoint a special prosecutor to review a finding that the DoJ issued. It would set a very bad precedent.
I understand your sentiment regarding the New York Times however you must concede that the Bush Administration has done absolutely NOTHING to stop the continueous weekly (sometimes daily) leaks coming out of the CIA and the Pentagon since before the Iraqi War. I think Bush should pay attention to the leakers within the government and respond to their illegal acts appropriately rather than shut down the free press. Furthermore, the Bush admisnistration's PR Department is becoming a nightmare, if you ask me. The White House spokeperson is a clown and should have stepped down long ago.
The New York Times lost its credibility with the American People long ago. But leakers in government... they are the real law breakers.
http://jednet207.tripod.com/PoliticalLinks.html
I knew the Dims would be all over this....like flies on....oh well, you know!
I said the same thing.
ACLU = Alqueda Civil Liberties Union
I'm all for it. At least Bush didn't throw Japanese-Americans into concentration camps, like Roosevelt, or throw political opponents in jail, like Lincoln.
What happened? Sure, we got attacked by a bunch of terrorists but do we have to help them now? As I was led to believe, the objective of 'Atta and Co.' was to destroy our way of life. With the Patriot Act, the FEMA fiasco and a continual assault on the American Way by the media it doesn't seem like all that good an idea to allow a President--- ANY President to break the laws so many have died to uphold. While some might compare such actions to some sort of 'slippery slope,' it seems to me to be more like jumping into a black hole.
If he has broken the law, he needs to answer for it, just like you or I would.
They are shocked ... shocked I tell you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.