[Raycpa]

We all envision a terrorist phoning someone in the US on a regular basis. In today's age, I don't think its that simple.

I recall that we were told the terrorists once used pictures to transmit information. Buried in the photo's letter equivalents was messages.

To assume that the terrorists are not expecting us listening in is absurd. They will be taking all sorts of measures to avoid dedection. I would expect multiple partial messages, to multiple recipients using multiple codes. On the surface they will appear to be mundane communications. Combined with other communication, they may have meaning. I also envision that when real messages are sent, an increase of bogus messages will be sent also. It would be impossible to know initially what is what.

Asking FISA permission for any of these monitorings would likely yield a no answer. If it were done once, the administration would have a problem with precedents set.

[Cboldt]

I recall that we were told the terrorists once used pictures to transmit information.
Buried in the photo's letter equivalents was messages.

Steganography.

To assume that the terrorists are not expecting us listening in is absurd. They will be taking all sorts of measures to avoid dedection.

I agree.

Asking FISA permission for any of these monitorings would likely yield a no answer. If it were done once, the administration would have a problem with precedents set.

I don't think the warrants are drawn in a way that limits the ability to gather whatever useful data is there. The NSA issue is whether or not a reasonable expectation of privacy (impying a private communication) of a US citizen is violated by a warrantless intrusion that supposedly is also short on probable cause.