Posted on 05/17/2006 6:53:42 PM PDT by kellynla
PRETTY MUCH everyone agrees that our human-spy capacity is missing in action. The chances that a CIA agent will be in the same cave as Osama bin Laden when the next 9/11 is being plotted are vanishingly small. The chances that our porous border security or transportation security will stop the next gang of Islamist cutthroats aren't much better. It's simply impossible to protect every inviting target in a continent-sized nation of almost 300 million people.
When it comes to the war on terror, the biggest advantage we have comes from our electronic wizardry. The National Security Agency has its share of problems, but it has long been the best in the business at intercepting and deciphering enemy communications. Until now. If civil liberties agitators, grandstanding politicians and self-righteous newspaper editorialists have their way, we will have to give up our most potent line of defense because of largely hypothetical concerns about privacy violations.
Assorted critics, taking a break from castigating the Bush administration for doing too little to protect the homeland, are now castigating it for doing too much. How dare the NSA receive without benefit of a court order telephone logs from AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon? Even though the records were anonymous and did not include the contents of any calls (Verizon and BellSouth have now denied offering any information at all), hyperventilating worrywarts fret that fascism has descended.
Qwest is supposed to be the hero of this drama for having, in USA Today's words, "the integrity to resist government pressure." That is not a compliment often paid to a company that has been accused of massive fraud and whose former chief executive is charged with 42 counts of insider trading.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
there needs to be a certain amount of debate, in my opinion, to prevent 'big brother' situations like are beginning in the UK. absolute unrestricted surveillance is not a good thing for any government
I thought that was the conclusion of the super duper extra special untouchable 911 Commission, as well. Where are all the "nonpartisan" commission members? Where are the "Jersey Girls?"
(cue the crickets).
(crickets...) uh, in jersey?
Okay people, wake up! There are bad people out there trying to do harm to our way of life. We better take every possible action, including eavesdropping on phone calls to ensure we are safe.
Okay lets say we don't do it. Next time the crazy people hit us then you all will be crying that the government did not do enough to protect us.
You can not have it both ways. Besides, if you are not doing anything wrong, what is the big deal?
Will you and Max feel the same way if Hillary or JF Kerry were president?
I'd like to see the Congress specifically authorize , and vet it with the Supreme Court, a temporary authorization for the Executive to monitor domestic communication data, specifically excluding content without a "probable cause" warrant, to expire and require renewal every 12 months.
LOL how do you know you are not spied upon more than we are. As I see it you have more government agencies than we do with a lot more powers, FBI, ATF, IRS. Look to your self first
And both our governments are using the same excuse, the WOT, WOD and illegal immigration as well as other assorted crime
your cameras are notorious. your DNA base i have read extensively about(they often get the wrong guy). keep that crap over there.
As opposed to coming over to America and setting it up there.
Stop being so paranoid we are on the same side as you, not invading you.
We have cameras you have Waco and ruby ridge, I would rather cameras than a team of uniformed men bursting in and shooting me up
And as for getting the wrong guy you Americans never make a mistake.
Maybe you should worry a little bit more about your country and less about mine
if you don't see it. enjoy. i said i don't want what's going on over there. it is my opinion.
And you are entitled to it, as for my opinion I am dam glad I live in Great Britain and not the United States.
So lets call it quits we both love our respective countries and would not live anywhere else
i meant no disrespect towards your country. i happen to feel the opposite.
As a proud English man who has served in Iraq, and still has friends out there and serving in Afghanistan, I got very p*****d off.
Cheers happy to debate with you in the future.
Tony
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