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FISA Court: An NSA email program that went on for years found unconstitutional
American Thinker ^ | Aug 22, 2013 | Rick Moran

Posted on 08/22/2013 6:47:26 AM PDT by EXCH54FE

What's the NSA to say when they illegally and unconstitutionally snarf up emails they have no business looking at?

Ooops:

For several years, the National Security Agency unlawfully gathered tens of thousands of e-mails and other electronic communications between Americans as part of a now-revised collection method, according to a 2011 secret court opinion.

The redacted 85-page opinion, which was declassified by U.S. intelligence officials on Wednesday, states that, based on NSA estimates, the spy agency may have been collecting as many as 56,000 "wholly domestic" communications each year.

"For the first time, the government has now advised the court that the volume and nature of the information it has been collecting is fundamentally different from what the court had been led to believe," John D. Bates, then the surveillance court's chief judge, wrote in his Oct. 3, 2011, opinion.

The court, which meets in secret, oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law authorizing such surveillance in the United States. It has been criticized by some as a "rubber stamp" for the government, but the opinion makes clear the court does not see itself that way.

"The court is troubled that the government's revelations regarding NSA's acquisition of Internet transactions mark the third instance in less than three years in which the government has disclosed a substantial misrepresentation regarding the scope of a major collection program," Bates wrote in a scathing footnote.

Please note the legal language for "liars."

I will ask the question again; if there is oversight, who has been disciplined for this outrageous breach of American liberties? Who's been fired? Who's been suspended? Did anyone even get a sternly worded letter placed in their permanent file?

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fisa; fisacourt; nsa; nsaleaks; nsascandal; unconstitutional
The simple reason the NSA pulls this crap is that they can get away with it. Period. There are no consequenecs to violating the privacy of American citizens. Congress either isn't being told or doesn't care.
1 posted on 08/22/2013 6:47:26 AM PDT by EXCH54FE
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To: EXCH54FE

http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/foia/submit_foia_request/foia_request_form.shtml

The NSA has an web page for FOIA submissions - linked above.

It is really easy.


Perhaps we could organize a one million FOIA march on the NSA?


2 posted on 08/22/2013 6:50:22 AM PDT by Triple (Socialism denies people the right to the fruits of their labor, and is as abhorrent as slavery)
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To: EXCH54FE

This would seem to be a great opportunity to siphon off a few thinking democrats to join the cause against large government.

This kind of government overreach could not have happened without the consent of dems and the GOP. Both are big government promoters with the only distinction being the rate at which each takes us through socialism and towards Marxist assimilation.

The approach needs to be, hold your tongue and don’t try to blame this all on Obama or democrats but just pound home the issue of ANYTHING big becomes evil.

There are no exceptions to this rule. Religion, unions, gangs, governments, business ALL suffer the human fault so adroitly addressed by Lord Acton when he stated: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

We will not win any converts if we poke and prod them like they do to us HOWEVER, IMO this is an issue we can win in the arena of ideas and use that win to put OUR government back within its mandated Constitutional limits.


3 posted on 08/22/2013 7:03:03 AM PDT by Wurlitzer (Nothing says "ignorance" like Islam! 969)
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To: Triple
Perhaps we could organize a one million FOIA march on the NSA?

I think a one-hundred noose march would be more effective…

4 posted on 08/22/2013 7:19:05 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: EXCH54FE

For years before this we just asked the Brits to spy on our people. In exchange we’d spy on theirs and just trade data.

That was before Obama cheesed them off though.


5 posted on 08/22/2013 7:20:35 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: EXCH54FE

where in the constitution does it say that secret courts are legal? Oh, that’s right, what constitution.


6 posted on 08/22/2013 7:34:43 AM PDT by drypowder
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To: EXCH54FE

Obama will treat this decision the same as any decision (or law) he doesn’t like; just ignore it.

The laws only apply to us, free speech applies only to them.


7 posted on 08/22/2013 7:46:38 AM PDT by logic101.net (How many more children must die on the altar of "gun free zones"?)
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To: drypowder
That’s the way it is under king O.

Note: “The contents of this email have been read by the National Security Agency. There is no expectation of privacy.”

8 posted on 08/22/2013 7:50:55 AM PDT by EXCH54FE (Hurricane 416,Feisty Old Vet !!)
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To: EXCH54FE

WHEN WILL ANYONE ADDRESS THE 600 POUND GORILLA IN THE ROOM?

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THE NSA PULLED INFORMATION ON, WHO DID THEY GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO AND WHO REQUESTED IT?

That’s the impeachment money shot.


9 posted on 08/22/2013 8:15:39 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Make today a great day. Insult a liberal.)
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To: OneWingedShark; Jim Robinson

Ok - you organize the noose march.

Imagine to power of FR, and a freedom/small government cause like an out of control NSA.

All anyone has to do is follow the link and request information on NSA’s ‘spying on Americans’ capability.

report back that it has been sent...

It is a virtual tea party in tune with the times.

If FR got behind something like this it would really take off.


10 posted on 08/22/2013 1:38:03 PM PDT by Triple (Socialism denies people the right to the fruits of their labor, and is as abhorrent as slavery)
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