[Looking for Diogenes]

According to Colgate's memo, the secure phones were simply too dangerous for American citizens.

If American citizens could have used them, so could Al Qaeda terrorists. Do we want to give up the ability to wiretap well-funded criminal and terror groups when necessary?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Just curious why the Leftists were so enamored with the "opportunities" at the time yet condemned our administration for not fully informing terrorists of Constitutional rights? Why does that seem hypocritical?

[marktwain]

The Al Queda terrorists are using encryption now. This policy only made sure that American Citizens would have no privacy from government agents.

An excellent analogy that you might find interesting is located at: www.geektimes.com/michael/culture/humor/items/Privacy-related/TransparentTreesAnalogy.html

[thepitts]

If gore wanted to do this in 93 how far can the bush admin. be from doing it now?

[Tench_Coxe]

"If American citizens could have used them, so could Al Qaeda terrorists. Do we want to give up the ability to wiretap well-funded criminal and terror groups when necessary?"

I am certain that a similar argument was used to justify the Quartering Act, in which British soldiers were housed in colonist's homes, to cut down on 'illegal' smuggling of tea and other products that did not bear a stamp that the tax was paid.