New rule on spying goes to Congress

[deminks]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/custom/attack/bal-te.terror18sep18001517,0,2472053.story?track=rss

WASHINGTON // Under the pressure of a hotly contested national election, Congress is on the verge of approving the most sweeping changes to government spying powers in a generation.

Five years after President Bush launched the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program, Congress is expected to take up a measure this week that would strengthen the president's authority to conduct domestic espionage. Bush increased the pressure on lawmakers Friday, saying that the measure, designed to remove a legal cloud over the NSA program, is "essential to winning the war on terror."

Like two other major post-Sept. 11 changes -- the creation of a huge Department of Homeland Security and a new national spymaster's office -- the administration initially fought the legislation involving the NSA program.

Critics in both parties say the earlier reforms have not lived up to their promise and, in some cases, created as many problems as they solved. They warn that the NSA legislation might also fail to resolve questions surrounding that program and could have the effect of expanding the president's spying powers beyond what the bill's sponsors have acknowledged.

It could also leave intelligence officers in the dark about when they can and can't spy inside the country because it eliminates the old rules without creating new ones, critics say.

[ShortnFiery]

1. This is just WRONG.

I thought that not filibustering Alito was giving our liberties away, but they won't need The Supreme Court to rubber stamp their War Crimes IF they can legally authorize THEMSELVES (The Executive Branch) to spy upon, and later to hold anyone they deem "a terrorist" in secret prisons with no rights what so ever. :scared: If they can listen-in on any of us - they WILL listen in on their political enemies and those groups who protest their crimes.

We, as Americans, stand for fairness, even for an enemy who is not fair. That is why, up until recently, the world looked kindly upon us as "A model Democracy" that values Individual Liberties.

If we allow this, in essence we are pissing on our beloved American Forefathers' graves, especially those of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.

Remember, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"

We must be non-violent and LEGAL but this ONE is truly for the sustenance of our Democratic Republic.

If the Executive Branch can spy on, arrest, hide and torture ALL DISSENTERS (you know, they'll deem Greenpeace, et.al. "Terrorist" organizations), we have lost our liberties, perhaps forever because Dear Leader will have Absolute Power. :cry: :(

[rodeodance]

2. The ghost of McCarthy has matericalized in the form of the WH/Congress.

[Marie26]

3. Why are they still kow-towing to him?

Bush's approval ratings are in the 30's, he's poison to Republican campaigns, but Congress still rolls over for him on every program. I don't get it.

[pushycat]

4. Maybe they've all been spied upon and have things to hide?

I believe the NSA program is all about control of all of us, not just those calling from 'overseas'. The repubs act like they are all being blackmailed - they don't vote as much as rubber stamp everything the WH wants. We really need to rid our government of these criminals, and our kids need to see an election free of fraud too.

[Marie26]

5. This bill is incredible

The Republicans are acting like they're being blackmailed, & maybe they are. Or maybe they're so used to rubber-stamping Bush's programs that it's hard to grow a backbone now. We do need new Congressmen to stand up to Bush & stop this steady slide towards dictatorship. You're right about the reach of this bill - it apparantly allows domestic wiretaps of US citizens, as well.

"One provision would appear to allow phone calls and e-mails that target a person who is outside the United States to be monitored by the government without a warrant, even if that person is an American citizen and is calling a fellow citizen in the United States, said Suzanne Spaulding, who has worked for congressional Republicans and Democrats on intelligence issues. Those conversations could be monitored regardless of whether they are about terrorism, she said.

Another change under the new measure would broaden the powers of the attorney general, who can only order spying without a warrant on embassies or other foreign outposts in the United States. It would allow him to authorize warrantless spying for up to a year, Spaulding said, on any American or any foreigner in the United States suspected of being a terrorist."