MORTON H. HALPERIN: Listening to Compromise

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/opinion/08halperin.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Listening to Compromise


By MORTON H. HALPERIN
Published: July 8, 2008

Washington

TWO years ago, I stated my belief that the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program and disregard for domestic and international law poses a direct challenge to our constitutional order, and “constitutes a far greater threat than the lawlessness of Richard Nixon.”

That was not a casual comparison. When I was on the staff of the National Security Council, my home phone was tapped by the Nixon administration — without a warrant — beginning in 1969. The wiretap stayed on for 21 months. The reason? My boss, Henry Kissinger, and the director of the F.B.I., J. Edgar Hoover, believed that I might have leaked information to this newspaper. Even after I left government, and went to work on Edmund Muskie’s presidential campaign, the F.B.I. continued to listen in and made periodic reports to the president.

snip//

The compromise legislation that will come to the Senate floor this week is not the legislation that I would have liked to see, but I disagree with those who suggest that senators are giving in by backing this bill.

The fact is that the alternative to Congress passing this bill is Congress enacting far worse legislation that the Senate had already passed by a filibuster-proof margin, and which a majority of House members were on record as supporting.

What’s more, this bill provides important safeguards for civil liberties. It includes effective mechanisms for oversight of the new surveillance authorities by the FISA court, the House and Senate Intelligence Committees and now the Judiciary Committees. It mandates reports by inspectors general of the Justice Department, the Pentagon and intelligence agencies that will provide the committees with the information they need to conduct this oversight. (The reports by the inspectors general will also provide accountability for the potential unlawful misconduct that occurred during the Bush administration.) Finally, the bill for the first time requires FISA court warrants for surveillance of Americans overseas.

As someone whose civil liberties were violated by the government, I understand this legislation isn’t perfect. But I also believe — and here I am speaking only for myself — that it represents our best chance to protect both our national security and our civil liberties. For that reason, it has my personal support.

[Captain Hilts]

1. They should not feel compelled to pass something this important in Bush's 9th inning.

It's that simple.

The Republican Congress gave him Carte Blanche for six years. He abused it.

Don't let him have any significant legislation from here on out.

[babylonsister]

2. I agree with you. Don't pass anything else til the little little man is gone.

Great idea. Maybe someone will think of that. Again. :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

3. The organization he's with (Halperin) is opposed to the legislation.

[babylonsister]

5. He also said this was his personal opinion:

"As someone whose civil liberties were violated by the government, I understand this legislation isn’t perfect. But I also believe — and here I am speaking only for myself — that it represents our best chance to protect both our national security and our civil liberties. For that reason, it has my personal support."

:shrug:

[madfloridian]

4. His group, Open Society Policy Center, opposes the bill.

It is one of 27 groups in the coalition to oppose it.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2333