Thursday, April 16, 2009

Obama exceeds Bush..CUE THE ACLU (RIGHT)

NYT - Officials Say U.S. Wiretaps Exceeded Law

Published: April 15, 2009


WASHINGTON -- The National Security Agency intercepted private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress last year, government officials said in recent interviews.

Several intelligence officials, as well as lawyers briefed about the matter, said the N.S.A. had been engaged in "overcollection" of domestic communications of Americans. They described the practice as significant and systemic, although one official said it was believed to have been unintentional.

The legal and operational problems surrounding the N.S.A.'s surveillance activities have come under scrutiny from the Obama administration, Congressional intelligence committees and a secret national security court, said the intelligence officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because N.S.A. activities are classified. Classified government briefings have been held in recent weeks in response to a brewing controversy that some officials worry could damage the credibility of legitimate intelligence-gathering efforts.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

QUOTE: ". . .the N.S.A. had been engaged in "overcollection" of domestic communications of Americans. . . N.S.A. activities are classified. Classified government briefings have been held in recent weeks in response to a brewing controversy that some officials worry could damage the credibility of legitimate intelligence-gathering efforts."

Nothing to do with the DHS document on "right wing extremists" . . .right?

Is RRW a suspicious web site? Ask Janet Napolitano.

revereridesagain said...

Hey Paco and MR --

I know they're right about at least one guy at the NSA. Think I ought to bait him again and see if he's still there?

Always On Watch said...

I rather imagine that the ACLU will give BHO a pass.