Hayden Nomination Raises Serious Civil Liberties Concerns (ACLU)

[Up2Late]

(This is an official Press Release from the ACLU, as you might have guessed they are opposed to Hayden.)

Hayden Nomination Raises Serious Civil Liberties Concerns

(5/8/2006)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: [email protected]

Senate Must Ask Tough Questions of Controversial Nominee

WASHINGTON -- Following the announcement that President Bush will nominate General Michael V. Hayden to be the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union urged the Senate to vigorously question the nominee on his involvement with the warrantless program to spy on Americans. Hayden was the director of the National Security Agency when this illegal program was launched in 2001 and has been one the chief defenders of these actions in violation of the Fourth Amendment and the Foriegn Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The ACLU is a non-partisan organization, and takes no official position on the nomination of any cabinet-level appointees.

The following can be attributed to Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive Director:

"The appointment of General Hayden is the latest example of President Bush giving promotions to those who have led the greatest attacks on our Constitution and fundamental freedoms. This administration continues to demonstrate a fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law and our core civil liberties and civil rights. We hope that the Senate will use this opportunity to break through the administration's stonewalling about the illegal program to spy on Americans without any check. Lawmakers and the American people have a right to know how many people have had their private conversations monitored.

"Hayden's approval of warrantless surveillance on Americans raises serious questions about whether the CIA would be further unleashed on the American public. It was under General Hayden's watch that the NSA started to wiretap Americans, without court or Congress' approval, even though the FISA Court acts quickly to review requests for intelligence investigations. Those who oversee our nation's intelligence agencies must have the highest respect and regard for our Constitution -- not the blatant disregard that individuals like General Hayden have shown. This is also an opportunity for Senators to demand the CIA to disclose its operations that may have run afoul of the Constitution and other federal laws - the practice of extraordinary rendition, the torture and abuse of prisoners and the use of 'black sites,' or secret prisons operated overseas. We encourage the Senate to fully investigate this nominee."

For more on the ACLU's concerns with the warrantless NSA spying program, go to:

<http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/25490prs20060508.html>

[Up2Late]

1. Hayden Nomination Raises Serious Concerns (PFTAW)

(This is a Press Release from People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas)

For Immediate Release: 5/8/2006

Contact: Nick Berning or Josh Glasstetter
People For the American Way

email: [email protected]

phone: [phone]

Hayden Nomination Raises Serious Concerns

As NSA director, Hayden implemented illegal spying program
People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas issued the following statement today in response to President Bush’s nomination of Michael V. Hayden to head the Central Intelligence Agency:

“During his time as director of the National Security Agency, Michael V. Hayden implemented an illegal domestic spying program in clear violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

“Unfortunately, Bush administration officials who have been called before Congress to testify about the program have refused to say almost anything about its size or scope. What the Bush administration has made plain is that it believes the executive branch of government is not obligated to follow laws that protect Americans’ civil liberties. That is unacceptable.

“Lt. General Hayden has now been selected as President Bush’s nominee to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. During his confirmation hearing, senators should demand answers and accountability. The Senate must not confirm anyone to this important post who would break the law to spy on American citizens.”

<http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=21171>

[Ms. Clio]

2. I feel as if a titanic struggle is beginning

Our Dems absolutely must oppose this nomination.

[Voltaire99]

14. Don't worry!

Harry Reid will courageously weigh the idea of a filibuster. ;-)

[Ms. Clio]

15. Well, Kerry is "troubled"

Perhaps he will kick it up a few notches to "gravely concerned."

;)

[EVDebs]

3. The info goes offshore and is outsourced. Hayden executes TIA

Bahamas Firm Screens Personal Data To Assess Risk
Operation Avoids U.S. Privacy Rules

By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 16, 2004; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36853-2004Oct15.html

[Up2Late]

4. Robert O'Harrow Jr. has done a lot of good work on this and some...

...of the other most important "emerging threats" to Personal Privacy over the last few years.

He has done several great audio reports for "American Radio Works," here's a link:

<http://www.noplacetohide.net/>

There is a good description of "No Place to Hide" at this link: <http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/press/archive/pr_011805.html>

There are dozens more link, just cut and paste this into a new Google window:

"Robert O'Harrow Jr" American Radio

[EVDebs]

5. CSMonitor articles on background checking

and also the book by Katherine Albrecht Spychips www.spychips.com regarding RFIDs

Makes you wonder if they are really out to spy on terrorists or just ALL American citizens.

[patriothackd]

6. You beat me to it.

Bush is scared of the CIA, shows it with this appointment. This is all about protecting and reinforcing the infrastructure for what they want to do.

[EVDebs]

7. Yes, they 'end runned' the CIA's legitimate intelligence channels and

substituted, unconstitutionally, OSP and the Chalabi b.s. faux intelligence, so that the real thing could be smeared and real patriots would be hung out to dry (all whistleblowers and the Plame/BrewsterJennings contacts ).

These twits need to be impeached sooner rather than later yet the R's in power now can't understand that they are destroying what's left of their own sinking ship.

Essentially, the metaphor is the R's ship is sinking and they're busy burning lifeboats !

[6000eliot]

8. I'm glad he was nominated

Now they can talk about all of this in the confirmation hearings.

[Up2Late]

12. Yes, it could be a good thing, but it could also turn into...

...the same sort of thing we saw with Alito, he's going to be very well coached, I suspect.

[DUHandle]

9. Is he in uniform?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12678191/displaymode/1176/rstry/12685614/

It looks almost like a dinner jacket with medals.

[Up2Late]

11. That is kind of odd looking. I didn't know the Air Force had Tuxido...

...uniforms. I think that's the Air Force equivalent to the Navy Dress White uniform that always seems to show up in Hollywood movies.

[IndianaGreen]

13. That's the fancy dress blues

The Army has a similar uniform, and it is blue.

[lthuedk]

10. Rumsfeld is the problem

This appointment has brought us to the precipice. If the 4th Amendment goes, so does democracy.


Regards,

Stephen Pitt

[noel adamson]

16. Pairing this Peeping Tom up with Mr. Death Squad, Negroponte...

...seems like something they should stress more to me though the connection with the "extraordinary rendition" touches on this. Dropping poll ratings could not have been unanticipated by these terrorist fascists and their Modus Operandi is well known from their adventures in the provinces of the Pax American Empire they have built without our informed consent. From the terrorist Death Squads of Honduras and El Salvador to the brutal fascist takeovers of Chile, Iran and many, many other democracies that elected presidents that were unapproved by the American Right and their CIA proxies they have never let a little thing like peasants voting get in their way. And I doubt they will now.

God Bless the ACLU, I just hope it is not too little too late.