Another argument: 'You could be found guilty by association in wiretaps'

[guruoo]

You could be found guilty by association in wiretaps

NSA whistleblower Russ Tice states that "unconstitutional and illegal" monitoring goes on in highly classified special access programs operated by the NSA. Millions of Americans were likely eavesdropped on without warrants, not thousands of people linked to terrorism, as claimed by President Bush. Most likely all overseas communications have been sucked in. This includes voice, Web and e-mails.

Technology exists to monitor every phone call, domestic and international, using keyword matching. If something triggers their suspicions, the NSA creates "visual spider webs," showing links of contacts with the person. You could be considered guilty solely by association. Are you certain that you have never talked to, e-mailed with, or visited a Web site with, anyone who might be of interest to the government?


Remember, the list of people who have been eavesdropped on includes politicians, political activists, peace groups and even respected journalists.

The means exist to store a copy of every monitored communication. Have you ever made comments about your boss, your spouse, anything controversial? Anything that is stored can be leaked, if it becomes politically expedient.

James Moore, co-author of "Bush's Brain," a critical examination of the role of political adviser Karl Rove in George W. Bush's ascension to the presidency, found himself listed on the TSA watch list. Was he placed there because of links to terrorism, or because he exercised his constitutionally protected First Amendment rights?

Peter Kirsanow, President Bush's recess appointee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, said at a 2002 Detroit hearing that America could "forget about civil rights" if there is another terrorist attack on the United States by "the same ethnic group that attacked the World Trade Center."

Does this sound like the country you grew up in, the nation our brave soldiers fight and die for, the America you love? I think not!

BILL LARSON

Clarksville 37040

http://theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/OPINION03/601260303/1014/OPINION

[havocmom]

1. Consider outsourced call centers, calling you to interrupt supper.

Annoying? You bet! But now, are you under surveillance because you get calls from overseas?

And wasn't there something the other day about the CIA placing calls to Americans from offshore? So, are they setting some up to receive 'suspicious' calls?

Sometimes, we might not be paranoid enough.

[ixion]

2. civil rights conflict with the power of the unitary executive

and are henceforth suspended. :-(