NSA and History

[yellowdogmi]

The Philosopher George Santaya penned the saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” I wonder if we are condemned to repeat history. Will we once again listen to his false assurances that he has done nothing wrong? Will we dishonor the sacrifice of all the service members that have paid the ultimate price for their patriotism? Will we willingly cede our rights that our founding fathers so wisely guaranteed to us for a false sense of security? These are all questions that trouble me.

When I am troubled I like to look for answers in history. I read many books trying to glean that morsel of knowledge that will provide an answer to what troubles me.

Unfortunately when I look at the track record of the President I find little to comfort me. Prior to the invasion of Iraq on March 17th 2003, the president asserted, “the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised…. Under Resolutions 678 and 687 — both still in effect — the United States and our allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.” Less than a year later on March 23rd, 2004 he attended the annual Press Club Dinner where he laughed and joked about not finding any of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I found it quite callous. Are we ready for another disgusting display of his inept humor? I am sure it will be very humorous when he talks about rescinding the bill of rights. I am not up for a repeat of history.

But that is exactly what we are about to receive. The Dean of Yale law school, Harold Koh, stated, “The fact that our normal American safeguards have thus far failed to contain this unprecedented expansion of executive power is itself deeply troubling. This failure is due in part to the fact that the executive branch has followed a determined strategy of obfuscating, delaying, withholding information, appearing to yield but then refusing to do so, and dissembling in order to frustrate the efforts of the legislative and judicial branches to restore a healthy constitutional balance.” That is the best description I have read. Here is just a short compilation of the canards advanced by the administration to justify the NSA spying program
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http://360.yahoo.com/twriff67
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