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In reply to the discussion: Some have mentioned: Why bring up NSA Spying now and not back in 2006? [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)86. The story officially starts in 1981...
From Christopher Simpson, info on how Poppy started the big ball of wax when he pried control out of the bed-ridden Pruneface:
George Bush Takes Charge: The Uses of "Counter-Terrorism"
By Christopher Simpson
Covert Action Quarterly 58
A paper trail of declassified documents from the Reagan-Bush era yields valuable information on how counter-terrorism provided a powerful mechanism for solidifying Bush's power base and launching a broad range of national security initiatives.
During the Reagan years, George Bush used "crisis management" and "counter-terrorism" as vehicles for running key parts of the clandestine side of the US government.
Bush proved especially adept at plausible denial. Some measure of his skill in avoiding responsibility can be taken from the fact that even after the Iran-Contra affair blew the Reagan administration apart, Bush went on to become the "foreign policy president," while CIA Director William Casey, by then conveniently dead, took most of the blame for a number of covert foreign policy debacles that Bush had set in motion.
The trail of National Security Decision Directives (NSDDS) left by the Reagan administration begins to tell the story. True, much remains classified, and still more was never committed to paper in the first place. Even so, the main picture is clear: As vice president, George Bush was at the center of secret wars, political murders, and America's convoluted oil politics in the Middle East.
SNIP...
Reagan and the NSC also used NSDDs to settle conflicts among security agencies over bureaucratic turf and lines of command. It is through that prism that we see the first glimmers of Vice President Bush's role in clandestine operations during the 1980s.
CONTINUED...
http://books.google.com/books?id=YZqRyj_QXf8C&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=christopher+simpson+The+Uses+of+%E2%80%98Counter-Terrorism%E2%80%99&source=bl&ots=8klB0PzATX&sig=hi9DpE3qF43Oefh7iGn79W4jXQs&hl=en&ei=zAFQTeriBsr2gAfu1Mgc&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=christopher%20simpson%20The%20Uses%20of%20%E2%80%98Counter-Terrorism%E2%80%99&f=false
Of course, those like you, Wilms, who pay attention know the unofficial secret state story goes back 18 years before then.
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Some have mentioned: Why bring up NSA Spying now and not back in 2006? [View all]
Octafish
Aug 2013
OP
Bush didn't like people reporting his administration's illegal activities, but Obama's admin has
hughee99
Aug 2013
#62
''Money trumps peace.'' -- George Walker Bush*, ''president'' of the United States, Feb. 14, 2007
Octafish
Aug 2013
#111
The issue back then was warrantless wiretapping. And many of us demanded we go back to FISA.
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#2
I'm sure you'd acknowledge that things have changed quite a bit since the PATRIOT Act.
EOTE
Aug 2013
#8
I explained all that when I covered it. Not knowing the facts and history and commenting? Thats weak
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#64
Oh, CAPS, well why didn't you use CAPS to begin with? That changes everything.
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#87
Since you offer no knowledge at all, I'll assume you are projecting. Besides...
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#110
I think it's an expression of their feelings of powerlessness and lack of a voice
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#134
"This is the Central Scrutinizer, all subsequent critical thinking is now banned."
Enthusiast
Aug 2013
#89
REALLY!?! How is agreeing with a post with sarcasm (now noted) shouting neener neener!?
uponit7771
Aug 2013
#48
Yes the pre-Patriot Act FISA. Do you support Obama's use of the Patriot Act?
rhett o rick
Aug 2013
#44
BUT there was NO teevee gnews HUGH & CRY! no stirring of the sheeples fears as now.
pansypoo53219
Aug 2013
#46
CT is a pejorative term over used by those that blindly follow their leaders.
rhett o rick
Aug 2013
#45
No it's cool. I got it and I am usually the one that doesnt. See post #78 above. nm
rhett o rick
Aug 2013
#103
Why do I find myself bookmarking ALL your threads? Thanks, so much for the history and perspective.
chimpymustgo
Aug 2013
#113
Well,the hair on fire crowd needs some kind of justification for not caring until now.
railsback
Aug 2013
#11
Doesn't matter what lane they pick the NSA will never ever be able to meet the standard of HOF
uponit7771
Aug 2013
#34
Let's talk about this "triple oversight". Looks to me like there is zero oversight.
rhett o rick
Aug 2013
#40
The treatment afforded RFK, Jr. made me wonder if this was Parallel Hell Hole Bus Stop No. 9.
Octafish
Aug 2013
#88
Deja DU: Are ALL COMMUNICATIONS routed overseas to circumvent US law and the Constitution?
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#33
Dont'cha know once Obama got in all of the Republicans in charge at the NSA were transformed,...
Spitfire of ATJ
Aug 2013
#57
Because The Black Tax is in full effect. Has been since the guy raised
Liberal_Stalwart71
Aug 2013
#66
Thanks for this! I thought it was just me (I'm a "conspiracy theorist" from way back). nt
silvershadow
Aug 2013
#67
because it's being pushed by the right wing after being started by haters/clowns S.&G. ...nt
uhnope
Aug 2013
#72
The hell with Godwin. Nothing funny about the NAZI influence on America's secret government.
Octafish
Aug 2013
#122
Sen. Obama warned about Patriot Act abuses. President Obama proved him right.
Octafish
Aug 2013
#124
An excellent bookmarkable answer, but the question is silly as hell.
Waiting For Everyman
Aug 2013
#74