AmProg"The Truth About Bush's Warrantless Spying" (& Gonzo planned to LIE)

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Tue Dec-20-05 02:32 AM
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AmProg"The Truth About Bush's Warrantless Spying" (& Gonzo planned to LIE)

This masterful American Progress compilation on Spygate and who said what and what it all means is not to be missed. Go to the original - it has dozens of links embedded in the text, documenting key statements. It's here:
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=917053

Here is the introductory paragraph and list of section titles, each of which is followed by a densely written paragraph with multiple documenting links. The introductory paragraph, for example, has nine such links. Again, I urge you to go to the original - it's a fine way to keep the facts straight on this historic controversy. With all the lies spewed by Bush and his enablers, this is a real help.

NATIONAL SECURITY

The Truth About Bush's Warrantless Spying

On Saturday, President Bush acknowledged that he had personally authorized a secret warrantless domestic surveillance program more than three dozen times since October 2001. Bush's actions run contrary to the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which forbids "unreasonable searches" and sets out specific requirements for warrants, including "probable cause." They demonstrate a dangerous disregard for the basic liberties that serve as our nation's guiding values. They are also in violation of federal law. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) makes it a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, to conduct electronic surveillance, except as "authorized by and conducted pursuant to a search warrant or court order." Moreover, since 1978, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2511(2)(f) has directed that Title III and FISA "shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance...and the interception of domestic wire and oral communications may be conducted." The President's actions were not necessary; if he had legitimate concerns about FISA, "the appropriate response would have been to go to Congress and expand it, not to blatantly violate the law."

Below, we debunk the administration's attempts to justify Bush's actions.

FACT: BUSH PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS:
(snip)

FACT: BUSH PROGRAM DID NOT IMPROVE SPEED OF OBTAINING WARRANTS:
(snip)

FACT: DISCLOSURE OF PROGRAM DID NOT UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY:
(snip)

FACT: RICE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT GAVE BUSH AUTHORITY TO EAVESDROP WITHOUT WARRANT:
(snip)

FACT: SOME CONGRESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS NOT TOLD OF PROGRAM:
(snip)

FACT: IN CONFIRMATION HEARING, GONZALES DENIED BUSH WOULD ACT BEYOND CRIMINAL STATUTES:
(snip)

For me, at least, the last of these topics was news - Gonzales was asked at his confirmation hearings in 2005 about exactly this kind of extra-legal operation. This was a time when the spying operation, the secret prisons, and who knows what else were already ongoing, and surely Gonzales knew all about them. Gonzales' response to Sen. Russ Feingold demonstrates clearly that he planned to LIE:

(again, go to the original - it has three embedded links)

FACT: IN CONFIRMATION HEARING, GONZALES DENIED BUSH WOULD ACT BEYOND CRIMINAL STATUTES:

In a classified legal opinion, the administration argued the President had the power to order the warrantless search pursuant to his authority as commander-in-chief to wage war against al-Qaeda. During his Attorney General confirmation hearings in January 2005, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) asked Gonzales specifically whether the president "at least in theory the authority to authorize violations of the criminal law under duly enacted statutes simply because he's commander in chief?" After trying to dodge the question for a time, Gonzales issued this denial: "Senator, this president is not � I � it is not the policy or the agenda of this president to authorize actions that would be in contravention of our criminal statutes." Later, Feingold asked Gonzales to "commit to notify Congress if the president makes this type of decision and not wait two years until a memo is leaked about it." Gonzales replied, "I will advise the Congress as soon as I reasonably can, yes, sir."

Oh, I'm sure he would parse this to death, but it sure looks to me like Gonzo lied to the Senate under oath during his confirmation hearings and planned to continue to lie to Congress forever after.

AmProg"The Truth About Bush's Warrantless Spying" (& Gonzo planned to LIE)

The Truth About Bush's Warrantless Spying

I predict that this spying program is also directed at getting blackmail information to use on political enemies and to keep administration supporters in line.