by D. Cupples | If President Nixon's staffers had access to our technology, they wouldn't have sent five guys to break into and tap the phones in the Democratic Party's offices at the Watergate complex. And we likely wouldn't have learned of the Nixon Administration's violations of law and abuses of power.
That said, the Bush Administration seeks to greatly expand its domestic spying powers -- without having satisfied Congress as to procedures and safeguards. The Washington Post reports:
"The Bush administration said yesterday that it plans to start using the nation's most advanced spy technology for domestic purposes soon, rebuffing challenges by House Democrats over the idea's legal authority.
"Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said his department will activate his department's new domestic satellite surveillance office in stages, starting as soon as possible with traditional scientific and homeland security activities -- such as tracking hurricane damage, monitoring climate change and creating terrain maps.
"Sophisticated overhead sensor data will be used for law enforcement once privacy and civil rights concerns are resolved, he said. The department has previously said the program will not intercept communications." (Washington Post)
Yes, and last year we learned that the FBI had made hundreds of "errors" (i.e., violations of laws or regulations) when mining for data on us Americans. The FBI had at least 9 months to repair its system, but as of last month, the FBI was still gathering far more private data than laws or regulations allow. (New York Times)
That said, the Bush Administration simply expects Congress and us citizens to trust that it won't abuse the immense power that comes with the sophisticated new domestic-spying program [aka, the National Applications Office (NAO)]. The Washington Post continues:
"Congress delayed launch of the new office last October. Critics cited its potential to expand the role of military assets in domestic law enforcement, to turn new or as-yet-undeveloped technologies against Americans without adequate public debate, and to divert the existing civilian and scientific focus of some satellite work to security uses.
"Democrats say Chertoff has not spelled out what federal laws govern the NAO, whose funding and size are classified. Congress barred Homeland Security from funding the office until its investigators could review the office's operating procedures and safeguards. The department submitted answers on Thursday, but some lawmakers promptly said the response was inadequate.
"'I have had a firsthand experience with the trust-me theory of law from this administration," said [Rep. Jane] Harman, citing the 2005 disclosure of the National Security Agency's domestic spying program, which included warrantless eavesdropping on calls and e-mails between people in the United States and overseas. "I won't make the same mistake. . . . I want to see the legal underpinnings for the whole program."
Kudos to Jane Harman and the other Congressmen who really are trying to protect us Americans. Memeorandum has commentary.
Related BN-Politics Posts
* Legal Abuses and FBI's Data Mining "Errors"
* So, Let him Veto FISA (and "Protect Terrorists")
* Domestic Spying Started Before 9/11 & Money Changed Hands
* U.S. Intel Chief Made False Statements re: Domestic Spying
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