by Deb Cupples | When I think of FISA and Telecom Amnesty, I think of the Watergate scandal, which started with five men associated with the Nixon Administration getting caught breaking into the Democratic Party's headquarters at the Watergate complex and trying to tap the Dems' phones. That's why I've uploaded the Watergate photo.
When I think of FISA and Telecom Amnesty, I also think of now-ex-Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell, who resigned effective yesterday.
It's probably for the best, given some of our nation's unflattering memories of Mr. McConnell.
In February 2008, for example, Mr. McConnell made misleading statements to Congress, claiming that the government was losing intelligence because Congress had not passed a new FISA bill that included retroactive immunity for telecom companies that had broken the law while helping the Bush Adminsitration engage in warrantless wiretapping. He later retracted the statement, after White House officials made statements that conflicted with Mr. McConnell's.
That was not the only time that Mr. McConnell made a misleading statement to Congress.
In September, McConnell told the House Intelligence Committee that Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requirements prevented agents form quickly tapping Iraqi insurgents' communications, which enabled insurgents to capture three U.S. soldiers in May.
IN REALITY: officials didn't even seek wiretapping approval until 86 hours after the soldiers had been captured.
McConnell also told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the "Protect America Act" had led to the capture of terrorists in Germany.
IN REALITY: German agents had uncovered the terrorist plot based on info they'd received 10 months before the Act was passed. After other intelligence officials shared the facts with Congress, McConnell retracted that statement.
For whatever reason, Mr. McConnell was dead set on seeing amnesty given to telecom companies -- and he didn't mind fudging the truth to get there.
Memeorandum has commentary.
Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:
* Citigroup Caves to Pressure over Luxury Jet but Should Cut Executive Pay
* Real Bonuses Based on Fake Profits
* Execs Made Millions While Driving Companies into Ditch
* Save Jobs by Cutting Executive Pay
* Risky Buys Weren't Fannie Mae CEO's Fault?
* Bank of America CEO Surprised by Merrill's Massive Losses?
* AIG Execs Redistributed Shareholder Wealth to Themselves
* Cleaning up Political & Corporate Culture Could Help Economy
.
i wonder what dirt he has behind his ears
Posted by: rawdawg | January 28, 2009 at 11:09 AM
HI rawdawg,
Happy new year! Yes, that would be interesting info.
Posted by: Deb | January 29, 2009 at 11:37 PM