Now it’s coming out: the NSA’s stated goal is to create a database of every single call ever made within the US. They want the data so they can analyze call patterns, they say.
But the Pretendent of the United States of America is on record as saying only cross-border calls were to be tracked:
In defending the previously disclosed program, Bush insisted that the NSA was focused exclusively on international calls. “In other words,” Bush explained, “one end of the communication must be outside the United States.”
Uh huh. That was a while back ago. This quote is a little more recent:
The White House would not discuss the domestic call-tracking program. “There is no domestic surveillance without court approval,” said Dana Perino, deputy press secretary, referring to actual eavesdropping.
Oopsie. Your bad.
USATODAY.com – NSA has massive database of Americans’ phone calls
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would call the phone companies to appear before the panel ”to find out exactly what is going on.”
Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the panel, sounded incredulous about the latest report and railed against what he called a lack of congressional oversight. He argued that the media was doing the job of Congress.
”Are you telling me that tens of millions of Americans are involved with al Qaeda?” Leahy asked. ”These are tens of millions of Americans who are not suspected of anything … Where does it stop?”
The Democrat, who at one point held up a copy of the newspaper, added: ”Shame on us for being so far behind and being so willing to rubber stamp anything this administration does. We ought to fold our tents.”The report came as the former NSA director, Gen. Michael Hayden – Bush’s choice to take over leadership of the CIA – had been scheduled to visit lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday. However, the meetings with Republican Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were postponed at the request of the White House, said congressional aides in the two Senate offices. (source: The Associated Press)
Oh – not even going to send him out to visit the reliable “friendlies?” Afraid of the questions that’ll be asked and the disruptive contentiousness of a press corps that’s finally waking up to its responsibilities to the country? Thank God for that, at least.
Durbin met with him yesterday and took no position; I bet he’s got one today. Time to drop him a line.
