Image of the Day

"There were more members voting for transparency and accountability
than there were in 2008. The amendments did better this time."
The amended FISA Act was passed in 2008 to retroactively cover
Bush-era domestic surveillance. The law permits the National Security
Agency to track communication between foreign targets and people inside
the United States without obtaining a warrant. Critics say it violates fourth
amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. NSA
whistleblower Bill Binney has estimated that the agency, under protection
of the law, has "assembled" 20 trillion transactions between US citizens.
Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat
from California, said in debate on the Senate floor that the surveillance
program provides useful intelligence and does not target US citizens. She
opposed both oversight amendments but agreed in principle to release
unclassified summaries of actions taken by the secret court.
The Obama administration has already begun reviewing FISA court
decisions to see what can be released, Richardson said.
"I think we have a long and slow fight on this, but we'll eventually
get there," Richardson said.
Whaddya Know? Professional Economy Wrecker Alan Greenspan Is
at the Heart of the Insidiious 'Fix the Debt' Campaign
Mr. Incompetent rears his ugly head in corporate deficit hawk
coalition.
By
Dean Baker