Originally Posted by DVPGSR
kill kill kill & benjamin
There is nothing illegal about what President Bush and the NSA did. From Presidential precident, informing certain members of Congress, to the link provided above about intelligence gathering nothing was done to violate the constitution. Sorry but the real issue here is who leaked this to the NYT because this is a HUGE security leak about defending this country and borders on treason for doing so. This leak is bigger than the non-leak of Valerie Plame and needs a full investigation.
It really scares me though that there are people in this country that want to actively hinder our government from keeping us safe. This really, really bothers me to think that people care more about the rights of potential terrorists than the rights of the innocent civilians that would otherwise be killed or wounded in an attack.
But let me ask you this. These intelligence methods prevented the bombing of the Brooklyn Bridge, saving countless #s of lives, and keeping the economy of NYC moving. Which would you prefer? Not collecting this intelligence and allowing the Brooklyn Bridge to be destroyed or doing what is necessary to protect this country. You both know I choose the latter...I wonder if you really do to.
FISA wiretap warrants are basically rubber stamps, which I have a problem with all by itself, but at least a court is there to keep watch on the watchers. Those warrants can even be issued retroactively, so the idea that Bush had to authorize warrantless wiretaps or risk not gathering intelligence is just plain wrong.
There are ways to police the nation and monitor threats that don't involve violating the constitution. I choose freedom AND security; you apprently only think that both those things are necessary for Iraqis but not Americans.