Everything Old is New Again
The United States Constitution, now available in two-ply, courtesy of the Bush Administration.
Tuesday, September 23, 1975:
Intelligence Activities- Huston Plan
U.S. Senate
Select Committee To Study Governmental Operations With Respect To Intelligence Activities
Washington, D.C.
The Tribune weighs in:
Surveillance vs. the law
“In the best of times, there is a natural tension between safeguarding national security and respecting the liberties of Americans. In times of war, that tension becomes even stronger. In many ways, the Bush administration has been restrained in its handling of the war on terror, avoiding the gross abuses that occurred during past conflicts. But by launching a secret program that involves spying on Americans, it has overreached badly, and unnecessarily.”
Read the whole thing: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0512200277dec20,0,6699367.story?coll=chi-newsopinion-hed
The Sun-Times weighs in:
Mr. President, you’re going about it all wrong
“Let’s not jump to too many conclusions, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee warns us. But there’s plenty to be bothered about in President Bush giving secret orders to the National Security Agency — an agency not normally allowed to conduct intelligence activities on U.S. soil — to eavesdrop on hundreds of American citizens without warrants. It’s going to take strong evidence to persuade us this wasn’t an abrogation of civil liberties.”
Read the whole thing:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/commentary/cst-edt-edits20.html
UP
“Judge Quits, Reportedly Over U.S. Spy Program”
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/21/politics/21cnd-spy.html?hp&ex=1135227600&en=f578c660efdb33a0&ei=5094&partner=homepage
“Spying Program Snared U.S. Calls”
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/21/politics/21nsa.html
“Should we be afraid of this inherent presidential power? Of course. If surveillance is used only for the purpose of preventing another Sept. 11 type of attack or a similar threat, the harm of interfering with the privacy of people in this country is minimal and the benefit is immense.”
Article written by former Clinton staffer:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0512210142dec21,0,3553632.story?coll=chi-newsopinioncommentary-hed
Sorry, just overwhelmed by the delicious irony of Ben referencing and apparently agreeing with the thoughts and opinions of a Clinton-era staffer.
Yeah, I make decisions about statements based on the actual statement, not what political party the statement comes from.