Comments on: Anger grows over NSA surveillance report

Senators promise immediate hearings after report the agency secretly obtained tens of millions of phone records.

[chill633]

Clinton had little to do with Echelon

The UKUSA agreement that provides the foundation for cooperative spying by the UK, US, Canada, Australia & NZ was put together back in 1947.

ECHELON has been around since at least 1988, which is Ronald Reagan's era. It is quite probably that it evolved from more primative systems from the 1970s -- when Tricky Dick was CiC.

[CARIBE49]

To whom it may apply...

There are those who try to be like self made politicians,when i read this post i sense to some that they (more then one)dont have love for there own people it's ashame! While your enemies are stealling your live you have the gull to blame the president,humm. my question in what mind does it give anybody the insane reason that because you are a democrat gives you the filthy right to bring down good people besides the president to slander,conspire to encourage your enemy to foot more ground in the blessed country of America.Did you enjoy what yousome of you seen in tragedy of 9/11 or are we some of us missing out on something?It seems that for some fanatics like making others feel very uncomfertable;in closing this comment if you were to be victamized by a ruthless satanic religious leader like the theology-liberal so called oriental democratic left,and were a prisoner in your own neighberhood and were given you a deadline to live without a choice would you, 1.kill the son of $%#@ 2.or blame his lust to conquer not only your country that i love so dearly but one by one conquer and track down your racial roots,until "Allah" will be satisfy that his earthly regime is in control. To me blaming the president is much like saying nothing,To show concern and appreciate George W.Bush what he has done to stand up with millions upon millions of good people that the only right is to be alive should stand out firmly and clear ,at the cost of those that want to protect those who are always unsatisfied,eating,and still alive referring to the cowards that should know better.Keep it up Mr.Bush and that God bless America.

[R Me]

Yikes

First, put the JD away. Didnt you read the side of your medication vial. It must say something about anti-depressants and alcohol. At the least, that little martini glass with the red line across must be some sort of hint.

And I do appreciate GW.

I appreciate that he has done more to erode the rights of americans that any other president, including real wartime presidents, not just wannabes like himself.

I appreciate that fact that on his resume alone he would never be hired, not even to flip burgers.

I appreciate that he is probably the least intelligent president this country has ever had.

I appreciate the fact that he is responsible by his lies for the untimely deaths of many Americans.

I appreciate that he is a true man of re-action and not capable of any rational forethought.

I appreciate the fact that he can, like a child, blame others for all his problems.

[Fly on the Wall]

Critical thinking skills in short supply

Based on what I've heard this is like a phone calling credit report. Who did you call & how long did you talk. Everyone seems to have a definite opinion. Has anyone asked more in-depth questions, or are we to rely on the scant info given by the usually scant media services? Example: Have the phone companies violated privacy agreements with their customers? Is there even such an agreement? Is the government performing an illegal act if the companies just hand the info over to them with just a simple request? Does the data have value? Can you really get meaningful intel from scanning numbers called from inside the US? If it is meaningful and not used, will the government be blamed for not doing enough if their is another terrorist attack? Is the info used for any other monitoring activity other than terrorism? Etc.
You have to not just be suspicious of the government monitoring you, but also wonder about the lemming-like politians and agenda-setting media that want to make up our minds for us. Puh-leaze! Take a look at what is going on. Ask the right questions. Objectively assess the operation. Then, make the appropriate decision.

[Thomas, David]

You're right about that.

Its yours. If you stare closely at an object, you cannot see what is happening around it. This isn't just about them gathering information on its citizens under the pretense they are trying to protect them. I am sure you have heard the phrase, "Can't see the forest because of the trees". That is where you are at right now.

You have to take a step back, and look at ALL of the illegal activities, the denial of responsibility, the cover-ups, the threats, the lies, ... I could make gumbo, and never be able to get as much crap into that these cats have done.

Your argument assumes so much, and discounts just as much. Let's put them to the test, and see if I fail:

#1. Who said it was "scant" information? Do you know that? When this story first broke, the Bush said only oversees calls would be bugged/recorded. Since then, we've found out that 10s of millions of americans in the country are. And that is all they are admitting to.

#2. Yes, the phone companies have violated privacy agreements with the public. The phone companies provide a public service, and in turn have to act accordingly.

#3. Yes, the goverment is acting illegally, because what good is law, if the enforcers won't abide by it themselves. Of course, of you think you are "King" and add a line or two that states "except me, and whomever I choose at a later date". President Bush has actually done this.

#4. Does the data have value. Before I even begin, I have to call you a complete fu-k-ng moron for thinking the data does not have value. I could determine when you were home, how often you called anyone, categorize who you call, when you call. And that is just off the top of my head. Only phone numbers (don't be a complete idiot and think they don't record) you say, my GOD man, people use reverse phone look up tools all day. I built such a database, mostly for addresses, 198+ million.

#5. This data does not serve to prevent a terrorist attact at all. We had that information the first time. We just failed to act on it. So tell me, how would this change that?! By the way, there is nothing illegal about tapping a monitoring an actual suspect, so once again, any argument for what they are doing falls into the category of preposterous. But then again, you probably think this administration is full of geniouses. Trust me, if they can fu-k so much so, so fast already, how can you believe they are even close this time when SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING ENOUGH ALREADY! No you can't get meaningful intel on terrorism by monitoring all US citizens! DOH! 200 million plus population folks.

I do apologize, in advance, if your post was simply meant to provoke a response with some thoughtful answers to those questions. However, this is a subject matter that has the blood boiling in most US citizens, and its been building for quite some time.

[heystoopid]

OOPS!, some one may have made a big bunder of epic proportions!

Oops!, I was reading the online LA Times may 13th edition, under the title "Phone Firms Questioned" by staff reporter David G Savage.

Now in this article a University Law Professor at George Washington University, Orin S Kerr, pointed out that a federal law "The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, section 2702 states "the providers of "electronic communications ? shall not knowingly divulge a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber or customer ? to any government entity."

Companies that violate the law are subject to being sued and paying damages of at least $1,000 per violation per customer."

Interestingly , on Friday the 12 of May, legal action invoking that subsection was filed against Verizon, in New Jersey!

Oops!

This is getting very interesting, as to why the Republican Party chooses to self destruct just in time for the mid term elections!

Question is what else are they hiding from us, or do they know something that is coming and are not willing to tell all????

Still it makes the late Richard M Nixon's Watergate scandal cover up attempt, look like a childs toy!

Oh well, let the scandal continue to unfold!!!!, for all to see!!!!!!!!!!!!