With over 60% of Americans (i.e., Republicans, Democrats, Unaffiliateds, etc.) NOT irate or angry or beside themselves that the President authorized wiretaps on al-Qaeda related communications -- it's time to examine MSM's intent in miscommunicating, misrepresenting and "exposing" lawful applications of national security efforts. And if you're in the 30+% who are irate that the President authorized al-Qaeda wiretaps, whatcha got to hide?
I see.
You, too, are so blinded by hatred of anything-Bush that you'll let criminal acts and treason slide this time, eh?
Thanks.
But no thanks.
Just don't spend the grocery money for a ticket on the "unlawful" hype-train.
Remember: Bush-haters, the MSM and the ACLU may talk the talk, but they do NOT have national security at heart. They (collectively) will do and/or say anything to discredit one person: George W. Bush, President of the United States. That's a version of tunnel vision, by the way. And there IS a train at the other end of the tunnel.
to the Captain, et al, for their take on the New York Times and the Washington Post leaks which fanned the fires of "Big Brother hysteria" and bellowed smoldering coals among our European allies/critics RE: "secret prisons for terrorists" and the sharing of intelligence on terrorism.
"... most of it [the NYT expose is] complete nonsense and almost all of it miscommunicated and misunderstood. The NSA program that the NYT "exposed" has less reach than the infamous Echelon program, reported by CBS News in 2000, but has specific application to suspected al-Qaeda assets and their contacts. Despite the continuing insistence of critics to call it 'domestic spying', the Times report clearly stated that domestic calls only got wiretapped after getting a FISA warrant, and that the presidential directive only applied to calls and communications that crossed international boundaries and did not appear to involve "US persons" as defined by FISA. Those communications don't require a warrant at all, especially while the President works under a grant of war powers from Congress." (Bold for emphasis.)
Let me personalize this for those still riding that "unlawful" train.
Even if my American citizen-next-door-neighbor is plotting with anyone to commit acts of violence which will harm others -- specifically me, my family or my nation --- tap his phone lines, dammit! Feel free to use my home as an operational base. If necessary, use my car, my telephone line, my computer, my bathroom, my anything to stop the low-life from harming anyone. And if you don't and he does harm others, I'm gonna be really pissed.
As for those self-acclaimed constitutional authorities, paper-pundits and far-left lolligaggers who feel that self-serving members of the press deserve to be legislatively protected from revealing their sources -- or that governmental employees with a grudge against department or federal policy who leak classified information deserve "whistleblower" status --
What part of ut uh don't you understand?
No one (as MSM has repeatedly reminded us ....) is above the law of the land. You breakee the lawee (i.e., breach national security) and you payee likee the restee of us-ee. Uday uyah understanday?
You media guys really ARE stuck on stupid, ain'tcha?
Face it.
The blogosphere has now displaced MSM as the most viable and OPEN communications venue -- especially for distinguishing fact from hype and opinion, for revealing our Congressional mugwumps who place self-interest above national security and for exposing the liberal loonies and Bush-bashers-at-any-cost -- led by :::: eye roll :::: the self-appointed protector-of-Americans-from-their-own-Constitution, the clueless ACLU.
Godspeed to the Justice Department in investigating a media that has historically hidden behind "anonymous sources" and snitches. Godspeed to a fast and just investigation of leaks which have likely stalled and/or exposed thesecurity of thousands, if not millions of US and global citizens.
again to the Captain, et al, for slicing through the Washington Post's own acknowledgment:
Justice Department investigators will examine whether classified information was unlawfully disclosed to the New York Times, which reported two weeks ago that the National Security Agency had been conducting electronic surveillance on U.S. citizens and residents without court-approved warrants.
The Justice Department has also opened a probe into whether classified information was illegally disclosed to The Washington Post, which reported on a network of secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
Me? I feel better already. Roast is in the oven; card tables are ready; NC State is playing on TV. It's New Year's Eve. I'll likely not blog again until next year.
Oh yeah -- and my neighbors are coming over tonight. Big Brother can take the evening off in this small corner of the world.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Posted at 01:35 pm by Rhet
Permalink
Sorry. Couldn't help myself. 
I reserve the right to change my mind, of course, but in the waning moments of 2005, I resolve not to make unrealistic resolutions OR end-of-year best/worst lists.
Is it THAT time already? 
Jason at 
