The real tragedy of the subway plot

Now that we know a little more about those behind the New York City subway plot, the real question becomes: did we violate their civil rights by spying on them or intercepting their communications?

For some reason the media, who has been all against NSA wiretapping of terrorist phone calls, monitoring of the financial movements of terrorists and the general spying on terrorists, seems to be silent about the potential violations of these human beings' rights. When can we expect the stories championing their freedom of speech? When will the expose of the evil Bush regime's role in this begin?

Comments

[Sam Wilkinson]

Aaron,

So you would have no problem with President Clinton authorizing illegal wiretapping, right? Wiretapping without oversight, wiretapping without approval, wiretapping without appeal? You'd trust a Democrat to oversee such a program?

Please. The issue is that the President could have had anything he wanted by doing things the right way; he chose the wrong way. (And incidentally, why aren't you complaining about this leak of classified information that endangered an ongoing investigation? Oh...because it was beneficial to the administration? Right.)

[Aaron]

If Clinton did all the things he was supposed to do like have the things approved by judges, etc. - sure I wouldn't mind Clinton doing it. Incidentally, Clinton did begin an even more sinister program called Project Echelon which monitors:
Internet traffic, including e-mail and chat-room gab
Most long-distance telephone conversations
Any electronic signals transmitted by communications satellites
Pager signals
Fax transmissions

Weren't many NY Times front page stories on this that I can recall. There was one 60 Minutes piece on it in 2000. Interestingly, Bill Clinton was never lambasted for this and is only mentioned once (along with stock video footage) in the story and it is in a positive light - trying to protect Americans.

Which leak are you talking about? We have so many going on right now. Some are evil (they help the Bush administration). Some are just loyal, do-gooder whistleblowers (they hurt the Bush administration). I'm all for prosecuting all leaks, not just picking and choosing which ones get to be a media scandal and put pressure on politicians.

[Sam]

You wouldn't know anything about the subway plot, except for a leak. So you're advocating the imprisonment of that person?

[Aaron]

I didn't need to know anything about the subway plot. If the leaker put an on-going investigation in danger, then they should be prosecuted.

[Sam]

What I find interesting is that you don't seem to want to know anything about the government apparently giving itself the right to tap your phone without oversight. Why would you be comfortable with that?

[Aaron]

They get oversight unless you are including federal courts in with the government. Which I guess they are part, but that is why we have seperated powers, checks and balances.

It would be impossible to do anyting to fight terrorism if we let the NY Times or ACLU oversee the opperations. It has to stay within the government - if by government you include federal and FISA courts.

[Sam Wilkinson]

I do include the federal and FISA courts. Neither of which were consulted before the wiretapping began. Which is why people are objecting to it Aaron. Nobody objects to a court giving the go ahead to wiretap a potential terrorist. What I object to is the government deciding who it will and won't wiretap without oversight - quite frankly, I don't trust any government with that sort of authority, and that includes a Democrat led government.

[norman]

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