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Related: About this forumNSA Collects 'Word for Word' Every Domestic Communication, Says Former Analyst
(Video, audio, and Transcript)
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/july-dec13/whistleblowers_08-01.html
Tonight, we have a conversation with three former NSA officials, a former inspector general and two NSA veterans who blew the whistle on what they say were abuses and mismanagement at the secret government intelligence agency.
William Binney worked at the NSA for over three decades as a mathematician, where he designed systems for collecting and analyzing large amounts of data. He retired in 2001. And Russell Tice had a two-decade career with the NSA where he focused on collection and analysis. He says he was fired in 2005 after calling on Congress to provide greater protection to whistle-blowers.
He claims the NSA tapped the phone of high-level government officials and the news media 10 years ago.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)n2doc
(47,953 posts)One wonders just how much blackmail-suitable information they have gathered. And how it has been used....
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)How many pols out there have things to hide, but could be offered a deal by the NSA that they can't refuse?
And then there is also the situation of: Folow the Money.
With more and more of the 1.2 trillion dollar annual military budget going to the NSA, the pols have a direct cash incentive to vote for the program and all it comprises.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)Seriously it is very worrisome.
K&r
RC
(25,592 posts)Obama campaign rhetoric and his governing. Sounded good going in, but crossing the threshold, comes out like a Republican enabler.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)So, virtually, you could target anybody in this country you wanted.
...
RUSSELL TICE: Well, two months ago, I contacted some colleagues at NSA. We had a little meeting, and the question came up, was NSA collecting everything now? Because we kind of figured that was the goal all along. And the answer came back. It was, yes, they are collecting everything, contents word for word, everything of every domestic communication in this country.
Thank you. Very interesting
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)that would mean my own "Democratic" government officials are lying to me,
and I don't WANT to believe that. It causes too much cognitive dissonance.
PorridgeGun
(80 posts)It would pretty much mean things are over. Stop fighting, start subverting, and prepare for the inevitable collapse.
yodermon
(6,143 posts)Should be relatively easy to honeypot the NSA if *ALL* domestic communications (CONTENT mind you) are being collected/searched.
Find 2 people willing to possibly go to jail, and have them make ONLY private domestic phone calls to each other detailing their very horrific plans for a terrorist attack, replete with all the buzzwords that should flag such communications. You know, an ECHELON jam.
When they come for you, you know they've been spying illegally, QED. Simple!
n2doc
(47,953 posts)They clearly didn't stop the Boston Bombers. They clearly don't stop child pornographers, drug traffickers, and assorted other criminals. Maybe it is because that is not what they are listening for. I don't know.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Coyotl
(15,262 posts)You assume they use it to stop terrorists. What if there are no terrorists?
What if they use it to control things like who is in positions of power? Then what is the test? Spying on politicians leads to being able to either control them or send them packing if they misbehave. The test might be "Have we become a fascist state?" while it appears all the people you know disagree with the trend.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)PorridgeGun
(80 posts)Want to attract some real attention? Start doing a bit of google research on sarin and the V nerve gases. Phosgene too! The more technical the source the better. If in the course of thise investigations you find out the names of some of the precursor chemicals to these absurdly potent gases, be sure to investigate further as to how these things may be purchased or synthesized from even more distant precursors.
I'd bet a subsequent purchase of glassware, fractional distillers, vacuum equipment etc off Ebay would lead very quickly to a visit by the authorities. Lots of authorities. Probably all at once.
im1013
(633 posts)PorridgeGun
(80 posts)Many people took that with relief, but I don't understand why. I guess I'm in the minority who thinks that having a culture in which employers who are chomping at the bit to curry favor with the government by doing the NSA's job for them is even worse than having a single but universally distrusted entity conducting mass surveillance.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)sort of evidence would be required of means, motive, and opportunity before the black FBI/DHS vans show up.
A decade ago, critics of the Bush Administration's CT programs were intimidated and harrassed by JTTF/Fusion Centers. Now, I'd guess that they'd know better,and unless someone actually bought a lot of fertilizer and fuel oil, or such, the feds wouldn't make it known what they picked up on the system.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)Last edited Fri Aug 2, 2013, 08:02 PM - Edit history (1)
yodermon
(6,143 posts)its voicemail transcriptions are pretty good. not great but good.
tclambert
(11,080 posts)Now we know. It's a sub-basement in the NSA computer complex.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)when warrantless wiretapping was going on, and other programs Obama shut down.
How can either of them speak with any knowledge as to what is going on now?
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)And that fills in more of the picture for us all.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)was engaged in warrantless wiretapping. This would have fit in with that.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Do you have examples?
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)They included briefing papers to Congress from 2009 and 2011 about the very large scale logging of Americans calling records along with a related program that logged Americans e-mails, and that was shut down later in 2011 portraying the programs as providing a vital and important capability.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)A "related" but unnamed program. Fair enough, though - it does suggest a program that was shut down.
They_Live
(3,222 posts)with a different name to replace it. That's how they roll.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)People do still talk.
RevStPatrick
(2,208 posts)I read that right here on DU!
That's against the law, and a "Democratic administration" would never break the law!!!
I read it in some blue links posted here!
IronicNews
(129 posts)I have often wondered why so many democrats don't stand up for what they must know is *right* or at least stand up for the democratic or progressive platform. About 8 years ago I thought "could they be blackmailing ALL of them?"
My point? Once a politician who tweets his junk to the world gets into office, at least those with sex-related blackmail worthy stuff, won't have so much to worry about. I honestly wouldn't care if Bernie Sanders enjoyed being rubbed with earthworms. I'd still vote for him because of WHAT he does in the senate...not WHO.
(With apologies to the honorable Sen. Sanders for being my example here, but he is probably the only one I would support no matter what)
leveymg
(36,418 posts)He got railroaded, when people were still afraid to set foot on the tracks.
Mr_Jefferson_24
(8,559 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom