Were "Americans" being spied on or foreign nationals that live here?

[Postman]

So If I called my Italian relatives over in Italy just to say hello does that mean that my conversation was of interest to NSA?

Democracy Now reported this morning it was overseas phone calls and emails that were spied upon.

The issue should be about an elected dictatorial Presidency violating established laws at will because if its about "he listened to my conversation" they win that argument because his defense would be that it was to defend against sleeper cells or another terrorist attack.

The FISA Law and Courts, established as a result of CIA domestic spying in the 1970's, was intended as a tool for just what this President is doing now yet he has gone around that law.

[kentuck]

1. What do you think?

Perhaps the leakers to the Times know more?

[Postman]

8. I don't know what to think. I DO know that Bush is a dangerous person.

This morning on Democracy Now, Amy Goodman asked a question of one of her guests (I believe it may have been James Bamford) about what the effect that increased surveillance domestically would have on analysts at the NSA...

I loved the response.

He said, "if your job is to find a needle in a haystack you don't find it by adding more hay"

http://democracynow.org/index.shtml

[SharonAnn]

2. Probably both. Probably frequently. Probably an "enemies list"

[Inland]

3. The people who know, aren't telling.

[justabob]

4. Citizens... and everyone else

[benburch]

5. American Citizens.

And yes, there is a good likelihood that your conversation was at least scanned by a computer looking for key words.

[pocket]

6. doesn't matter!

it's just as illegal either way!

[mmonk]

7. My bet is both

but will we ever know?

[carolinalady]

9. I guess I have to ask-how did they determine who was listened

to? Since I have a totally negative opinion of anything they do, I would bet the actual number of people was extremely high in the beginning then was weaned down. That is why I think they never went to the secret court, because they knew it would never approve such a random act of spying. We will never know because you can be sure all documents have been adequately destroyed.

[Postman]

10. I think you probably are correct in your analysis...

eom

[papau]

11. All communication is spied on - they claim speaker is identified only

on overseas phone calls and emails and then full scale eavesdropping is done on the identified person.

:toast:

[sandnsea]

12. domestic spying

No, that is just wrong. Bush was spying on US citizens' activities IN the US with absolutely no oversight.

[CountAllVotes]

13. well I hope "they" enjoyed listening to me making hotel reservations

and I hope they heard me telling my friend that I called while away overseas what was going on (B O R I N G as hell).

How disgusting, violating the rights of American citizens. There is no authority that allows such things as spying on American citizens, nothing.

Freaks. They'll all rot in hell, I do know that much.

:kick:

[AndreaCG]

14. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

15. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

16. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

17. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

18. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

19. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[AndreaCG]

20. That reminds me of when

my mother used to babysit for the kids of bigwigs in the Communist Party USA in the early 70s. I'm sure the FBI had a fine time trying to interpret what "Kim's bowel movements were a bit loose" meant.

[Poiuyt]

22. I heard you the first time

:)

[goodhue]

21. both

I believe the prez said they were listening to international calls to and from us citizens and residents with alleged ties to al qaeda and affiliates. It would interesting to see the profile of what constitutes alleged ties.