Am I correct to assume that the NSA mining led to the NSA wiretaps?

[BuyingThyme]

If so, what do the wiretaps tell us about how they're using the mining?

[cornermouse]

1. Don't think so.

I think getting away with the wiretaps encouraged them to start mining wholesale.

[BuyingThyme]

3. I'm thinking the mining is intended to determine wiretap targets.

(And that the mining, logically, pre-dated the tapping.)

[catnhatnh]

2. Well first...

we would need to "National Intelligence" mine, and then reverse engineer....think they'll allow it???

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. With the growing information...

On the coming testimony of Russell Tice, especially the intimations that NSA ELINT satellites were used on domestic traffic, it sounds to me like they were not only having a fishing expidition orgy, but also looking to tease out oppositional political intelligence.

They have likely been using US intelligence assets as their personal playtoys for power.

[joemurphy]

5. That might be too logical an assumption for this illogical

administration.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. and then don't those taps become fruit from a tainted tree if the mining

itself is determined to be illegal?

[BuyingThyme]

7. Yes. Well, actually, I think it's the same tree.

They're just not ready to state what will soon become the obvious.