When al-Qaeda Calls: How does the government listen in?

[subterranean]

Bush has repeatedly said his warrantless wiretapping program is for "listening in when al-Qaeda planners are making phone calls into the United States." One thing puzzles me about this: Assuming that al-Qaeda members are actually dumb enough to communicate their plans to people in the U.S. by phone, is it technically possible for the government to "listen in" at will? I always thought this required putting a physical wiretap on a particular phone line. Wouldn't they at least have to know the number of the person being called? (In which case, why can't they get a warrant?) Or can they just monitor all incoming calls from, say, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, and listen in on the ones that sound suspicious? Does anyone know how it's possible to do this?

[uppityperson]

1. either you call through the special cell phone/LD service

"can you hear qaeda-wireless" or they make recordings of many phone calls. As for actually monitering them, that would need enough Arabic speaking translators, which they don't have. So, there are massive amounts of recorded conversations that no one listens to. You may ask "why then the fuss, since the chance is no one will actually listen to my conversation?" Because they can listen to YOUR conversations and mine instead.

[DeeDeeNY]

2. Of course it's not possible

I think the reason for him repeating this phrase is because it makes for a good sound bite for the
press to repeat, and it's great for the part of the electorate who are either too busy or too lazy to
think about how illogical this statement is. All they know is that they are terrified of "the enemy"
and this stupid phrase allows them to cling to their irrational belief that * is actually keeping us
safe by needing warrantless wiretaps. And then they can go back to more important stuff - like the
latest reality show or something.
I don't know how smart or dumb al-Qaeda members are, but I'm betting they are definitely smarter than
our pResident.