Analysts say FISA will suffice

[maddezmom]

By Sean Lengell
February 16, 2008
Many intelligence scholars and analysts outside the government say that today's expiration of certain temporary domestic wiretapping laws will have little effect on national security, despite warnings to the contrary by the White House and Capitol Hill Republican leaders.



With the Protect America Act expiring this weekend, domestic wiretapping rules will revert to the 30-year-old Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which requires the government to obtain a warrant from a special court to conduct foreign intelligence surveillance in the United States.



The original FISA law, these experts say, provides the necessary tools for the intelligence community to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists.



Timothy Lee, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, said the last time Congress overhauled FISA — after the September 11 terrorist attacks — President Bush praised the action, saying the new law "recognizes the realities and dangers posed by the modern terrorist."


more:http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NATION/847451166

[LiberalFighter]

1. If they do revise FISA any way to include a provision to monitor Bush's communications?

Too bad it couldn't be snucked into the bill.

[bemildred]

2. It's all about spying on domestic political enemies.

It has nothing to do with our security, it is perfectly clear the government doesn't care a fig about our "security". It's Nixon on steroids. The war party doesn't like having it's privileges and control challenged.

[Demeter]

3. Security? What Security?

Americans have never felt more insecure (other than that Depression thing, which I believe is next on the White House menu).