Senators Call On US Intelligence Chief To Make Information About NSA Spy Programs Public - AP

[WillyT]

Senators call on US intelligence chief to make information about NSA spy programs public
Article by: RICHARD LARDNER , Associated Press/StarTribune
June 28, 2013 - 10:30 AM

<snip>

WASHINGTON — More than two dozen U.S. senators are calling on the nation's top intelligence official to make information public about the scope and duration of the National Security Agency's surveillance program.

In a letter sent Friday to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, the bipartisan group of lawmakers also want him provide examples of how the bulk collection of phone records provided unique intelligence.

The letter from the 26 senators, organized by Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon, says they are concerned the gathering of massive of amounts of data on the communications of ordinary Americans depended on secret interpretations of the Patriot Act.

The letter says those interpretations, along with misleading statements from U.S. intelligence officials, prevented American citizens from being able to evaluate the decisions their government was making.

<snip>

Link: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/213521531.html

[think]

1. Up to 26 Senators now. Sweet. The momentum is building.

[Poll_Blind]

2. This is great news!

PB

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Despite the smears, lies, and CYA evasions, this ain't going away.

[TransitJohn]

4. Those racist Libertarian Paulbot Senators!

[WillyT]

5. LOL !!!

[think]

6. Is there cure for that?

Or is it an epidemic?...

[JDPriestly]

7. 26 courageous people. Thank you.

The Senators signing the letter are: Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dean Heller (R- Nev.),Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).

http://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-26-senators-seek-answers-from-dni-clapper-on-bulk-data-collection-program

[BlueCheese]

8. 22 Democrats and 4 Republicans

Are there people who still want to argue that this is all a Republican plot to get at Obama?

[Rebellious Republican]

12. No its not a republican plot to get POTUS actually it is.....

just the opposite. Republicans do not want this under scrutiny because it was the Bush Admin and the republican Senate and House members who gave us this.

Bush Authorized Domestic Spying

President Bush signed a secret order in 2002 authorizing the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in the United States, despite previous legal prohibitions against such domestic spying, sources with knowledge of the program said last night.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/16/AR2005121600021.html

[frylock]

14. hunh. no rand paul on that list..

so much for those allegations of RATFUCKING!!!12

[myrna minx]

23. Thanks for posting this info. K&R for the thread.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

24. x2. Thanks. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. My, this epidemic of CIVIL LIBERTARIANISM is spreading.

they must hate Obama or 'thing...

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. knr

[secondvariety]

11. About time.

I'm betting the truthful answers concerning the duration of the program and it's effectiveness are "Forever" and "Ain't found squat".

[marions ghost]

13. K&R

Progress for a change

[blkmusclmachine]

15. .

.

[SCVDem]

16. What will they all say

After the next 9/11?

How were we supposed to know?

[limpyhobbler]

17. better late than never. This should have happened long ago.

And with this I think we see some real good has come from the controversial leaks about the NSA surveillance programs.

[cantbeserious]

18. Good News - Seems Some In The Senate Are Concerned And May Understand The Need To Reel This In

eom

[Harmony Blue]

19. True

but it will take a lot more public pressure.

[cantbeserious]

20. Agreed

eom

[cstanleytech]

22. That or they are milking it now because they want to use it in the future like

say during an election where they can say "Vote for me because I stood up to the NSA" or something along those lines of how they helped protect their rights.
Personally I am of the opinion that if such a database of what numbers called x number at x time and x place (and not conversations) is needed then it shouldnt be under the control of the NSA or any other law enforcement agency nor under the control of the legislature or executive branch but rather move it under the control of the judiciary branch.

[DCBob]

21. I think this is fine as long as it doesn't undercut the effectiveness of the programs.