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jmowreader

(50,447 posts)
22. Clapper's metaphor was real twisted
Sat Jul 20, 2013, 11:35 PM
Jul 2013

He would have been better off not using metaphors:

"First, we get a list of all the phone calls made in the US on any given day. We use a very fast computer to compare that list to another list we have, that has the phone numbers of people associated with terrorists on it. If someone not on that list makes several calls to someone that's on it, or several people that are on it, the computer will alert an analyst, a person skilled in working against terrorists. The analyst will decide whether a person might be what we call a 'person of interest,' and whether we should step up our efforts against that person."

"And what would those efforts be?"

"If we have determined that a person is working with terrorists, we can apply for what's called a FISA warrant. FISA means the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Once we have that, we can record their phone calls, listen to them and find out what they're doing, a process that we call collection."

"Are there any safeguards to ensure you're not conducting collection against Americans?"

"Yes. After President Nixon resigned, there were many safeguards put in place to ensure the American intelligence community isn't spying on Americans. The standards we work under are very high. We use the same criteria - beyond a reasonable doubt - when we decide to collect against someone."

Better that than the library metaphor, which I'm sure has current NSA guys sitting there going "what the fuck?"

It can't be explained because it isn't legal. Well, unless... PSPS Jul 2013 #1
He was asked if they collected data. Igel Jul 2013 #2
Do you really mean: hootinholler Jul 2013 #4
It's legal cause Bush said so RobertEarl Jul 2013 #3
I read about one possible weasel legal move, woo me with science Jul 2013 #5
Yep. There it is. The Loophole. RobertEarl Jul 2013 #9
Where the communications are coming from doesn't matter jmowreader Jul 2013 #10
How do they know you are a USian? RobertEarl Jul 2013 #12
Speaking English is one of the ways jmowreader Jul 2013 #17
Are you seriously suggesting that we have replaced the constitution hootinholler Jul 2013 #20
No. jmowreader Jul 2013 #30
This was explained before. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #6
Perhaps our Congress-critters could pass this law ... HumansAndResources Jul 2013 #7
First one must understand what wiretapping involves and understand what collecting phone call record Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #8
Thanks for speaking out on behalf of simple thinkers. And simple spellers, too. DisgustipatedinCA Jul 2013 #23
Oh wow, seems like simple thinker can even get the message with typo, guess everyone can't be Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #24
Clapper's definition of collection is what the intelligence community uses jmowreader Jul 2013 #11
If you feel more government is better RobertEarl Jul 2013 #13
I think we're answering different questions jmowreader Jul 2013 #15
Collection of contents RobertEarl Jul 2013 #28
Sorry but Government is not bad Life Long Dem Jul 2013 #18
That is not what Clapper said hootinholler Jul 2013 #21
Clapper's metaphor was real twisted jmowreader Jul 2013 #22
So you are saying this is what he should have said? hootinholler Jul 2013 #27
still waiting to hear the justification for the patriot act being used mainly to arrest pot smokers. Warren DeMontague Jul 2013 #14
Do you understand we already knew about NSA collecting phone records? Life Long Dem Jul 2013 #16
ill gotten gain, can't be used in court ... quadrature Jul 2013 #19
The best argument for how it can be legal, is they have FISA court warrants for it. limpyhobbler Jul 2013 #25
All I can damn well guarantee you, this will be a major issue come the 2014 elections and somebody Purveyor Jul 2013 #26
NSA spying is a republican baby RobertEarl Jul 2013 #29
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