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Given the past legal gynamistics of the Bush administration, does anyone here really believe that the spying has been constrained to "international calls" by "Al Queda associated persons".
Remember that Bush categorizes peacenicks and the ACLU as "terrorists". The Secretary of Education as proclaimed the NEA (National Educators Association) as terrorists. Given the fact that everything is done in secret, isn't it probable that Bush just labels whoever he wants to spy on a terrorist???
On to an international call. Doesn't "international" mean something that leaves the country. Therefore anything that goes into orbit (which is international territory) is international. Therefore, any satellite communication in the US could be considered "international" by lawyers with no scruples even if the call is domestic (say from Illinois to Wisconsin). And what about cell phones??? Their transmissions are sent into space to. So any cell conversation could considered "international".
So now you see how unethical persons could simply "re-classify" domestic calls by ordinary citizes (say Senators, Congressman, CEOs, or you and me) and listen in to them via presidential authority.
Now do you think a FISA court would stand for this. No, I think they would push this bullshit aside pretty quickly. And perhaps THIS is the reason that Bush needs executive orders to get the wiretaps he wants rather than relying on the FISA court which has a track record of approving pretty much anything they are asked for.
Remember the old adage, "It is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission". Tonights speech by Bush will likely beg that forgiveness. But I suspect it will contain the usual lies that are technically truthful by twisting some definition way beyond it's original intent.
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