-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: August 6, 2007 1:02:36 AM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: "Terrorist Threat" Scare Tactics Used on Democrats to
Coerce Agreement on FISA
Lott to Dems: "Get Out of D.C. While You Still Can!"
By Spencer Ackerman - August 2, 2007, 5:41 PM
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003851.php
There's irresponsibility. There's demagoguery. And then there's
Trent Lott.
It turns out the Capitol Police have bolstered security around the
U.S. Capitol after a recent al-Qaeda communique threatened an
attack on Washington. Lott, according to Roll Call, responded with
characteristic gravitas: In light of the threat, Congress could
either amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or we can
all run screaming into the inferno.
"Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) ominously advised
Thursday that Congress needed to pass changes to terrorist
surveillance laws before leaving for the August recess and warned
that otherwise “the disaster could be on our doorstep.”
Further demonstrating his counterterrorism sagacity, when asked if
people should leave Washington, D.C., during the month of August,
Lott replied that "I think it would be good to leave town in
August, and it would probably be good to stay out until September
the 12th."
--------------
Bush Gets a Spying Blank Check
By Robert Parry
August 5, 2007
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/080507.html
Eager to leave for its August recess, Congress handed George W.
Bush another blank check on executive power, letting him order up
spying directives against a vast number of people, including
Americans, if they are physically outside the United States.
The “Protect America Act of 2007” sets the standard for a
surveillance order – which can last for up to one year – as simply
that it be “directed at a person reasonably believed to be located
outside the United States.”
The bill’s advocates claim it is intended to intercept
communications when at least one party is linked to a terrorist
group or a terrorist affiliate and is outside the United States.
But the bill’s language doesn’t limit the surveillance to
“terrorists” or “enemy combatants” – indeed those words are not
mentioned in the legislation.
Nor does the bill, which was drafted by the Bush administration’s
national security team, specify what happens to a one-year
surveillance order against a target if the person then enters – or
returns – to the United States. The vaguely worded act gives broad
discretion to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Director of
National Intelligence Mike McConnell.
Its key language states: “Notwithstanding any other law, the
Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General may for
periods of up to one year authorize the acquisition of foreign
intelligence information concerning persons reasonably believed to
be outside the United States.”
In the pre-recess rush to wrap up legislative business – and to
avoid a messy confrontation with President Bush – Congress offered
only cursory attention to what this provision means and what new
abuses are now possible.
The Senate caved in first, voting 60-28 to authorize Bush’s broader
spying powers, with many centrist Democrats – such as California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb – joining
Republicans. (Presidential contenders – Sens. Hillary Clinton,
Barack Obama, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden – voted no.)
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.
www.ctrl.org
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/
<A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
