FBI loses FISA evidence over unpaid phone bills
January 12, 2008 1:52 PM Subscribe
FISA wiretapping: keeping us safe in the war on terror.
"It seems the telecoms, who are claiming they were just being 'good patriots' when they allowed the government to spy on us without warrants, are more than willing to pull the plug on national security investigations when the government falls behind on its bills," said former FBI agent Michael German, the ACLU's national security policy counsel. "To put it bluntly, it sounds as though the telecoms believe it when the FBI says the warrant is in the mail but not when they say the check is in the mail."
The phone companies get protected from prosecution and they get paid
They may not be. The bill that would give them immunity is perminantly dead, at least for the rest of Bush's term. It could in theory come back from the dead, especially if Hillary is elected (IMO).
On the other hand, what seemed like a sure-to-pass bill granting Telecoms retroactive immunity is now essentially inoperative.
posted by delmoi at 2:02 PM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
They may not be. The bill that would give them immunity is perminantly dead, at least for the rest of Bush's term. It could in theory come back from the dead, especially if Hillary is elected (IMO).
On the other hand, what seemed like a sure-to-pass bill granting Telecoms retroactive immunity is now essentially inoperative.
posted by delmoi at 2:02 PM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's nice to see the government still has some kind of accountability.
posted by Citizen Premier at 2:31 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by Citizen Premier at 2:31 PM on January 12, 2008
I love the phone companies!!! they allow the govt to spy on us and don'[t give a hoot. But don't pay on time and wham--out you go. cut off like a dick circumcised. They show no favoritism whhen it comes to $$$.
posted by Postroad at 2:52 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by Postroad at 2:52 PM on January 12, 2008
The beauty of the telecom wiretapping is that calling your Muslim friends is now the best way to get a collect message to your federal government .
posted by srboisvert at 3:04 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by srboisvert at 3:04 PM on January 12, 2008
Wow, postroad is drunk posting. Don't see that every day.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 3:25 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by a robot made out of meat at 3:25 PM on January 12, 2008
The best part is that the government can be listening to your calls illegally, but you can never challenge it in court because the discovery necessary to prove it is classified.
posted by whoaali at 3:40 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by whoaali at 3:40 PM on January 12, 2008
How could you challenge it if you didn't even know it happened? Or, how would you know?
posted by Brocktoon at 4:10 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by Brocktoon at 4:10 PM on January 12, 2008
I know how the FBI feels, nobody cuts you any slack when them bills come due.
posted by nola at 5:02 PM on January 12, 2008
posted by nola at 5:02 PM on January 12, 2008
The bill that would give them immunity is perminantly dead, at least for the rest of Bush's term.
I'd like to believe that, but the very fact that Reid was willing to bring this to the floor *despite* a hold from a fellow party member means that I frankly don't trust him.
posted by eriko at 6:43 PM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'd like to believe that, but the very fact that Reid was willing to bring this to the floor *despite* a hold from a fellow party member means that I frankly don't trust him.
posted by eriko at 6:43 PM on January 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Citizen Premier: It's nice to see the government still has some kind of accountability.
As opposed to accountants, apparently...
posted by Skeptic at 3:53 AM on January 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
As opposed to accountants, apparently...
posted by Skeptic at 3:53 AM on January 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Too funny. I point and Nelson-laugh at teh FISA. HA ha!!!
Amazes me, though, how so many Americans are so eager to give up their rights and privacy to protect against a terrorist threat that's killed roughly 3000 civilians, when the same folks rail against, say, seat belt laws when traffic accidents kill 40,000 civilians every year -- because oh-noes-nanny-state!
(Not a fan of seat belt laws, myself, but come on, be consistent!!)
posted by LordSludge at 11:17 AM on January 13, 2008
Amazes me, though, how so many Americans are so eager to give up their rights and privacy to protect against a terrorist threat that's killed roughly 3000 civilians, when the same folks rail against, say, seat belt laws when traffic accidents kill 40,000 civilians every year -- because oh-noes-nanny-state!
(Not a fan of seat belt laws, myself, but come on, be consistent!!)
posted by LordSludge at 11:17 AM on January 13, 2008
US drafting plan to allow government access to any email or Web search
posted by homunculus at 12:40 PM on January 14, 2008
posted by homunculus at 12:40 PM on January 14, 2008
FBI wants instant access to British identity data
posted by homunculus at 2:24 PM on January 15, 2008
posted by homunculus at 2:24 PM on January 15, 2008
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posted by Benny Andajetz at 1:57 PM on January 12, 2008