New York Times: They’re At It Again
The NY Times has resumed their never-ending quest of helping our terrorist enemies. Here’s their latest attempt to undermine national security:
The Pentagon has been using a little-known power to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage inside the United States, part of an aggressive expansion by the military into domestic intelligence gathering. (Ed.- emphasis added)
The CIA has also been issuing what are known as national security letters to gain access to financial records from American companies, though it has done so only rarely, intelligence officials say.
Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions receiving the letters usually have turned over documents voluntarily, allowing investigators to examine the financial assets and transactions of American military personnel and civilians, officials say.
Notice that this isn’t taking in hundreds of thousands of names. It says that it’s been done on “hundreds of Americans.” That’s hardly being abusive. In fact, I’d argue that it’s rather restrained.
I expect John Conyers to take this up in his committee. This paragraph says why he’s interested in it:
Government lawyers say the legal authority for the Pentagon and the CIA to use national security letters in gathering domestic records dates back nearly three decades and, by their reading, was strengthened by the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act.
I’ve written a few times lately about Conyers’ desire to gut the Patriot Act. Don’t think that he won’t see this as a perfect opportunity to exploit.
I’d further suggest that the credibility of this reporting is suspect because we’re getting this information leaked. If there’s anything that makes me suspicious of a report, it’s when the information was acquired through a snitch with an agenda.
If the government’s lawyers are right that the Patriot Act strengthened the use of national security letters, then it’s reasonable to assume that there’s regular oversight done on this program. If that’s the case, then we don’t need to read about it in the NY Times.
I’d further add that it’s suspicious that Eric Lichtblau, one of the reporters that exposed the NSA Terrorist Surveillance Program, another important tool in preventing terrorist attacks, is one of the reporters for this article. Does the NY Times hire Mr. Lichtblau each time they want to tell terrorists about the tools the U.S. is using in preventing terrorist attacks? Or do they just keep such subversives on payroll for use during Republican administrations?
Obviously, they didn’t use the likes of Mr. Lichtblau to expose Bill Clinton’s Echelon program. Furthermore, they didn’t use Mr. Lichtblau to write about Bill Clinton’s use of warrantless searches in other cases. Are we to believe that that’s pure coincidence? Or should we just believe that the NY Times has it in for Republicans? They certainly don’t have it in for Democrats.
It’s time we got rid of reporters with such a history of undermining our war efforts. He’s potentially endangering millions of lives with his reporting. That isn’t reporting; it’s subversion.
Technorati Tags: Patriot Act, NSA, John Conyers, National Security, NY Times, Eric Lichtblau
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
January 14th, 2007 at 1:23 am
[...] Cross-posted at California Conservative Categories: National Security, Terrorism, President Bush, Corruption, John Conyers, Subversives, Anti-War Activists, Agenda Media, FBI | [...]
January 14th, 2007 at 1:27 am
[...] Original post by Gary Gross and software by Elliott Back [...]
January 14th, 2007 at 2:53 am
NYT: Pentagon, CIA Grabbing Bank Records…
The U.S. military and the Central Intelligence Agency have been using a little-known power to get th…
January 14th, 2007 at 7:51 am
What is sad is that the NYT and Lichtblau do not see this as subversion but as their patriotic duty. In their warped logic, any action that destroys or undermines government efforts that they do not personally agree with, or from government officials they personally dislike, is patriotic and their duty. You see, they are so self centered and egotistical, they find themselves above all elected offcials and the american public in general. It doesnt matter what the result of elections are, as long as they dont agre with the results, the public is too stupid to do the right thing. Or they failed to “spread the message” and have to find new ways to sell themselves to “Jesusfreaks”. It is strange that a newspaper based in the city that bore the brunt of the enemies wrath, they refuse to acknowledge the existance of this enemy and conveniently replace him with the BushRoveCoHalliburton boogieman.
January 14th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
“it’s reasonable to assume…”
Mr. Gross, in this administration, nothing is reasonable to assume, becuase this is not a resonable administration.
Now try tell me how this defines George W. Bush.
And “as their patriotic duty” Rey… umm, it is, in fact, their patriotic duty. Maybe if you had even a shred of understanding what that meant…
January 14th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
[...] Original post by Gary Gross and software by Elliott Back [...]
January 14th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
So, leaking national secrets…or making up lies claiming that they are secrets causing our allies to distrust us and our enemies to gain not only a propaganda advantage but a knowledege of any surveillance method that this country may of not employ against them is patriotic….yeah, whatever. I bet you are the type that beleives in taking a beating from a bully to prove you are better than him…or that talking to a rapist will keep a woman safe or negotiating with someone who believes they will go to heaven if they kill you and your family will make them change their minds. So sad. The good thing is that they are rough men on the walls keeping the head choppers off. That way you can continue to scream about evil bushrovehalliburton taking away your rights. go play little boy, the grown men are keeping the real ogres off you.
January 14th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
When will people learn that the New York Times is nothing but glorified fishwrap. They have no credibility anymore as a serious newspaper and continue to earn their liberal label everyday. When will these people realize that we are not the enemy and that we must do everything we can to hunt down and defeat the real enemy. The liberals at the New York Times do not seem to realize that their beliefs would get them shot by the muslim extremists they so willing bend over backwards for and aid.
January 14th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Well, we’ll see if this gets posted.
What, exactly, are we fighting against? Is it Saddam? WMD? Chemical, biological and/or nuclear? Or is it the Freedom of the Iraqis? Bringing a stabilizing force to the Middle East? Is it now to bring calm to Baghdad?
Please, tell me what we’re doing over there besides dying and spending $2 billion a week. Have we made the situation better? Are we really protecting our home soil? Then why have our embassies been attacked? What about Madrid and London? Or don’t they count because its not “our soil”?
You see, I do completely understand that the Muslim extremists would kill me for my beliefs and free expression. However, what are we fighting for, if not that freedom? So, you’d have me give up my freedom… to save my freedom? How does that work?
The Generals said we’d have to go big, go long, or get out. We can’t go big becuase the Republicans can’t bring themselves to doing what it would take: ask the country for sacrifice. We can’t get out, because of the mess we’ll leave in the Middle East. So, apparently, we’re going long. At least Bush could have stood up and explained to the American people what we’re going to do. Or is that tipping our hand? Republican double-speak has me flummoxed.
January 15th, 2007 at 4:04 am
“At least Bush could have stood up and explained to the American people what we’re going to do.”
Why? because it wouldn’t make a difference to stupid hateful idiots like you. So I’ll expose the reason for your traitorous stupidity by changing a few words.
“At least Bush could have stood up and explained to the {TERRORISTS AND OUR ENEMIES} what we’re going to do.”
What “We’re” are going to do?
“We’re”? You think yourself as “AMERICAN”? RIGHT! YOU ARE DEMOCRAT , NOTHING MORE.
After all , democrats call it “BUSH’S WAR”. Why don’t you democrats just but the hell out and not stick your nose were it doesn’t belong ,interfering with Americans who will kill those who have declared war on us and so stupid as to continue to attack us and make treats against us.
So do what your kind does best, screw each other over and lie to their face while doing it. Idiots.
January 15th, 2007 at 10:56 am
[...] California Conservative writes: I’d further suggest that the credibility of this reporting is suspect because we’re getting this information leaked. If there’s anything that makes me suspicious of a report, it’s when the information was acquired through a snitch with an agenda. [...]
January 15th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
ACLU Raises Objections Over Expanded Military and…
The NY Times continues in their quest to leak out our methods to our enemies. The Pentagon has been using a little-known power to obtain banking and credit records of hundreds of Americans and others suspected of terrorism or espionage inside the Uni…..
February 3rd, 2007 at 5:17 am
Not much on my mind today. What can I say? I’ve just been sitting around waiting for something to happen. But i found this site and became happy!