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DNI McConnell: ‘Americans
Are Going To Die’ If We Keep Talking About Wiretapping
Think
Progress
Thursday Aug 23, 2007
Earlier this month, Congress caved to President Bush and
passed legislation updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act, vastly expanding
Bush’s powers to wiretap American citizens without court
oversight. In an extensive interview
with the El Paso Times, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell
decried continued public discussion of the wiretapping program,
claiming Americans, particularly in Iraq, would
“die” because of the debate.
Q: So you’re saying that the reporting and the debate
in Congress means that some Americans are going to die?
McCONNELL: That’s what I mean. Because we have made it
so public. We used to do these things very differently
Despite forewarning of the death of Americans, McConnell freely
“pulled
the curtain back” on previously declassified information
about surveillance in the interview. Explaining details ranging
from secret court rulings to information on obtaining wiretapping
warrants, McConnell “raised eyebrows” for his “frank
discussion of previously classified eavesdropping work”
conducted under FISA.
(Article continues below)
Some highlights of McConnell’s revelations:
Court ruling declared Bush’s program illegal
on May 31: “After the 31st of May we were in
extremis because now we have significantly less capability”
when a federal court ruled part of the wiretapping program illegal,
McConnell said.
Private sector actively involved in wiretapping program:
“Under the president’s program, the terrorist surveillance
program, the private sector had assisted us,” said McConnell.
“Now if you play out the suits at the value they’re
claimed, it would bankrupt these companies,” McConnell
said, arguing for legal immunity for the companies when Congress
returns from recess.
McConnell denies White House involvement: “The
president’s guidance to me early in the process, was,
‘You’ve got the experience. I trust your judgement.
You make the right call. There’s no pressure from anybody
here,” McConnell claimed.
Thousands overseas are being monitored via warrants.
“Offering never-disclosed figures, McConnell
also revealed that fewer than 100 people inside the United States
are monitored under
FISA warrants. However, he said, thousands of people overseas
are monitored,” states the AP.
Takes 200 hours to assemble a wiretapping warrant: McConnell
alleged that “the issue is volume and time” as to
why he was so adamant about pursuing warrantless wiretapping.
“My argument was that the intelligence community should
not be restricted. … It takes about 200 man hours to do
one telephone number.”
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) said he believes McConnell declassified
the information in this interview because he “wanted to
push back on accusations that the legislation gave the attorney
general unprecedented new powers.” “I think they felt
they
had to become more public,” said Hoekstra.
The Bush administration seems to believe it is permissible to
talk about illegal wiretapping to save face, but not okay for
Americans to question
them about it.
Read the full interview HERE.
TPM Muckraker has more.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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