National Security Agency logo In 2002, as a part of ongoing anti-terrorist operations, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on Americans and others in the United States making contact with persons in other nations. According to a The New York Times report, the NSA monitored the international telephone calls and international e-mail messages of "hundreds, and perhaps thousands of people" inside the United States over the past three years without warrants. According to The New York Times, John Yoo, the former deputy in the Office of Legal Counsel , justified the domestic spying in a classified Justice Department legal opinion, arguing that these activities were covered by congressional approval of the war on terrorism . That legal argument was similar to another 2002 memo authored primarily by Yoo, which outlined an extremely narrow definition of torture. That opinion, which was signed by another Justice official, was formally disavowed after it was disclosed by The Washington Post . President Bush insisted that he has not compromised civil liberties . "Revealing classified information is illegal," he said during an unusual live, on-camera version of his weekly radio address, about this secret program that was revealed in media reports yesterday. Senior members of congress from both parties called for an explanation. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter , stated that "there is no doubt that this is inappropriate". Senator Trent Lott defended the NSA directive saying "I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that." Several national security officials say the jurisdiction granted the NSA goes far beyond the USA PATRIOT Act . Under the act, it's necessary to seek a F.I.S.A. (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrant every time law enforcement eavesdrops within the U.S. Some officials say they consider warrantless eavesdropping inside the United States to be unlawful and possibly unconstitutional. The New York Times, the newspaper that broke the news, stated that it delayed publication of this story for a year after the White House said it could jeopardize investigations and alert would-be terrorists under surveillance.
 logo In 2002, as a part of ongoing anti-terrorist operations, secretly authorized the (NSA) to spy on Americans and others in the United States making contact with persons in other nations. According to a The New York Times report, the NSA monitored the international telephone calls and international e-mail messages of "hundreds, and perhaps thousands of people" inside the United States over the past three years without warrants. According to The New York Times, John Yoo, the former deputy in the , justified the domestic spying in a classified legal opinion, arguing that these activities were covered by congressional approval of the . That legal argument was similar to another 2002 memo authored primarily by Yoo, which outlined an extremely narrow definition of torture. That opinion, which was signed by another Justice official, was formally disavowed after it was disclosed by . President Bush insisted that he has not compromised . "Revealing classified information is illegal," he said during an unusual live, on-camera version of his weekly radio address, about this secret program that was revealed in media reports yesterday. Senior members of congress from both parties called for an explanation. chairman , stated that "there is no doubt that this is inappropriate". Senator defended the NSA directive saying "I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that." Several national security officials say the jurisdiction granted the NSA goes far beyond the . Under the act, it's necessary to seek a (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrant every time law enforcement eavesdrops within the U.S. Some officials say they consider warrantless eavesdropping inside the United States to be unlawful and possibly unconstitutional. The New York Times, the newspaper that broke the news, stated that it delayed publication of this story for a year after the said it could jeopardize investigations and alert would-be terrorists under surveillance.
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National Security Agency
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President Bush
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National Security Agency
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Office of Legal Counsel
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Justice Department
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war on terrorism
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The Washington Post
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civil liberties
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Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter
chairman
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Trent Lott
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USA PATRIOT Act
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F.I.S.A.
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White House