Gonzales: ‘I Cannot Give You Absolute Assurance’ That We Are Not Spying on Innocent Americans
Gonzales: ‘I Cannot Give You Absolute Assurance’ That We Are Not Spying on Innocent Americans
This morning, ThinkProgress listed three questions that Alberto Gonzales needed to answer during today’s hearings. Question No. 3 read, “Can you guarantee this program has never — either intentionally or unintentionally — captured communications of political opponents or journalists?”
RawStory reports that Sen. Joseph Biden made a similar request today, asking Gonzales to guarantee the program had not been used to spy on innocent Americans with no connections to terrorism:
BIDEN: Can you assure us, General, you are fully, totally informed and confident that you know the absolute detail with which this program is being conducted? Can you assure us you personally can assure us no one is being eavesdropped upon in the United States other than — other than someone who has a communication that is emanating from foreign soil by a suspected terrorist, al Qaeda, or otherwise?
GONZALES: Sir, I can’t give you absolute assurance.
BIDEN: Who can?
GONZALES: Certainly General Hayden knows more about the operational details of this [program]. What I can give the American people assurance is that we have a number of safeguards in place so that we can say with a high degree of confidence or certainly certainty that what the president has authorized in connection with this program, that those procedures are being followed.
Gonzales tries to kick this question to former NSA Director Michael Hayden. But as ThinkProgress has noted, Hayden has been asked this question on at least three occassions and ducked it every time.
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Paraphrase Gonzo to Specter just before Specter unloaded on him:
If you were smart enough you’d see it my way.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:03 pmWhat the Hell is this - a game of hot potato?
We should have elected 9th graders to Washington, at least their games are bit more sophisticated than the current administration.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:04 pmGonzales answering the Senator’s question:
“Well OF COURSE we’re spying on the Quakers! I mean, THEY’RE QUAKERS after all!!!”
February 6th, 2006 at 6:05 pmAll the paid Right Wing posters are out in force today, they, (the payers) are really scared of the wiretapping thing getting seen for what it really is.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:11 pmI listened nearly all day to this bull s*** and I want to know where is a prosacuter to impeach the entire lot of liers, and then arrest and try them all starting with Bush….Blessings
February 6th, 2006 at 6:13 pmspy on these cats:
http://www.anp.org/engindex/engentry.html
February 6th, 2006 at 6:14 pmWe need to either impeach them now, or face a possible Bush Dictatorship.
As I wrote in another thread:
Next Stop:
Martial Law…
All Aboard!…
That’s where I see this heading, and it’s SCARY.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:15 pmHypothetical Gonzo
Not good enough
February 6th, 2006 at 6:18 pmVIDEO- Gonzales- “President is my Client”
http://www.canofun.com/ blog/ videos/ 2006/ GonzalesPresidentIsMyClientFeb606.asx
February 6th, 2006 at 6:19 pmGONZALES: Certainly General Hayden knows more about the operational details of this [program]. What I can give the American people assurance is that we have a number of safeguards in place so that we can say with a high degree of confidence or certainly certainty that what the president has authorized in connection with this program, that those procedures are being followed.
What a HYPOCRITE, thats why hes at the HEARING, becuase BUSH DIDNT follow these safeguards.
Gonzo has now become an official ‘Toe Shooter’..
February 6th, 2006 at 6:21 pmSay hello to your Friends I-RIGHT-I, Gary Ruppert, And Mighty Afrodite..
Assurance? Gonzo gives an assurance? For something with no Congressional oversight? For something operated clearly out side the law? For something that “probably” wasn’t used for political gain?
Come on! This stinks.
Mark my words: Bush will not feel the need to declare Martial Law. He may have already implemented it. And nobody knew about it.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:22 pmgonzo says
“we can say with a high degree of confidence or certainly certainty”
then he says I cant Answer the Question.
Is that supposed to produce Confidence Gonzo?
February 6th, 2006 at 6:28 pmHow is your words Certain when you dont answer?
Nothing in this hearing, that Gonzo has said, even comes close to a high degree of ‘Certainty’..
YAY Gonzo
Way to KILL your own credibility!
Your doing a heckuva Job Gonzo. –Duhbya
Mark my words: Bush will not feel the need to declare Martial Law. He may have already implemented it. And nobody knew about it.
Comment by Jesus Christ God of WAR — February 6, 2006 @
Naw the posse comitatus is still effective, last time I checked, anyway. The Neo-cons will be trying to change that also, right now its under the Auspices of ‘Bird Flu’…
February 6th, 2006 at 6:32 pmAll you need to appoint a special prosecutor is a committee chairman in Congress willing to do so. Let’s see who in the House would do it……must be a Democrat here somewhere…no,nobody here,well,let’s check the Senate….no,nobody here. This is why a lot of work needs to be done leading up to Nov. Crying in the wilderness about this issue,the war,the budget,etc. won’t cut it.Stop spending every day whining and get to work.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:32 pmThe Republicans outworked and outsmarted the Democrats and now you see what happens.Oh,and out spent them,too.
Joe Bidens line of questioning underscores the lack of controls and accountability that executive branch seems quite willing to freewheel in its prosecution of the conflict , even so much so that as Biden said could go on for decades?
February 6th, 2006 at 6:34 pmDecades of freewheeling unlimited unassailable investigations wherein the parameters of credulity are akin to “trust me, I’m from the Government” and stand on no more leagl grounds as I am the president?
For those of us who lived through the Nixon era, even as is my experience sent to foriegn shores under arms,am glad , no thankfull, there are those who are still still alive and still serving on the commitee who were there then when the FISA law was enacted can testify in flesh what it was the intent of the law was, in spirit, and can articulate the letter of the law serves the People well.
The AG has aproblem on his hands tonight that far and away exceeds the problems he awoke wir=th in the foem of Senators like Biden who press the common sneseical ponits he did today that claerly show that this is a White House that picks and chooses which authorities it seeks to achieve its ends.
If I shoot nerf footballs out of my ass and blow helicopters full of nuns into the 5th realm of pudding will you wash my donkey? -Cornyn
February 6th, 2006 at 6:36 pm“Can you (ahem!!!)guarantee…???!!!” Thank you Nico, for demonstrating why the majority of the American people don’t BELIEVE the Dems stand for national security.
Here’s a question I would pose to Senator Biden and the rest of the DEmSEns,
“Can you guarantee NONE of YOUR policies have endangered the lives of the American people? Can you????”
February 6th, 2006 at 6:44 pmGonzo’s answer should have been:
“Well if they were innocent, we wouldn’t be spying on them would we?”
In other words, we are the rulers, and we will do whatever we want!
These criminals must be brought to justice now.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:47 pmmighty,
You have really deteriorated over the months. You started off so strong! Everyday your president becomes more and more unpopular with Americans and yet you keep coming here like your opinion will somehow (put an end to the downfall?). Isn’t there something else you should be doing? Really?
February 6th, 2006 at 6:50 pmHere is a petition you can esign to demand an independent investigation:
http://political.moveon.org/ruleoflaw/
This is my personal note:
It is a slap in our face that the Republican Senators of the Judiciary Committee elected that AG Gonzales not testify under oath. This clearly indicates their disregard for ethics, moral conscience, and legal standards especially given the fact that the Senate demanded that sportsmen testify under oath regarding their steroid abuses.
You were elected to represent the American People and uphold our rights as specified by the CONSTITUTION! Since you have shown you cannot adequately perform your duties it is paramount that an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION REGARDING ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE be initiated such that RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN PANDERING POLITICS IS NOT A FACTOR!
So this is your idea of “Contract with America” as advertised when Republicans gained the majority in 1994, including illegal lobbyist funding collusion? Is the Contract to buy your seat with tainted funds to finance negative/smear campaigns because you’re not confident enough to run on relevant issues, honesty, and integrity?
For God’s sake and the sake of our nation, DO SOMETHING RIGHT FOR A CHANGE!
February 6th, 2006 at 6:51 pmI am so glad to see liberals preoccupied with FISA. It will help paint Democrats as soft on terror come mid-terms.
While you focus on this, the GOP will be slashing programs and cutting spending. Oh - and we’ll get to name Stevens replacement, too.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:52 pmTrust me? Trust the President? Don’t they know this is not about trust but rather about distrust?
A democratic form of government is founded on the principles of distrust. Democracy is all about checks & balances and public accountability and operational oversight. Last time I checked, we were supposed to have a democratic form of government.
Only God’s Kingdom is founded on trust. Here on earth, “trust me” only works for Monarchies and Dictatorships.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:56 pm#20 - Lisa, well said.
From my perspective there is a laundry list of things the ReighWingNuts have failed to do for Americans. Speaking the truth has got to be near the top of the list.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:58 pm““Can you guarantee NONE of YOUR policies have endangered the lives of the American people? Can you????â€
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 6, 2006 @ 6:44 pm”
Oh poor pumpkin, there’s no constitutional guarantee for the right to be un-endangered, but there is a constitutional guarantee of our freedoms. The partisan fear based children of the rightwing seem to put their perceived insecurities over their established liberties. I forgive you pumpkin - like many who live within their ‘childish’ fears, you’ve displaced your rights as citizens for a false sense of security of fatherly protections of the father state. Ironic considering republicans and partisans in general always talk about the nanny state - and here we are in the biggest nanny state scenario of them all.
But pumpkin, the partisan brain can’t see reason, rational discourse, or non-emotionally based ideas - so I forgive you for not being able to see how silly and childlike your posts are. You’re so smart, and yet such a basic principle eludes you - poor thing.
February 6th, 2006 at 6:58 pmtetra,
February 6th, 2006 at 7:03 pmHere you go. Your fetal-alcohol kids will be paying for you fear.
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13786640.htm
February 6th, 2006 at 7:03 pmi may surely regret asking this, but i’m very curious to know the answer:
February 6th, 2006 at 7:05 pmjust what ARE the policies that have endangered the lives of the American people?
i mean, from aphro’s perspective…and no lies, just the facts…waiting…
#24 - RightPunch. You said it correctly!
…there’s no constitutional guarantee for the right to be un-endangered, but there is a constitutional guarantee of our freedoms. The partisan fear based children of the rightwing seem to put their perceived insecurities over their established liberties. I forgive you pumpkin - like many who live within their ‘childish’ fears, you’ve displaced your rights as citizens for a false sense of security of fatherly protections of the father state. Ironic considering republicans and partisans in general always talk about the nanny state - and here we are in the biggest nanny state scenario of them all.
ReichWingNuts will never understand that their Sainted Leaders have actively willfully deliberately destroyed American Democracy. It is they who are to blame for the terrible state our Republic is in. Ignorance should have a price.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:07 pmGus - it is liberals who are preaching fear against our OWN govt. At least Bush has the decency to use fear against our enemies.
I, on the other hand, am not as nice as the President. I fear for the day people like you ever get the White House back. You will stop at nothing to destroy this President even if it means hurting our national security. That is a real fear.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:18 pm>#13 mr ho
February 6th, 2006 at 7:22 pmDid you see this?
http://www.democrats.com/node/7668
RyANNE aka - Rightslap - You have a right to expect the government to protect you. Read the PREAMBLE of the US Constitution - not to be confused with the “one world” and “new AGe” crap you seem to enjoy. Feelings aren’t Facts, Ladies and Gentlemen….unless you’re an angry, bitter, progressive liberal….
February 6th, 2006 at 7:25 pmpeople like tetra’s kind would stop at nothing to try and destroy president clinton and actually did hurt our national security and reputation…
February 6th, 2006 at 7:30 pmUrge EVERY middle of the road voter (from any and all parties…OK not the freaks at the Green Party or the loosers of the World Socialists… but middle of the road types…to go to move.on.org website - they will gain such ‘respect’ for the “strong stance” liberals take against terrorists and barbarians. HaHaHa!!!!! A little blurb I just ran across…You can buy a book, but you can’t buy knowledge.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:32 pm#32 - not really. Clinton lied under oath to selfishly cover up a personal affair. Oh - and he was being sued for sexual harrasment.
Bush is defending Ameirca against a vicious enemy. People like you are fighting him every step of the way.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:34 pm“RyANNE aka - Rightslap - You have a right to expect the government to protect you. Read the PREAMBLE of the US Constitution - not to be confused with the “one world†and “new AGe†crap you seem to enjoy. Feelings aren’t Facts, Ladies and Gentlemen….unless you’re an angry, bitter, progressive liberal….
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 6, 2006 @ 7:25 pm”
Sweetie, as much as I adore the hate based pet names you give me, I forgive you for your intended injury. Clearly your fear and insecurity at a few petty thugs has caused your partisan brain to act out of hysteria.
I just read the preamble, and for the life of me I can’t find anywhere that the government guarantees that security goes before liberty and freedom. In fact it promises to “secure the Blessings of Liberty”, one of which includes the security to know that as an american my government isn’t going to spy on me without probable cause. That is in fact a ‘blessing of liberty’ that I expect to pass on to the next generation sweetie.
As for the anger? Sweetie, that’s all in your head. I love my fellow americans, you included. I know you have the most noble of intentions, but I also know that you’re angry at the terrorists, fearful for your safety and that of your children and as a result you’ve become hysterical and silly. Everything you write about this topic talks about terrorists and barbarians who you seem to invest far more energy on, than your fellow americans that should in fact draw your superior intellect. Americans are more at risk from cigarettes, guns and weather/food disasters global warming than we are at risks from terrorism.
Have some context sweetie, you sound like the christian silly putties on the street corner screaming about the end of time. It’s just silly hysteria pumpkin - but I forgive you. Fear makes people say the silliest and most hate filled things. When you calm down and have a more rational perspective I’m sure you’ll be much more reasonable pumpkin.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:41 pm“they will gain such ‘respect’ for the “strong stance†liberals take against terrorists and barbarians. HaHaHa!!!!! A little blurb I just ran across…You can buy a book, but you can’t buy knowledge.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 6, 2006 @ 7:32 pm “
Sweetie, would that be the ’strong stand’ where Bush said that Osama wasn’t a priority or relevant to the war on terror? Is that the strong stand you were referring to pumpkin - or did you mean the mythical strong stand where republicans all get in a circle and repeat ‘Iraq=Terrorism - I cannot tell a lie’, and brainwash each other through fear and paranoia?
Pumpkin, it’s clear you’re a smart gal, but you have so much untapped potential. Try thinking about the problem for a change instead of repeating what people told you and just believing them. I bet you’d be amazed at what you come up with sweetie.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:44 pmHey Tetra King, where’s Osama? According to your president, who you say is protecting America, “Oh I really don’t think about him much”.
He was never after Osama, except to make it look like it. Your great president is using your fears to turn American into a nation of cowards and a Nazi based country.
Get your head out.
February 6th, 2006 at 7:46 pmThat’s funny, it was Bush that said:
White House
October 3, 2005
President Nominates Harriet Miers as Supreme Court Justice
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ news/ releases/ 2005/ 10/ 20051003.html
Feelings aren’t facts eh? Good enough for a Supreme Court Nominee thought right?
Whatever happened to old Harriet?
February 6th, 2006 at 7:52 pmPlease read and circulate this US Supreme Court concurrence from the most famous wiretapping case:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/ supct/ html/ historics/ USSC_CR_0389_0347_ZC.html
February 6th, 2006 at 8:09 pmNobody knows WHO Bush is spying upon > could be anybody? Could be your next door neighbor Fred, or your boss at Sam’s Club, or the manager of the shoe store down the street, or your mother Harriet, or even yourself?
Bush has given NO proof to back up his claim that he is spying on only known foreign terrorists! Remember that George thinks anyone who is not for him, is against him, so therefore a terrorist! He is wiretapping his political opponents and anti-war activists like Cindy Sheehan!
King George must be impeached!
February 6th, 2006 at 8:11 pm#38 - I think conservatives said no to Bush on that one.
AND RemoveBush, I don’t fear that America will ever become Nazi Germany unless someone like you were to occupy the White House. AND hell even if you start burning your ideological opponents, we’ll at least have the chance to vote you out of office.
February 6th, 2006 at 8:13 pm#40 paranoid delusions is what we call that.
Cindy Sheehan is a moron and a hypocrite. How dare she talk about freedom of speech when she dines with the likes of Hugo Chavez who has gone to great lengths to surpress free speech in his own country.
AND Jay I think you have it backwards, you need to prove Bush is spying on civilians before you start throwing this stuff out.
February 6th, 2006 at 8:16 pmSo, then Bush isn’t a conservative? Do you know in what context I brought up Harriet Miers? Or do you just post BS?
Oh never mind, I know the answer.
February 6th, 2006 at 8:23 pmSpudge - what are you trying to say? Conservatives can’t stand up to Bush? Bush isn’t a conservative? I don’t get it…
February 6th, 2006 at 8:26 pmNope, he is a NeoCom, but you won’t figure that out until it is too late. He isn’t a born again christian either.
February 6th, 2006 at 8:32 pmTetra > the burden of proof is on the president! He choose to bypass the FISA Court Judges and NOT get warrants! He has to show who he is spying upon! I do hope you are on his list!
February 6th, 2006 at 8:33 pm…and still waiting…
just what ARE the policies that have endangered the lives of the American people?
i mean, from aphro’s perspective…and no lies, just the facts…waiting…
Comment by katy — February 6, 2006 @ 7:05 pm
February 6th, 2006 at 8:37 pmActually, Jay I don’t care if Bush is listening in on me!!! I am not a terrorist!!! If I unknowingly have one in my cell, then I hope they are listening in on me!
February 6th, 2006 at 8:47 pmW is not a factor in the current give and take of US government. He is what we called a wedge (a simple tool) at TAMU. The alumnae of the Ford and Reagan administrations are the ones steering this nation towards an encounter with disaster. They’re old men playing with toys that could end human existence, but they don’t care because in ten years or less, they will join the extinct anyway.
February 6th, 2006 at 8:56 pm“#40 Nobody knows WHO Bush is spying upon†Good point!
Unfortunately, I was in a family for more than 26 years who joined Organized Crime. However, this isn’t any ordinary Organized Crime System, it’s considered the Worlds Largest Criminal System! Guess who is involved? If you’ve been reading the news lately, you may have read a more than a few articles on Political Corruption. This is the BIGGEST part of this criminal system.
I’m not against getting information on Terrorists but I am against allowing Criminal Corruption Government Groups to have the opportunity to wiretap and snoop on me. I personally know that this group uses wiretapping to develop profiles on their targets who could well be those who present a threat to their ongoing Corruption System. In this case, it isn’t about chasing Terrorists as much as it is about checking everyone out to find those who know too much about them! In this area, I certainly have a lot to talk about!
Another issue is why isn’t anyone going after the Political Corruption Laundromats? I know of one which is considered the largest Laundromat and it’s interesting that as we spend Billions, this Laundromat is expanding by leaps and bounds. The Tribune was questioning it a while ago in an article, but within an hour after it was released, it was blocked on the Internet. Luckily, the Tribune, moved it to a webpage and the last time I looked, it’s still there. By learning who is behind this, you’ll learn who is stealing our tax dollars.
Marty Didier
February 6th, 2006 at 8:57 pmNorthbrook, IL
Lol Tetra then you do not mind the political dirt that Bush may dredge up on you huh? Like your secret get-together with your Brokeback Mountain lover Freddy, or you telling your wife to not wait up because you are busy at the office in actuality getting a BJ from your secretary? Bush is not illegally spying on terrorists, which FISA Court would give him authorization in 20 or 30 minutes, but on political opponents which FISA would deny >PERIOD. The burden of proof is on Bush, since he decided to break the law!!!
February 6th, 2006 at 9:05 pmPost 50 Marty > Thank you for your comment reply to my post 40! Corruption in our government is rampant, and yes those who know too much are being watched and wiretapped! Being a terrorist is whatever Bush defines it > Being against him!
February 6th, 2006 at 9:13 pmAmericans are more at risk from cigarettes, guns and weather/food disasters global warming than we are at risks from terrorism.
Comment by RightPunch — February 6, 2006 @ 7:41 pm
Don’t forget the odds of fatally harming yourself are also higher than being killed in a terrorist attack. She should be more afraid of herself than Osama…
Chance of dying from intentional self-harm: 1 in 9,380
February 6th, 2006 at 9:13 pm#53,
February 6th, 2006 at 9:19 pmThat’s correct if Americans are excluded. Automobile accidents and voting for Republicans are extreme risks.
unbelievable, #54 was meant to be satire. It does not look right(as in correct) when I study context and flow. Sorry, pal.
February 6th, 2006 at 9:25 pmUnbelievable is the self-harm these trolls do to the country intentional or are they really that stupid, is there a statistic for stupid self harm?
February 6th, 2006 at 9:25 pmARE we at war? I thought only Congress had that ability to declare. So why does Bush claim that it is so and claim such authorities?
I’m really confused.
February 6th, 2006 at 9:26 pmUnbelievable is the self-harm these trolls do to the country intentional or are they really that stupid, is there a statistic for stupid self harm?
Comment by Clif — February 6, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
The site didn’t clarify, but I’m trying to think of self-harm that isn’t stupid… hmmm…
February 6th, 2006 at 9:29 pmunbelievable, #54 was meant to be satire. It does not look right(as in correct) when I study context and flow. Sorry, pal.
Comment by WaltTheMan — February 6, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
It’s getting late… not much does at this point :)
By the way, I’m a pal-ette :)
February 6th, 2006 at 9:31 pmI especially enjoyed it when Biden put some of the pieces togeather and realized…
That the Administration and the NSA has identified said terrorists in America, but aren’t going after them.
Gonzales…
“Can we have a break here?”
Session over untill tomarrow.
February 6th, 2006 at 9:32 pm#59,
February 6th, 2006 at 9:36 pmI know that you pee sitting down. I just am an equality type. Just believe that all of us are equal in mind! Just a bit different in configuration. Vive les differance!
#20 Comment by Lisa
Not to mention that this Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing revolves around the legality of a program that potentially impedes upon Constitutional law. We’ll all be scratching our heads and asses for a long while on this one.
February 6th, 2006 at 9:43 pm#39 Comment by Wintermute
Excellent find.
Courts have already ruled on this exact matter.
That the deliniation of the three branches needs to be respected, especially when one branch is biased to it’s cause. That even in extreme cases of spies and saboteurs (terrorists) they too are protected by the Fourth Amendment. And the Fourth Amendment draws no lines between various substantive offenses. The arrests in cases of “hot pursuit” and the arrests on visible or other evidence of probable cause cut across the board, and are not peculiar to any kind of crime.
That the Executive Branch cannot pead and rule it’s case.
Congress = Make law
February 6th, 2006 at 9:58 pmJudiciary = Rule and interpret law
Executive = Preserve law
Americans are more at risk from cigarettes, guns and weather/food disasters global warming than we are at risks from terrorism.
Comment by RightPunch
You’re right. The only time I’m going to be worried about a terrorist attack is sometime in ‘08 before the election. I think I’ll visit my cousin in Quebec then.
February 6th, 2006 at 10:13 pm[…] Think Progress � Gonzales: “Cannot Give You Absolute Assurance” That We Are Not Spying on Innocent Americans […]
February 6th, 2006 at 10:27 pmYou people are obviously all drunk. I have to get back to my transcriptions of George Washington’s electronic surveillance. Thanks and a tip of the hat to Senor Gonsalez.
February 6th, 2006 at 10:41 pmanother hour and 1/2…still waiting…
…and still waiting…
just what ARE the policies that have endangered the lives of the American people?
i mean, from aphro’s (#17) perspective…and no lies, just the facts…waiting…
Comment by katy — February 6, 2006 @ 7:05 pm
Comment by katy — February 6, 2006 @ 8:37 pm
g’nite…time for jon…
February 6th, 2006 at 11:00 pmAlberto Gonzales cannot answer the question of whether innocent Americans were spied upon and wiretapped, because thousands were snooped on! Alberto got to spin his answers, because he was NOT under oath, so the whole hearing was a joke to him! Shame on Sen. Specter and the other Repubs on the Committee for allowing Gonzales to skirt being sworn in to testify!
February 6th, 2006 at 11:49 pm#17, can you ahem, imagine that none of YOUR endorsed polices have endangered the very idea of what America is? The presidential oath says that he is to protect the constitution, not the people. I can not think of a single Bush policy that has not weakened America. Sure if you focus on military might and killing suspects, then they are good at that, but their policies have isolated the US ont he world stage. He says that we can not be isolationists anymore, but he is creating an isolated country. He says we can not hide behind the oceans anymore, yet he wants us to hide behind our military. I just don’t get peopl like you, IRI, BSR, CHase, Gary Ruppert and others who whole heartedly endorse the destruction of America in the name of personal safety. You don’t deserve this country anymore.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:06 amSo, we are supposed to go ask a military general for assurances that the NSA is not spying on politicians and journalists? When did our civil rights get relegated to a general’s whim?
February 7th, 2006 at 10:45 amThose who doubt that the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld team will attack Iran, while so conspicuously overextended in Iraq, are ignoring the subtleties of the administration’s Middle East strategy.
Bush has no intention of occupying Iran. Rather, the goal is to destroy major weapons-sites, destabilize the regime, and occupy a sliver of land on the Iraqi border that contains 90% of Iran’s oil wealth. Ultimately, Washington will aim to replace the Mullahs with American-friendly clients who can police their own people and fabricate the appearance of representative government. But, that will have to wait. For now, the administration must prevent the incipient Iran bourse (oil-exchange) from opening in March and precipitating a global sell-off of the debt-ridden dollar. There have many fine articles written about the proposed “euro-based†bourse and the devastating effects it will have on the greenback. The best of these are “Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar†by William R. Clark, and “The Proposed Oil Bourse†by Krassimir Petrov, Ph.D.
The bottom line on the bourse is this; the dollar is underwritten by a national debt that now exceeds $8 trillion dollars and trade deficits that surpass $600 billion per year. That means that the greenback is the greatest swindle in the history of mankind. It’s utterly worthless. The only thing that keeps the dollar afloat is that oil is traded exclusively in greenbacks rather than some other currency. If Iran is able to smash that monopoly by trading in petro-euros then the world’s central banks will dump the greenback overnight, sending markets crashing and the US economy into a downward spiral.
The Bush administration has no intention of allowing that to take place. In fact, as the tax-cuts and the budget deficits indicate, the Bush cabal fully intends to perpetuate the system that trades worthless dollars for valuable commodities, labor, and resources. As long as the oil market is married to the dollar, this system of global indentured servitude will continue.
Battle Plans
The Bush administration’s attention has shifted to a small province in southwestern Iran that is unknown to most Americans. Never the less, Khuzestan will become the next front in the war on terror and the lynchpin for prevailing in the global resource war. If the Bush administration can sweep into the region (under the pretext disarming Iran’s nuclear programs) and put Iran’s prodigious oil wealth under US control, the dream of monopolizing Middle East oil will have been achieved.
Not surprisingly, this was Saddam Hussein’s strategy in 1980 when he initiated hostilities against Iran in a war that would last for eight years. Saddam was an American client at the time, so it is likely that he got the green light for the invasion from the Reagan White House. Many of Reagan’s high-ranking officials currently serve in the Bush administration; notably Rumsfeld and Cheney.
Khuzestan represents 90% of Iran’s oil production. The control over these massive fields will force the oil-dependent nations of China, Japan and India to continue to stockpile greenbacks despite the currency’s dubious value. The annexing of Khuzestan will prevent Iran’s bourse from opening, thereby guaranteeing that the dollar will maintain its dominant position as the world’s reserve currency. As long as the dollar reigns supreme and western elites have their hands on the Middle East oil-spigot, the current system of exploitation through debt will continue into perpetuity. The administration can confidently prolong its colossal deficits without fear of a plummeting dollar. In fact, the American war-machine and all its various appendages, from Guantanamo to Abrams Tanks, are paid for by the myriad nations who willingly hold reserves of American currency.
This extortion-scheme is typically referred to as the global economic system. In reality, it has nothing to do with either free markets or capitalism. That is just philosophical mumbo-jumbo. It is the dollar-system; predicated entirely on the ongoing monopoly of the oil trade in dollars.
February 7th, 2006 at 10:58 amgood morning…still no reply from aphro et al concerning ” the policies that have endangered the lives of the American people” ?
imagine that…
February 7th, 2006 at 11:02 am[…] There’s an awful lot out there about yesterday’s hearings. One needs only to pick up a newspaper or jump to any media site to see coverage. But the best things can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here at Think Progress who’s on this like white on rice. Those links are chock full o’ video goodness for those of you who don’t have the patience to watch the whole thing over at C-SPAN – or the stomach to listen to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) kiss the administration’s backside. […]
February 7th, 2006 at 12:11 pmWith THAT statement Gonzales just gave us assurances that they ARE (spying on Americans)!
February 7th, 2006 at 12:37 pm“Can you guarantee NONE of YOUR policies have endangered the lives of the American people? Can you????â€
Comment by mighty aphrodite #17
puny hermaphrodite,
Your stupidity caused by your recessive genes inherited from inbreeding has guaranteed your “endangered” status…
…according to Darwin…
February 7th, 2006 at 12:41 pmSo, we are supposed to go ask a military general for assurances that the NSA is not spying on politicians and journalists? When did our civil rights get relegated to a general’s whim?
Comment by Solitaire #70
The day the criminal Bushite junta…
…with the help of the Supremes…
…and treasonous right wing thug WASP male inbred hoodlums banging on the doors of recount sites in Florida…(we should’ve “stopped” ‘em then)
…coup d’etated the rightfully elected presidency of one Albert Gore…
February 7th, 2006 at 12:46 pmCindy Sheehan is a moron and a hypocrite. How dare she talk about freedom of speech when she dines with the likes of Hugo Chavez who has gone to great lengths to surpress free speech in his own country.
Comment by Tetra King #42
Trichomonas King,
…another dissatisfied racist, al Cracker, Bushite, yanqui, gringo…
…Whassamatta fu fu? mad cause them mean old Indians are taking back their countries and kicking your exploitative al Cracker a*s es out in the cold?
Wee, maybe…
…if you’re a good inbred turd, Chavez, Morales and Castro will “liberate” YOUR dumb a*s…
February 7th, 2006 at 12:54 pmThe name calling is a waste of energy. The facts are that this country is in sad shape economically, world image and filled with deceit. If Mr. Bush and the Republican party worked for a company, they would be fired. As Americans we should be concerned about our lives and the generations to follow and we should not accept any individuals who are trying to bring us all back to being the slaves of the wealthy corporations and the people who are selfishly thinking they are securing their own future at the expense of the working class and the poor. The whole lot should be fired. Morals ? This means loving and caring for each other and knowing that everyone who is alive should have peace , health, happiness and food and a home.
February 7th, 2006 at 3:30 pmThis administration has allowed bigotry and hate and has even fostered it. The people who defend it are very sad because they are going against their fellow man. Don’t give up your civil rights for any fear because that is the first step to become the slave. This country is a democray not a monarchy.You all should be proud of the liberals who speak out for you because they are the ones who care enough to save this country and that means you.We need a “true” independant group of honest people to investigate this problem. I have nothing to hide but a government that is spying on me is not acceptable. It is against the law and there is “no” justification.Don’t think because we are Americans we are pure and can do anything we want to the rest of the world. Right is right ande wrong is wrong no matter what country you are. We are all people of this planet and we should conduct ourselves as such.We all know that this administration lied about the war and continue to do so for greed. They must legally be stopped. All you parents who have children there should be demanding answers and not saying you are proud to give your son or daughter’s lives for freedom. What freedom? They are taking away your freedoms day by day in America. They all keep their children safe…. I intend to work at learning every fact and making sure no one can do this again.
JABBS has another item on Gonzales’ testimony that Thinkprogress apparently missed: Gonzales ducking a question on whether he approved warrantless surveillance before, or after, Congress authorized the use of all “necessary” force to stop Al Qaeda.
February 7th, 2006 at 9:38 pm[…] Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), “whose subcommittee oversees the National Security Agency broke ranks with the White House on Tuesday and called for a full Congressional inquiry into the Bush administration’s domestic eavesdropping program. … By withholding information about its operations from many lawmakers, she said, the administration has deepened her apprehension about whom the agency is monitoring and why.” 11:21 pm | Comment (3) […]
February 7th, 2006 at 11:39 pm#“Can you guarantee NONE of YOUR policies have endangered the lives of the American people? Can you????â€
Comment by mighty aphrodite — February 6, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Dont you get it yet MaD, This SIGINT
stuff has been known about for a long time their is simply no reason for BUSH to go warrantless. You forget about the MILITARY side of the Signals Intelligence. For Instance and this is ap public web page;
DODD 3115.8 9/7/1999 COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ON NON-U.S. PERSONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AT REQUEST OF U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (LEAs)
USD(I)
USDI.Pubs@osd.mil
DODD 3115.09 11/3/2005 DOD INTELLIGENCE INTERROGATIONS, DETAINEE DEBRIEFINGS, AND TACTICAL QUESTIONING
USD(I)
USDI.Pubs@osd.mil
DODD S-3145.2 7/23/1987 CHEMICAL WEAPONS POLICY (U) ATSD(NCB)
703-697-807
and I can FIND this as Well;
SUBJECT: Collection of Information on Non-U.S. Persons Outside the United States at Request of U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)
References: (a) Section 814, National Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997, enacted as Section 105A, National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 402 et seq.)
(b) Executive Order 12333, “United States Intelligence Activities,” December 4, 1981
(c) DoD Directive 5240.1, “DoD Intelligence Activities,” April 28, 1988
(d) DoD Directive 3025.1, “Military Support to Civil Authorities (MSCA),” January 15, 1993
(e) through (j), see enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE
This Directive:
1.1. Establishes policies and procedures and allocates responsibilities for implementation within the Department of Defense (DoD) of reference (a), which provides that designated Department Intelligence Components may, upon the request of a United States Federal Law Enforcement Agency (LEA), collect information outside the United States about individuals who are not United States persons, for use in law enforcement investigations or counterintelligence investigations.
2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
2.1. This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to as “the DoD Components”).
2.2. This Directive has specific applicability to the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), (hereafter referred to as “the DoD Intelligence Collection Components”). These Defense Agencies are identified in reference (a) as the only DoD Components that may participate in the collection activities authorized by reference (a) and are covered by this Directive.
2.3. In accordance with reference (a), no member of the U.S. Armed Services may participate directly in an arrest or similar activity as part of the activities authorized by this Directive.
2.4. This Directive does not apply to, and has no effect on, existing cooperative, liaison, coordinative or jurisdictional relationships between the counterintelligence and criminal investigative components of the Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other LEA authorized by law, Executive order, Presidential directive, or interagency agreement. This Directive likewise does not apply to foreign intelligence and counterintelligence activities conducted by the DoD Intelligence Components pursuant to references (b), (c), (h), and (i).
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1. Non-United States Person. Any person, unincorporated association or corporation other than a “United States person” as defined in reference (a) and paragraph 3.3., below.
3.2. United States Law Enforcement Agency (LEA). Any Department or Agency of the Federal Government that the Attorney General designates as a law enforcement agency for purposes of conducting the activities covered by this Directive.
3.3. United States Person. “United States Person” as defined in reference (a), specifically:
3.3.1. A United States citizen.
3.3.2. An alien known by an intelligence agency concerned to be a permanent resident alien.
3.3.3. An unincorporated association substantially composed of United States citizens or permanent resident aliens.
3.3.4. A corporation incorporated in the United States, except for a corporation directed and controlled by a foreign government or governments (references (a) and (b)).
4. POLICY
4.1. The DoD Intelligence Collection Components designated herein are authorized to respond to requests from LEAs for intelligence collection and shall make a good faith effort to collect such information outside the United States about individuals and entities that are not known by the intelligence components to be United States persons, so long as the intelligence collection activities do not adversely affect the military preparedness, are not inconsistent with national intelligence priorities of the United States, and intelligence collection sources and methods are protected at the time of collection and thereafter.
4.2. Requests for collection of information outside the United States about non-U.S. persons and entities will be accepted by the Department of Defense only from LEAs designated by the Attorney General as eligible to make such requests.
4.3. Requests from LEAs for collection of information outside the United States about non-U.S. persons shall be submitted directly to the appropriate DoD Intelligence Collection Component, must be in writing, and must certify that the target is not, to the requestor’s knowledge, a U.S. person. When a verbal request is made in time-sensitive situations, the DoD Intelligence Collection Component receiving the request from an LEA may respond, but shall advise the requestor that the verbal request must be promptly followed by a written request. The DoD Collection Component shall promptly disseminate resulting information to the requesting LEA, under whatever restrictions on further use that may be appropriate under existing law or policy. The DoD Collection Component shall consult with the requesting LEA prior to further dissemination of the information so collected.
4.4. The DoD Intelligence Collection Components may decline to perform a collection requested under this Directive if the collection cannot be performed without compromising intelligence sources and methods, collection would adversely affect military preparedness or other high priority national intelligence or military requirements, requires resources that the component does not possess, or for any other reason consistent with this Directive.
4.5. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit any LEA or DoD Intelligence Collection Component to perform any act that is contrary to or not authorized by U.S. law or E.O. 12333 (reference (b)).
4.6. If a DoD Intelligence Collection Component determines that a collection requested by an LEA pursuant to this Directive could be accomplished pursuant to existing Foreign Intelligence (FI) or Foreign Counterintelligence (FCI) authorities, the DoD Intelligence Collection Component shall so advise the requesting LEA. The collection request shall then be processed in accordance with, and subject to, authorities, criteria, and procedures specifically established for FI and FCI collection. Dissemination shall be in accordance with references (b) and (c).
4.7. In the event a DoD Intelligence Collection Component conducts a collection activity pursuant to this Directive that incidentally obtains information concerning a U.S. activity, the DoD Intelligence Collection Component shall process, retain, and disseminate such information only in accordance with the same minimization criteria and procedures that apply when the DoD Intelligence Collection Component obtains information concerning a U.S. person as a result of a FI or FCI collection performed in accordance with reference (b), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (reference (h)), DoD 5240.1-R (reference (i)), or other authority.
4.8. All responsible DoD Intelligence Collection Components shall closely monitor collection activities to ensure that protection of sources and methods is maintained at all times. Information which the collecting agency considers to be classified will be handled in accordance with all relevant classification directives and procedures.
4.9. Requesting LEAs will not be advised as to either the source or method of collection, except in compelling circumstances as determined by the DoD Intelligence Collection Component, such as the necessity to ensure dissemination of responsive information to requesting LEAs, and to deconflict Intelligence Community and LEA efforts, and then only after adequate security assurances, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Director of Central Intelligence, are provided to the DoD Intelligence Collection Component.
4.10. In the event a DoD Intelligence Collection Component determines not to perform a collection sought by an LEA, the Component shall advise the LEA of this determination and of the reasons supporting the determination. In the event a DoD Intelligence Collection Component performs a collection sought by an LEA, but the collection yields no information responsive to the request, the Component shall so advise the LEA.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1. The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence (ASD(C3I)) shall:
5.1.1. Oversee implementation of this Directive on all aspects of intelligence collection activities pursuant to reference (a).
5.1.2. Receive copies of all requests from LEAs for intelligence collection to the DoD Intelligence Collection Components and maintain permanent files of such collection requests, and the resulting reports in appropriate cases.
5.1.3. Provide guidance and assistance, as appropriate, to the Directors of the DoD Intelligence Collection Components, and serve as the DoD Point of Contact for these Directors for all matters arising in implementation of, and activities conducted under, this Directive.
5.1.4. Provide direction to the Directors of the DoD Intelligence Collection Components regarding the organization and structure of the annual reports required under the provisions of subparagraph 5.3.7., below.
5.1.5. Submit to the Secretary of Defense by January 31 of each year, a report that summarizes the activities conducted pursuant to this Directive during the previous calendar year.
5.2. The General Counsel of the Department of Defense shall:
5.2.1. Oversee all legal aspects and issues arising in the implementation of this Directive and serve as the principal legal advisor to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and the ASD(C3I) on all matters covered by this Directive. Provide to the ASD(C3I), by 31 December of each calendar year, a report summarizing all General Counsel, DoD activities in implementation of this Directive for each calendar year.
5.2.2. Obtain from the Attorney General a listing of U.S. law enforcement agencies designated by the Attorney General as eligible to request intelligence collection activities directed outside the United States against non-U.S. persons.
5.2.3. Provide to the ASD(C3I) and to the Directors of the DoD Intelligence Collection Components a listing of eligible law enforcement agencies having been approved by the Attorney General, and ensure that this listing is kept up to date.
5.3. The Directors of NSA/CSS, NRO, NIMA, and DIA, as Heads of the DoD Intelligence Collection Components, shall:
5.3.1. Respond, as appropriate, to requests from LEAs for collection of information outside the United States on non-United States persons-subject to the provisions of this Directive.
5.3.2. Forward copies of all requests from LEAs for collection of intelligence information outside the United States on non-U.S. persons to the ASD(C3I).
5.3.3. Make a good faith effort to respond, within the capabilities of the Agency, to collection requests originating from LEAs designated by the Attorney General as eligible to make such requests.
5.3.4. Conduct collection in such a manner that does not adversely affect military preparedness, is not inconsistent with national intelligence priorities of the United States, that pays due regard to the protection of intelligence sources and methods, and ensures that collection is accomplished in accordance with DoD Directive 5240.1 (reference (c)).
5.3.5. Provide pertinent information collected directly to the requesting LEA, or as provided by FI and FCI authorities, while ensuring continued compliance with applicable classified information requirements and protection of sources and methods.
5.3.6. Designate a single point of contact within the DoD Intelligence Collection Component, to receive and process all requests originating with LEAs, for collection outside the United States on non-U.S. persons, and to oversee related collection activities. Ensure that all collection requests from LEAs are subjected to legal review by the General Counsel of the DoD Intelligence Collection Component. Keep the ASD(C3I) currently advised as to the identity and location of the DoD Intelligence Collection Component’s point of contact.
5.3.7. Provide an annual summary report to the ASD(C3I) by December 31 of each calendar year, using the format established by the ASD(C3I), summarizing activities conducted pursuant to this Directive for each calendar year.
5.3.8. The DoD Intelligence Collection Components shall maintain permanent files of all requests received from LEAs, as well as records on the disposition of such requests.
5.4. The Heads of the DoD Components, shall:
5.4.1. Continue to support, as appropriate, U.S. law enforcement agencies in accordance with DoD Directive 3025.1 (reference (d)), DoD Directive 5200.27 (reference (e)), and DoD Directive 5525.5 (reference (f)).
5.4.2. Ensure that copies of all requests from U.S. law enforcement agencies seeking information about non-U.S. persons outside the United States are referred to the appropriate DoD Intelligence Collection Component.
6. INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
The summary reports of activities pursuant to this Directive, identified at subparagraphs 5.1.5. and 5.3.7., are exempt from licensing in accordance with Chapter 4, paragraphs C4.4.1. and C4.4.8. of DoD 8910.1-M (reference (j)).
7. EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION
This Directive is effective immediately.
Signed by: John J. Hamre, Deputy Secretary of Defense
February 8th, 2006 at 12:36 amMr ho say Wee hoo you lawyers having fun yet?
February 8th, 2006 at 12:39 ammr bush knows more than the great swami
pulls numbers and names from his head..
February 8th, 2006 at 12:40 amI’m a 72 year old civil service retiree, a lifetime democrat. a veteran and devoted catholic. I respect everyone’s vues, opinions and beliefs. It is my belief that this administration is the worst and most corrupt one that I have seen in y life, the best republican administration was under Gen. Eisenhower. I do not believe what most politicians say or do for most of the american people. it is my belief that most politicians only serve and repre-sent themselves, the greedy rich and special interest groups throughout our country. There are very, very few politicians throughout our country that really serve and represent the people throughout our country. I also believe that most politicians, in a sense are like organized criminals in that they do what the greedy rich and special interest groups tell them what to do. Organized criminals have organizations with people that work for them and they tell those people what to do or else, some politicians are the same. Like Al Pacino said in the Godfather III movie “crime and politics”, they are the same. Last but not the least, it is my sincere belief that the Bush and his cohorts are only working for the greedy rich and special interest groups and they are really screwing up our country and are instigating other countries against the american people. They do not care about the majority of the american people because they are the rich and will not have any problem to live in poverty like millions of americans are now living. My wife and I are living on a fixed income and it is getting harder for us as we get older.
February 9th, 2006 at 1:34 pmAss Thick Ass Babes Kick Ass
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
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