Secret call log in spying challenge mistakenly released.
Secret call log in spying challenge mistakenly released.
A “top secret” document containing a “log of calls intercepted between an Islamic charity and its American lawyers” is at the heart of “the strongest case against the Bush administration’s warrantless eavesdropping program.” AP reports today though that the government has accidentally released it:
In 2004, as the Treasury Department was considering whether to include the group on its list of terrorist organizations, Al-Haramain’s Washington lawyer, Lynne Bernabei, asked to see the evidence.
That’s when, in a case of bureaucratic bungling, Treasury officials mistakenly handed over the call log — which has the words “top secret” stamped on every page — along with press clippings and other unclassified documents deemed relevant to the case.
Six weeks later, the FBI was dispatched to Bernabei’s office to retrieve it. But by then she had passed out copies to five other lawyers, a Washington Post reporter and two Al-Haramain directors.
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Uh oh……somebody’s gonna get a medal.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:29 amFinally—the “smoking gun!”
August 6th, 2007 at 10:32 amAccidentally, eh? Mmmm, I smell a patriot.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:32 amThis is rather old news……
Like MONTHS old news….
August 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amI thought the same thing, Rachel.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amIf the wording is correct, they were spying on the phone calls while they were in the process of deciding if …. If so, this is an admission that the eavesdropping ***PRE**ceded them being known as terrorists.
A blatant admission that the spying occurs without prior evidence of wrongdoing.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:34 amsomebody’s gonna get a medal.
Comment by Zooey
lol Wanna bet?
Six weeks later, the FBI was dispatched to Bernabei’s office to retrieve it.——– “Hey?, Anybody seen that Top Secret document? C’Mon, it was RIGHT here!” “Awright then, if anyone spots it, bring it back so I can put it in the bomb-proof safe.”
*Six Weeks Later*
“Sir, Mr. Bernabei’s office just called. They are in possession of the missing document. Request permission to take ‘im out.”
“No, No, No…just ask him nicely.”
Yeah, no medals here. A quiet ’scaling back of the work force’ maybe, though.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:38 am…and so it began. Soon, there were so many copies of the document, people took to placing them, in piles stacked 5 feet high, along the roadways and thoroughfares of America.
And they call that a secret?
August 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amIMPEACHMENT IS TO ONLY WAY TO STOP BUSH’S CONSTITUTIONAL ABUSES!
August 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amDoesn’t matter anymore as the congress just made the program legal. I agree strongly that impeachment is the only answer, and not all targets of impeachment are republican.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:41 am“Doesn’t matter anymore as the congress just made the program legal. I agree strongly that impeachment is the only answer, and not all targets of impeachment are republican.
Comment by Goraidh — August 6, 2007 @ 10:41 am”
Sure it does……
By the way…….
The Congres CANNOT create a law “Expos facto”, meaning after the crime has been committed……
This is in the Constitution, if that matters, and is meant to prevent a president or lawmaker from committing a crime and then passing a law making that crime legal.
So it does not matter if the Congress passes a law, it only pertains to the here and NOW! It does not fix or repair crimes committed before the law.
That’s why I don’t understand why Bush and the CIA think they are safe with many of the laws passed in the past, because if we follow the letter of the law then they are still guilty and can be held accountable.
That is if there are any more FREE thinking Judges out there that actually read the Constitution.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:45 amYeah, no medals here. A quiet ’scaling back of the work force’ maybe, though.
Comment by SGT Higgins — August 6, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Dude, Tenet got a medal.
Just sayin’ :-D
August 6th, 2007 at 10:45 am“Section 9 - Limits on Congress
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.”
Ex post facto
ex post facto adj. Formulated, enacted, or operating retroactively. [Med Lat., from what is done afterwards] Source: AHD
In U.S. Constitutional Law, the definition of what is ex post facto is more limited. The first definition of what exactly constitutes an ex post facto law is found in Calder v Bull (3 US 386 [1798]), in the opinion of Justice Chase:
1st. Every law that makes an action done before the passing of the law, and which was innocent when done, criminal; and punishes such action. 2d. Every law that aggravates a crime, or makes it greater than it was, when committed. 3d. Every law that changes the punishment, and inflicts a greater punishment, than the law annexed to the crime, when committed. 4th. Every law that alters the legal rules of evidence, and receives less, or different, testimony, than the law required at the time of the commission of the offense, in order to convict the offender.”
August 6th, 2007 at 10:49 amComment by RemoveBush — August 6, 2007 @ 10:49 am
our founding Fathers (and mothers) were too smart! Looks like we had no where to go, but down. at this point, we call them “quaint” (in the same sense that lifeboats on the Titanic were “quaint”).
August 6th, 2007 at 10:53 amDude, Tenet got a medal.
Just sayin’ :-D
Comment by Zooey
Tenet was the DCI, whoever turned over a document with ‘TOP SECRET’ stamped on every page is a, what’s the word…dingleberry.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:58 amMedal Nazi: “No Medal of Freedom for YOU!”
The sheer magnitude of lawlessness on behalf of this admin. is beyond conprehension. Bushie admits in a news briefing that the Plame leak came from the WH, yet NOTHING is done to “find the leaker” but take a Patriot who leaks to the public an ILLEGAL spying program to Americans and Bush is all over that “leaker”
Typical gross violation of the Rule of Law, let TRAITORS go scot free if they are your pals and hunt down a Whistleblower and raid his house and scare the crap out of he and his family for trying to expose ILLEGAL activity on behalf of the admin. Doesn’t Bushie realize it is yet another crime to punish a whistleblower? Guess not. He is piling up crimes faster than Al Capone.
It seems if there is ANY shred of evidence Tamm actually was the leaker, he’d be smart enough to realize that they would try to come after him and not have evidence lying around.
We have to oust these criminal Repigs AND any Blue Dog who voted for this FISA gutting bill.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:00 amThe story-between-the-lines here seems to be that the “Top Secret” designation has become SO overused by this Administration that upon seeing it, no one takes it seriously anymore.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:00 amwell, we’ve always figured that lawyer-client privilege had been tossed out the window some time ago, so this shouldn’t come as any surprise…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
August 6th, 2007 at 11:01 amRead recently sarge, that the pentagon sold F-14 parts. I am thinking that is a dingleberry moment as well.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:01 amfinish that thought, krazny:
August 6th, 2007 at 11:03 amto IRAN…
I know they did back in the mid 70’s Katy, bet this was more recently. They sold left over F-14 parts to the highest bidder I think to clear out stockpiles of junk.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:04 amComment by SGT Higgins — August 6, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Sarge, you’re not getting my sarcasm. :P
August 6th, 2007 at 11:06 amIn the new America, there are no personal secrets - only State Secrets. State secrets include everything we want it to include (even the ruling class’ criminality). We know everything about you, you know nothing about us. Information is power.
We can’t tell you what happened to your son, Mr. Jones. It’s a State Secret. Now, about that comment you posted on Think Progress, back in 2007…
August 6th, 2007 at 11:07 amMy apologies Katy, it looks like the parts may have made their way to Iran perhaps.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/ national/ 1152ap_military_surplus_stings.html
August 6th, 2007 at 11:10 am#
I know they did back in the mid 70’s Katy, bet this was more recently. They sold left over F-14 parts to the highest bidder I think to clear out stockpiles of junk.
Comment by Krazny
Here’s an update on the sale: http://tinyurl.com/2yfbmj
August 6th, 2007 at 11:11 amDon’t expect too much from this sleepwalking Congress.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:11 amHopes were high in November,not today.
Republicans united and they vote as one block.
Democrats are not.
With Veto power in the hands of President,and Fillibuster in Senate…don’t expect much.
Winning the House turned out to be nothing more than an excercise of ‘non-binding’,tootless,amended resolution that have no power left in them.
IMPEACHMENT IS TO ONLY WAY TO STOP BUSH’S CONSTITUTIONAL ABUSES!
Comment by osage
The only thing you have to do now is get the Dems to go along with that. But they have laid down for Bush, so that is not likely to happen. Pelosi has taken impeachment off the table.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:14 amRick Santorum already showed everybody those documents on Fox News.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:14 amSarge, you’re not getting my sarcasm. :P
Comment by Zooey
Sorry. Rough weekend. Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. =) ‘course, if you’re patient, there will be plenty of other reasons shortly.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amThe story-between-the-lines here seems to be that the “Top Secret†designation has become SO overused by this Administration that upon seeing it, no one takes it seriously anymore.
Comment by Mugsy
Democrats and the news media don’t take classified documents seriously. The New York Slimes blew two covert programs, and gave the info directly to the enemy.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:15 amPelosi has taken impeachment off the table.
Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS — August 6, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Oh dear, looks like rain. Everyone better brush their teeth twice!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:16 amDuring the very time Congress was debating codifying President Bush’s lawbreaking by revising FISA, Alberto Gonzales’ DOJ was raiding the home of a former Justice official to identify the person who first brought the illicit program to light.
For the disturbing details of selective retribution by the White House, see:
August 6th, 2007 at 11:16 am“Payback Time: FBI Raids Home of Suspected NSA Leaker.”
If it was a “log of calls” and not a transcript of the actual content of the conversations themselves, why the “Top Secret” classification?
1) Violation of attorney-client privilege?
2) A charity group talking to lawyers could be a grave threat to national security?
3) If this document got out, the world would know that we have been spying without a warrant?
I’m betting on number 3.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:16 am“Democrats and the news media don’t take classified documents seriously. The New York Slimes blew two covert programs, and gave the info directly to the enemy.
Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS — August 6, 2007 @ 11:15 am”
I think you mis-typed there buddy……
Didn’t you mean the President and the Republicans???
After all…. This information came out from THEM!!!!
But then, you don’t care about the fact that YOUR president outed a CIA NOC and a cover buisiness that took YEARS to create and MILLIONS to build.
Who cares about that, because it was from YOUR great KING so that makes it just fine and dandy!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:18 amSorry. Rough weekend. Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. =) ‘course, if you’re patient, there will be plenty of other reasons shortly.
Comment by SGT Higgins — August 6, 2007 @ 11:15 am
I can always count on you. :)
Sorry about the rough weekend.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:19 amIslamic Charity groups often end up being fronts to channel money into islamic fundamentalist schools and training facilities. The IRA did similar things during the 80’s to raise money to support their fight against the british.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:21 amTenet was the DCI, whoever turned over a document with ‘TOP SECRET’ stamped on every page is a, what’s the word…dingleberry.
Medal Nazi: “No Medal of Freedom for YOU!â€
Comment by SGT Higgins
Bill Clinton appointed Tenet, didn’t he?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:21 am“I think you mis-typed there buddy……
Didn’t you mean the President and the Republicans???
After all…. This information came out from THEM!!!!”
Source?
“But then, you don’t care about the fact that YOUR president outed a CIA NOC and a cover buisiness that took YEARS to create and MILLIONS to build.”
If Plame didn’t want her name in the paper, she shouldn’t have sent her husband on that trip to Niger.
“Who cares about that, because it was from YOUR great KING so that makes it just fine and dandy!”
It wasn’t illegal. Bush didn’t name her to Novak, Armatage did. Fitz never charged anybody with that crime.
Next.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:23 amRead recently sarge, that the pentagon sold F-14 parts. I am thinking that is a dingleberry moment as well.
Comment by Krazny
That’s awesome! Selling parts on your own version of E-bay?
Almost makes you wonder if this is part of some sinister master plan.
1. Sell F-14 parts to the ‘public’ knowing that Iran is aggressively trying to maintain it’s Tomcat’s
2. Make a case for war based on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and hey, what’s this? a fully functional F-14 fleet! huh, what do ya know.
3. Wage war on Iran, after having profited off of supplying them, then stand to make millions more in no-bid Halliburton-type contracts. Note to self: Re-name Halliburton, keep a low profile.
4. Laugh uproariously all the way to the bank.
P.S. Krazny: Can I take partial credit for the term ‘dingleberry moment’ ? It’s got a nice ring to it, no?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:24 amBill Clinton appointed Tenet, didn’t he?
Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS — August 6, 2007 @ 11:21 am
After Bill left the WH, a Great Darkness came over the land. Day turned to night, right to wrong, surpluses to deficits, enormous deficits like none had ever seen before. And many once good men pledged themselves to the Dark One, and Evil flourished. A Once Great Nation spied on its own citizens, waged war unceasingly, engaged in propaganda & torture, and neglected its own citizens needs, all in the name of Democracy.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:25 amBill Clinton appointed Tenet, didn’t he?
Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS
Yeah, what’s your point?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:27 amall in the name of Democracy.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
*sniff*, You had me at ‘Darkness’.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:28 amA Once Great Nation spied on its own citizens, waged war unceasingly, engaged in propaganda & torture, and neglected its own citizens needs, all in the name of Democracy.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
The Dems signed off on all this and gave it their blessing.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:29 am“If Plame didn’t want her name in the paper, she shouldn’t have sent her husband on that trip to Niger.”
She DIDN’T!!!! She had NO AUTHORITY to do anything like this! I guess you missed the hearing regarding this matter. ALL THE FACTS were presented, including a letter from the CIA chief that she was IN FACT COVERT!
She was ASKED to see if he would go. But then FACTS never stop people like you from TWISTING them!
“It wasn’t illegal. Bush didn’t name her to Novak, Armatage did. Fitz never charged anybody with that crime.”
And where did Armatage get that information????? Cheney! Since Bush KNEW about it he is JUST AS GUILTY as the people who committed it.
Fitz never “charged” anyone is a red herring. In his own words (Pharaphrasing) “I had to stop the investigation because it was like an umpire having dirt thrown into his eyes” This is the OBSTRUCTION of JUSTICE that YOU Republicans like to do. YOU HAVE NO CONSIDERATION FOR LAW, except when it works in YOUR favor.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:29 amI think you mis-typed there buddy……
Didn’t you mean the President and the Republicans???
After all…. This information came out from THEM!!!!
But then, you don’t care about the fact that YOUR president outed a CIA NOC and a cover buisiness that took YEARS to create and MILLIONS to build.
Exactly right.
The Bushes are the TRAITORS to the USA,
as shown by 70 YEARS of Bush Family TREASON…
August 6th, 2007 at 11:31 amComment by RemoveBush — August 6, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Don’t even bother to respond to this crap. This is all weak, pathetic attempts at derailing any real conversation or progress, and all this has been refuted over and over. Time to move on and ignore trolls posting irrelevant and discredited tripe.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:32 am“She DIDN’T!!!! She had NO AUTHORITY to do anything like this! I guess you missed the hearing regarding this matter. ALL THE FACTS were presented, including a letter from the CIA chief that she was IN FACT COVERT!”
The CIA made her covert after the fact for political reasons. In fact, she had been outed many years ago as a spy by Aldrich Ames. And she recommended her husband on that trip to Niger, as documented by a senate intel committee memo.
“She was ASKED to see if he would go. But then FACTS never stop people like you from TWISTING them!”
No, she asked her superiors if he could go.
“And where did Armatage get that information????? Cheney! Since Bush KNEW about it he is JUST AS GUILTY as the people who committed it.”
Armatage didn’t get along with Cheney. He was Colin Powell’s man, and he was against the Iraq war.
“Fitz never “charged†anyone is a red herring. In his own words (Pharaphrasing) “I had to stop the investigation because it was like an umpire having dirt thrown into his eyes†This is the OBSTRUCTION of JUSTICE that YOU Republicans like to do. YOU HAVE NO CONSIDERATION FOR LAW, except when it works in YOUR favor.”
Fitz knew from day one who named Plame to Novak and it was Armatage. Yet he chose not to charge him with that crime. Because it wasn’t illegal.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 am“Don’t even bother to respond to this crap. This is all weak, pathetic attempts at derailing any real conversation or progress, and all this has been refuted over and over. Time to move on and ignore trolls posting irrelevant and discredited tripe.
Comment by gummitch — August 6, 2007 @ 11:32 am”
True, but at times when things like this are let go it is seen as being valid.
Without discrediting it, someone new could see it to be true and begin/continue to spread this dis-information.
I try not to deal with the trolls as much as possible, but I refuse to let FACTS get twisted…..
Simple statements I won’t bother with, but this is not simple or little.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:35 amNot to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:36 amFitz knew from day one who named Plame to Novak and it was Armatage. Yet he chose not to charge him with that crime. Because it wasn’t illegal.
Comment by Brassmask from 3DHS — August 6, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Knowing and being able to prove it in court are 2 differnt things, but that’s clearly beyond you. Can you spell OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE???
(Didn’t think so…)
August 6th, 2007 at 11:36 amRegistration is fast, simple and absolutely free.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 amKnowing and being able to prove it in court are 2 differnt things, but that’s clearly beyond you. Can you spell OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE???
(Didn’t think so…)
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity —
Armatage sat down with Fitz and admitted it to him. What’s so hard to prove about that?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:39 amSimple statements I won’t bother with, but this is not simple or little.
Comment by RemoveBush
IMO, you just give the troll credibility it wouldn’t have otherwise, but for future reference, this is a good list (although a little outdated): http://tinyurl.com/8ae9j
This is more recent, with a specific reference to the Armitage smokescreen: http://tinyurl.com/ypmvkl
August 6th, 2007 at 11:44 amThe best way to deal with Bush’s abuses of power is to make certain that the next person to occupy his office has a completely different attitude about our constitutional rights. Bush and Cheney are on their way out. That’s probably a bit of a shock to them because Kings and Dictators don’t have term limits. In 17 months George will go back to being a pseudo-cowboy riding his golf cart around his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Maybe he’ll invited Dick Cheney over to shoot a few cows now and then. Dick Cheney seems to prefer hunting on ranches were the game was raised to be hunted. The bottom line is that they’ll both be out of power and all of that abusive power they have accumulated will have been passed on to someone else.
We need to listen very carefully to the folks who want that Bush’s office next to make certain we don’t put a George Bush clone in office. It will take a person of very strong character to give that power back.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:46 am“The CIA made her covert after the fact for political reasons. In fact, she had been outed many years ago as a spy by Aldrich Ames. And she recommended her husband on that trip to Niger, as documented by a senate intel committee memo.”
WRONG!!!!! This may or may not be true, but just because one person SAYS it is so does not make it so. I have YET seen any article from 1994 that reports this. They are all from 2003 to date. If it was TRUE there would be an article available from the date of 1994, when it “supposedly happened”.
“No, she asked her superiors if he could go.”
NO SHE DID NOT! She was asked, by someone in her department!
“Armatage didn’t get along with Cheney. He was Colin Powell’s man, and he was against the Iraq war.”
Right!!! So people don’t do things our of concern for their jobs, or life???? Besides, he is NOT the only person who provided this information.
“Fitz knew from day one who named Plame to Novak and it was Armatage. Yet he chose not to charge him with that crime. Because it wasn’t illegal.”
Of course you have absolutely ZERO evidence to support this!!!!! I provided words DIRECTLY from the man himself…..
It IS ILLEGAL to reveal the identity of a COVERT agent!!!! To say that it “wasn’t illegal” just shows 1) your ignorant or 2) Despise what America stands for by refusing to uphold the laws.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:56 amIslamic Charity = Terrorists
August 6th, 2007 at 11:58 am“Comment by gummitch — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 am”
Good sources gummitch……
Saves me the time of typing the answers….. :)
August 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pm“In 17 months George will go back to being a pseudo-cowboy riding his golf cart around his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Maybe he’ll invited Dick Cheney over to shoot a few cows now and then. Dick Cheney seems to prefer hunting on ranches were the game was raised to be hunted. The bottom line is that they’ll both be out of power and all of that abusive power they have accumulated will have been passed on to someone else.
Comment by Carmikl — August 6, 2007 @ 11:46 am”
Your making the assumption that Bush will not utilize those ILLEGAL Executive Orders granting him KINGSHIP!!!!
One EO says that he will LEAD the government.
You don’t beleive that this criminal will use ANYTHING he can to stay in power??? I expect that very close to the election time, a major event will occur and Bush will OFFICIALLY claim himself king and susspend the elections and activate the EO!
August 6th, 2007 at 12:03 pmOne more thing then I’ll shut up on this topic:
Hoekstra in a statement released to RAW STORY Saturday night after the House passed his legislation said that, “he would use momentum from Congressional Republicans’ efforts to fix FISA to push for comprehensive reform of the law to…obtain retroactive liability for parties who may have aided the government.”
The Dem’s won’t stop this RETROACTIVE LIABILITY. All of the illegal spying, that we know about and that we don’t, will be legal and forgotten before long.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:46 pmDidn’t Congress just legalize all of this stuff?
August 6th, 2007 at 4:32 pm>Armatage sat down with Fitz and admitted it to him. What’s so hard to >prove about that?
Uhm moron did it ever occur to you that there could be MORE THAN ONE leaker and that Fitz may have been after bigger fish than armitage?
remind me, what law school did you go to again, that you can dazzle us with your brilliant legal talking points?
August 6th, 2007 at 4:36 pmYet another classic example of utter incompetence we have seen displayed by Bush and his administration.
August 6th, 2007 at 5:48 pmGod, you people are unbelievably stupid. Do you think they want to tap your phone? Do you think any transcript of your pot sale is going to stand up in court?
You’ve lost site of the goal while being blinded by your hatred of Bush. Let’s give the islamofascists and edge because you don’t like the president - that’ll show’em.
Ask yourself this, Is the president trying to hurt the country?
Friggin’ idiots.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:33 amhttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/6/81143/73736
______
The Canary in the Coalmine is available for purchase at patriotictruthteller.net
________
Another Justice Department Leaker Persecuted: Don’t Let It Happen Again
by Jesselyn Radack
Mon Aug 06, 2007
My hands are shaking as I write this. My heart is pounding. I am having an anxiety attack because Thomas Tamm, a former Justice Department lawyer suspected of leaking Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program is starting to get the Bu$hCo royal treatment. I don’t know Tamm. But I do know that we are both former Justice Department attorneys accused of leaking illegal activity by the government and ended up being treated as the criminals. We must stop such retaliation in its tracks.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:25 pm