The New York Times revealed last night that the National Security Agency has been illegally spying on legions of Americans’ email and phone calls. Congress vastly expanded the NSA’s surveillance purview last year – but the NSA has chosen to go much further.
The Times noted that the NSA may have spied on one congressman without a court warrant.
This is the only chance that this latest crime might get at least some fleeting attention on Capitol Hill.
The lack of response to these NSA spying outrages is a great example of how cowardly the media has become and how clueless many, if not most, Americans are. The media even refused to make a hubbub last year when it was revealed that the NSA had been wiretapping reporters without a warrant. Author James Bamford pointed out late last year that 2 Israeli companies are at the core of carrying out NSA surveillance on a subcontracting basis. But Bamford’s revelation have received almost no coverage in the print media. (Bamford is one of the most highly-respected critics of the NSA).
I wonder if it is indeed cowardice. In some cases, the media isn’t going to criticize Saint Obama for any reason (don’t forget, mid-term elections are coming soon, they squeal). In other cases they actually love the police state.
on the upside, this gives us great insights into Jane Harman’s chats with AIPAC.
I hope they are keeping the kinds of crisp and comprehensive records customary to the kinds of failed authoritarian regimes we are joining. After all, it will provide a valuable record of what Global Psychosis looks like. Chicken Little was a chaste and sober Shaker in comparison.
I expect there will be lots of comic relief when the official records are pried open…