"Now, by the way, anytime you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires - a wiretap requires a court order.
Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so.
It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution."
Speech given by President George W. Bush
April 20, 2004
Bush Defends Secret Spying in the U.S.
By JENNIFER LOVEN Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON Dec 18, 2005 — Facing angry criticism and challenges to his authority in Congress, President Bush on Saturday unapologetically defended his administration's right to conduct secret post-Sept. 11 spying in the United States as "critical to saving American lives".
Since October 2001, the super-secret National Security Agency has eavesdropped on the international phone calls and e-mails of people inside the United States without court-approved warrants.
December 18, 2005
And so, even while assuring the American people in 2004 that things were otherwise, he was knowingly and actively (had been since 2001) authorizing the NSA to eavesdrop at will on anyone without the required court approval to do so.
A blatant, deliberate lie and deception.
Aside from obvious dishonesty, a case could well be made for the abuse of power and willfully misleading the American people.
Strangely, on this, as well as so many other conflicting Iraq invasion related issues in the last three years, the American people and their representatives remain silent.
Paradoxically, Clinton, who lied about his own personal affairs…an isolated incident having no effect on the nation or on his official duties as President, was facing impeachment and removal from office.
What's wrong with this picture??
And what the hell is wrong with us?
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