As Judge Rules NSA Surveillance "Almost Orwellian," Obama Prepares to Leave Spying Program Intact

[marmar]

Published on Dec 17, 2013

http://www.democracynow.org - A federal judge ruled Monday the National Security Agency''s bulk collection of American's phone records "almost certainly" violates the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon described the NSA's activities as "almost Orwellian." He wrote, "I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'arbitrary invasion' than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen." Judge Leon was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002. Leon suspended enforcement of his injunction against the program pending an expected appeal by the government. The lawsuit was brought by conservative attorney Larry Klayman, the founder of Judicial Watch and based on information leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. In a statement Monday, Snowden said, "I acted on my belief that the NSA's mass surveillance programs would not withstand a constitutional challenge, and that the American public deserved a chance to see these issues determined by open courts. Today, a secret program authorized by a secret court was, when exposed to the light of day, found to violate Americans' rights. It is the first of many." We are joined by Sascha Meinrath, director of the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute. He served as an expert witnesses on the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications, which was tasked by President Obama to review NSA's activities.

[zeemike]

1. It's beyond Orwellian.

Big Brother never dreamed of the tools that the NSA has to spy on us.

[rhett o rick]

2. In Pres Obama's defense, it isnt his fault. There has been a silent coup and the intelligence

agencies control our government.

[Lenomsky]

3. You joke surely ..

He's the President I dare say he has the means to kill this but he won't so it is his fault it's his watch.

[rhett o rick]

7. What makes you certain that he holds any kind of power?

I believe he holds very little power in the areas of national security and economics.

[JDPriestly]

5. And it really happened before he took office.

[JDPriestly]

4. I gather from his voice and body language that President Obama feels a lot of conflict

about what he is saying -- inner conflict. I don't think he entirely believes what he is saying. He is trying to look at the "good side" of a very bad situation.

Watch him shake his head no when he says something to the effect that the NSA is doing "a very good job." When he talks about the NSA's activities overseas, he is more confident in what he is saying. But I would guess based on his body language and the quality of his voice, that he is in some turmoil and inner confusion about what the NSA is doing in this country. I think that what he really thinks deep, deep down where even he doesn't confront his true thoughts and what he says in public are very different when it comes to the NSA.

It is certainly safer for Obama to be supportive of the NSA even if in his soul of souls, he knows he is doing the wrong thing with regard to this issue.

[Dustlawyer]

6. Let's be real, Obama has done tremendous good for us in a lot of ways, but there have been

certain areas where he has sided with the rich and powerful. If he didn't want this eavesdropping on Americans to continue, he could get on the Bully Pulpit had repeatedly denounce this practice. He could fire the head of the agency. He could have "do nothing" Eric Holder stop chasing pot farmers and prosecute Clapper for perjury, and while he is at it, go after Wall Street, but he doesn't! Why?

[Boomerproud]

10. Why indeed.

All of your points are extremely valid and deserved to be answered. As for the whole situation all I do is shake my head. I simply don't get any of it and Obama won't address it correctly. I'm at a loss, and am getting very frustrated.

[ctsnowman]

8. The whole

NSA should be disbanded. We already have the CIA. Take out the DEA as well that's what the FBI is for. And if this whole thing is about national security then that's what the DOD is for so let them pick up the tab. We are going to decrease the SSA to pay for the NSA. If millions of us our not protected from hunger and cold at home the terrorists have already one.

[20score]

9. Truly despise the reactionary, authoritarians that defend the spying.

They are reprehensible.