Documents: Qwest was targeted (by government agencies)

[sabra]

Source: Rocky Mountain News

The National Security Agency and other government agencies retaliated against Qwest because the Denver telco refused to go along with a phone spying program, documents released Wednesday suggest.

The documents indicate that likely would have been at the heart of former CEO Joe Nacchio's so-called "classified information" defense at his insider trading trial, had he been allowed to present it.

...

Nacchio planned to demonstrate at trial that he had a meeting on Feb. 27, 2001, at NSA headquarters at Fort Meade, Md., to discuss a $100 million project. According to the documents, another topic also was discussed at that meeting, one with which Nacchio refused to comply.

The topic itself is redacted each time it appears in the hundreds of pages of documents, but there is mention of Nacchio believing the request was both inappropriate and illegal, and repeatedly refusing to go along with it.

The NSA contract was awarded in July 2001 to companies other than Qwest.

Read more: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5719566,00.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. They'll get Qwest good, because that company refused to go along

with what they knew was illegal, and thus all other telecom companies who DID comply can't use the "we didn't know it was illegal" excuse. Qwest really fucked up their ability to defend themselves.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Government Blackmail is TERRORISM.

We've already lost the "war on terra." We're being eaten by our own.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. And it's moving toward fascism as well (fascist shift)

The fascist shift is explained well by Naomi Wolf in her book: The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot
http://www.amazon.com/End-America-Letter-Warning-Patriot/dp/1933392797

Here's an article that provides the basis for her book:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html

Fascist America, in 10 easy steps


From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. And, argues Naomi Wolf, George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all

<snip>
They were not figuring these things out as they went along. If you look at history, you can see that there is essentially a blueprint for turning an open society into a dictatorship. That blueprint has been used again and again in more and less bloody, more and less terrifying ways. But it is always effective. It is very difficult and arduous to create and sustain a democracy - but history shows that closing one down is much simpler. You simply have to be willing to take the 10 steps.

As difficult as this is to contemplate, it is clear, if you are willing to look, that each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration.

Because Americans like me were born in freedom, we have a hard time even considering that it is possible for us to become as unfree - domestically - as many other nations. Because we no longer learn much about our rights or our system of government - the task of being aware of the constitution has been outsourced from citizens' ownership to being the domain of professionals such as lawyers and professors - we scarcely recognise the checks and balances that the founders put in place, even as they are being systematically dismantled. Because we don't learn much about European history, the setting up of a department of "homeland" security - remember who else was keen on the word "homeland" - didn't raise the alarm bells it might have.

more at link

[originalpckelly]

15. Yes, it is the rise of neo-fascism.

[UpInArms]

3. meeting on Feb. 27, 2001!!!!

The NSA contract was awarded in July 2001!!!!!

:wtf:

[UpInArms]

7. more wtf ----

from the OP link:

The documents maintain that Nacchio met with top government officials, including President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and then-National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice in 2000 and early 2001 to discuss how to protect the government's communications network.

They portray U.S. government officials, even before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, worried about a "Pearl Harbor" type of attack on the Internet. As early as 1997, a three-star general talked to Nacchio about using Qwest's new fiber-optic network for government purposes, according to the defense.

from The Project for the New American Century - September 2000

REBUILDING
AMERICA’S
DEFENSES

Strategy, Forces and Resources
For a New Century

A Report of
The Project for the New American Century

September 2000

http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf

on page 51

Further, the process of transformation,
even if it brings revolutionary change, is
likely to be a long one, absent some
catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a
new Pearl Harbor. Domestic politics and
industrial policy will shape the pace and
content of transformation as much as the
requirements of current missions. A
decision to suspend or terminate aircraft
carrier production, as recommended by this
report and as justified by the clear direction
of military technology, will cause great
upheaval. Likewise, systems entering
production today – the F-22 fighter, for
example – will be in service inventories for
decades to come. Wise management of this
process will consist in large measure of
figuring out the right moments to halt
production of current-paradigm weapons
and shift to radically new designs. The
expense associated with some programs can
make them roadblocks to the larger process
of transformation – the Joint Strike Fighter
program, at a total of approximately $200
billion, seems an unwise investment. Thus,
this report advocates a two-stage process of
change – transition and transformation –
over the coming decades.

[originalpckelly]

14. I bet they're talking about the Abilene Network, a part of the Internet2 project.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_Network

Quest is one of the major sponsors of that project.

[leveymg]

18. This was NSA Project Groundbreaker awarded 7/31/01 to CSC-Grumman, privatized NSA surveillance

Looks like Qwest decided Groundbreaker was illegal and opted out of The Program -- warrantless domestic spying - and the project went other major telcos and defense contractors. Note that Verizon, which is being sued along with AT&T by EFF, is among the contractors:

NSA PRESS RELEASE
31 July 2001
For further information, contact:
NSA Public and Media Affairs,
301-688-6524

National Security Agency Outsources Areas of Non-Mission Information Technology to CSC-Led Alliance Team
The National Security Agency (NSA) has established an official government-industry partnership for Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) services within the areas of Telephony, Distributed Computing, Enterprise Management, and Networks by awarding a prime contract on 31 July 2001 to the CSC-led Alliance Team. Today's acquisition, known as Project GROUNDBREAKER, concludes an extensive procurement process, following a 15-month Feasibility Study, announced in a June 2000 Press Release, and a managed competition among industry leaders, announced in a March 2001 Media Update. The winning Alliance Team, self-named as Eagle Alliance, is a CSC-led joint venture in partnership with Logicon, a Northrup Grumman company. Additionally, the team comprises strategic alliance partners that include General Dynamics for telephony and networks, Keane Federal Systems for distributed computing and enterprise management support, and Omen, Inc., a small business that will integrate the Eagle Alliance small business consortium. Technology and Service Delivery Partners for this Alliance Team include ACS Defense, BTG, CACI, Compaq, TRW, Windemere, Fiber Plus, Verizon, and Superior Communications.

As an agency in transition, NSA continues to address the technology explosion of the past decade by leveraging the expertise of the commercial marketplace through an aggressive reformed acquisition strategy. The Eagle Alliance Team will be responsible for redefining and implementing new ITI processes and end-to-end solutions under a contract that has a potential duration of 10 years with a potential value that exceeds $2 billion.

"The ability of NSA to perform its mission depends on an efficient and stable ITI, one that is secure, agile, and responsive to evolving mission needs in balance with the requirements to recapitalize and refresh technology," NSA Director Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, said. "This outsourcing partnership for these four ITI areas supports our transformation efforts. It allows us to refocus assets on the Agency's core missions of providing foreign signals intelligence and protecting U.S. national security-related information systems by turning over several ITI services for industry's purview."

This government-industry partnership will result in service quality improvements, continuous modernization of NSA's ITI, as well as a cost avoidance for the Agency over the duration of the contract. It is also an employee-friendly approach to redefining NSA's internal corporate structure in that the contractors will receive monetary incentives to hire a significant number of Agency employees, and offer them comparable or better pay, benefits, and opportunities. Over the contract duration, Eagle Alliance will manage the selective ITI areas while undergoing continuous governance and monitoring by NSA based on Service Level Agreements that identify the performance levels required. NSA will continue to provide transition services (e.g., career counseling, resume preparation, and seminars) for employees interested in moving to the private sector under this contract.

The contract is expected to be fully operational in November 2001, 2 months ahead of the original schedule.

America's Codemakers and Codebreakers

[sabra]

4. "Feb. 27, 2001" before 9/11 was the excuse....

[Andy Canuck]

6. Hmmm... conspiracy or just plain scary?

or is the date wrong?

[Roland99]

10. damn...not sure if I need a tinfoil hat this time....

:scared:

[originalpckelly]

11. If you didn't know it already, this has all been planned. Cheney probably is working with al-Qaeda..

This stuff goes back before the year 2000.

[yardwork]

21. Absolute proof that this was all planned in advance.

[Hydra]

8. Two nasty tidbits who those paying attention

1. Refuse to play ball with the Gov't, and you're dogmeat. I was sure Qwest and the others got shit for refusing to break the law, so it's nice to have it out in the open.

2. This was before the "War on Terror," so anyone who thinks this wasn't all preplanned has nothing to stand on.

[flyarm]

9. we had to tap americans ..9/11 , 9//11, 9/11, 9/11...what a load of bullshit

and lets ask..did they tap the Kerry campaign?? count on it..did the tap everyone who worked on the campaign..count on it..and where is pelosi on this???????????

oh maybe she is protecting her table.

disgusted..

fly

[originalpckelly]

13. And what about all these suspicious break-ins?

I think we're all smart enough to figure it out. They're a bunch of fucking neo-fascists.

[originalpckelly]

12. I knew that's what was going on. It was fucking suspicious that Qwest's CEO...

would be prosecuted so conveniently, wasn't it?

[KansDem]

16. OK, so it's now obvious the Bushistas were tapping Americans *before* 9/11

The partially redacted documents were filed under seal before, during and after Nacchio's trial. They were released Wednesday.

Nacchio planned to demonstrate at trial that he had a meeting on Feb. 27, 2001, at NSA headquarters at Fort Meade, Md., to discuss a $100 million project. According to the documents, another topic also was discussed at that meeting, one with which Nacchio refused to comply.

The topic itself is redacted each time it appears in the hundreds of pages of documents, but there is mention of Nacchio believing the request was both inappropriate and illegal, and repeatedly refusing to go along with it.

The NSA contract was awarded in July 2001 to companies other than Qwest.

So why didn't the 15 intelligence agencies intercept the plans for 9/11? Afterall, Clinton had warned Bush that Osama bin Laden was the number one terrorist...

[Amonester]

56. 'cuz dick chainy, rumsferatu, wolfmofo, and their puppet were having

wet dreams of a new pearl harbor to justify their:

1. ongoing illegal warrantless eavesdropping program
2. their un-Patriot Act they conspired to push through
3. their decades-long plan to steal Iraq's & Iran's oil
4. all this at the expense of the taxpayers' descendants

key lay and his corporate crooks were mere amateurs compared to them.

[ReadTomPaine]

17. Let's hope this revelation cools off the FISA hawks and shifts the focus of the debate.

We should be taking powers away from these people, not granting them and making excuses later.

What more will it take? Is there any line that cannot be crossed?

[me b zola]

19. k&r

[yardwork]

20. We predicted this here on DU at the time.

It's just horrible what the * administration has done to this country. Thousands of people are complicit in totally illegal actions. The fact that they've allowed this to continue, participated in this kind of behavior....it just makes me angry and sad for my country.

What has happened to us? Why have so many people gone along with this?

[Cerridwen]

22. A patriotic crook...

Okay, that just tickled my funny-bone.

I guess there is some "honor among thieves".

In a weird twisted way does this mean there might be hope for us yet?

Okay, ignore my ramblings. Refusing to spy on U.S. citizens is a great thing. Stealing from them is okay? Did he really steal the money?

[bonito]

23. K&R

[JMDEM]

24. DEATH THREATS AGAINST SICK KIDS????

Whoops -- wrong thread! Sorry!

[Strelnikov_]

25. To Repeat - - - Feb. 27, 2001

Six months before the Reichs most hallowed of days.

[jeff30997]

26. NSA =KGB

[spotbird]

27. NSA Domestic Surveillance Began 7 Months Before 9/11, Convicted Qwest CEO Claims

Source: Wired

Did the NSA's massive call records database program pre-date the terrorist attacks of 9/11?

That startling allegation is in court documents released this week which show that former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio -- the head of the only company known to have turned down the NSA's requests for Americans' phone records -- tried, unsuccessfully, to argue just that in his defense against insider trading charges.

Nacchio was sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2007 after being found guilty of illegally selling shares based on insider information that the company's fortunes were declining. Nacchio unsuccessfully attempted to defend himself by arguing that he actually expected Qwest's 2001 earnings to be higher because of secret NSA contracts, which, he contends, were denied by the NSA after he declined in a February 27, 2001 meeting to give the NSA customer calling records, court documents released this week show.


Read more: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/nsa-asked-for-p.html

---

Why should the telecoms get retroactive immunity again?

[Kagemusha]

28. So that they can't be charged for being accessories to unconstitutional searches

which were A-OK with the sitting President and his administration. Since they were A-OK with them, it shouldn't be treated as a crime, they were just trying to defend America, and the Constitution is just a piece of paper.

Not that I agree with it, but you asked.

[robinlynne]

29. BEcause once they get it, it will be easier for bush's people to get it....

[acmavm]

30. So the bush**wits had a program in place BEFORE the much used

excuse of 911 and they couldn't prevent the attacks.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. And just look how well it worked

One more excuse down the drain.

[Acadia Blue]

32. Did they want to stop what happened????

It certainly enabled them to do things no one would have accepted????

[The Backlash Cometh]

33. This is weird. If they were monitoring calls before 9/11, how did they

miss the chatter leading up to 9/11?

[JenniferJuniper]

36. Miss the chatter?

I doubt they missed it.

John Dean said as much on KO the other night. They knew what was coming, and they lovingly embraced it, knowing full well how much it would help them keep the sheep in this country under their complete control.

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. Any chance there will be facts that will convince the r/ws beyond

a shadow of a doubt?

[JenniferJuniper]

39. Doubtful. Even they aren't that stupid

But it was amazing to hear Dean say it just the same. He's a rational guy, but no left-winger. KO set up the question perfectly so you got the sense they had talked about it in advance. Dean actually started to say they were "happy" it happened, but then retracted and said they knew something was coming and decided to be prepared to take political advantage of it.

Which I'm sure made them very happy.

[Amonester]

44. convince the r/ws? (the r/ws who still support the damaging wh?)

their brain damage is beyond repair.

[Roland99]

41. Sure does chop down that branch of propaganda, eh?

[Changenow]

46. "Bin Laden determined to strike in US"

They knew, they don't want to spy on us to prevent terrorism.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/10/august6.memo/

[hootinholler]

49. By plugging thier ears and shouting LA LA LA!

After all, they needed a 'New Pearl Harbor'!

-Hoot

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

34. K & R.

:kick: MKJ

[me b zola]

35. This has many implications--none of them look good for bush*co

k&r

[Changenow]

47. But congress will

give him FISA anyway.

[redqueen]

37. So they can break the law for the rogue gov't without fear of

ever having to pay for it.

[Roland99]

40. Was never about terrorism. Think Watergate break-in on a national scale.

[Changenow]

48. Exactly.

There is no turning back now.

[Massachusetts]

42. Nancy do your job!

Impeach now and if not when?

[VP505]

54. That was my

thought when I read that, if its true then Nancy has absolutely NO excuse not to call for impeachment.

[jgraz]

43. Another way of looking at this: it began 1 month after inauguration

Cheney's been waiting to do this since the Nixon administration.

[lvx35]

55. Oh, good point.

And totally true.

I had an incident before 9/11 where a DLL was sending off Internet data. I went online to where some gurus were talking about it - one had decompiled it, and found it communicating with Sandia.gov ... it was some creepy stuff, though all the references to it disappeared.

[Supersedeas]

45. and it was such a successful program then too....not a peep from the Telecom supported TV Media

[PassingFair]

50. Contact your Congressperson about this NOW!!!!

It's easy-peasy, thanks to RUSS FEINGOLD:

http://ga1.org/campaign/fix_fisa?rk=SdsKNQ61A%5f1ME

This is SO important!

[spotbird]

51. They know,

they just don't care.

[PassingFair]

52. Let them know how much YOU care.

And let them know that you VOTE, and that you influence others.

[spotbird]

53. OK

This was reported six months ago.


Spy Agency Sought U.S. Call Records Before 9/11, Lawyers Say

By Andrew Harris

June 30 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. National Security Agency asked AT&T Inc. to help it set up a domestic call monitoring site seven months before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, lawyers claimed June 23 in court papers filed in New York federal court.

The allegation is part of a court filing adding AT&T, the nation's largest telephone company, as a defendant in a breach of privacy case filed earlier this month on behalf of Verizon Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. customers. The suit alleges that the three carriers, the NSA and President George W. Bush violated the Telecommunications Act of 1934 and the U.S. Constitution, and seeks money damages.

``The Bush Administration asserted this became necessary after 9/11,'' plaintiff's lawyer Carl Mayer said in a telephone interview. ``This undermines that assertion.''

The lawsuit is related to an alleged NSA program to record and store data on calls placed by subscribers. More than 30 suits have been filed over claims that the carriers, the three biggest U.S. telephone companies, violated the privacy rights of their customers by cooperating with the NSA in an effort to track alleged terrorists.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abIV0cO64zJE&refer=

[PassingFair]

57. Thank you. And YEP!

I believe that this was the issue that Comey was pushing with Ashcroft
in the hospital that fateful night:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/15/ashcroft.nsa/index.html

snip>
Calling it "the most difficult time in my period of life," Comey discussed publicly for the first time a hospital visit then-White House chief of staff Andrew Card and then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales made to Attorney General John Ashcroft on March 10, 2004. (Watch Comey describe Ashcroft's response during the hospital visit Video)

Ashcroft had become sick the week before, and Comey had been designated the acting attorney general.

Comey refused to say publicly that the White House officials came to the hospital to discuss the NSA program. However, government officials previously confirmed to CNN that Comey had "vigorously opposed" aspects of the surveillance program and refused to sign off on its continued use, prompting Card and Gonzales to make the hospital visit.

Comey's revelations came before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year."


Can you say "lynch pin"?