Buzzflash: “Tyranny Creeps In…” at the NSA

Staff / Truthdig May 11, 2006 "The NSA's gathering of phone call records of millions of Americans is "something that would make the late Leonid Brezhnev proud of Bush -- and [Gen.] Michael Hayden, the Pentagon apparatchik, who saw it through," Buzzflash writes in an editorial. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Gravest Assault on Privacy in U.S. History

Staff / Truthdig May 11, 2006 Late coming to the story about the NSA's massive telephone record collection program? The Washington Post does a 360-degree report. Neither Bush nor his aides denied any facts in the original USA Today story. Senate Intel Chair Pat Roberts wants to shoot the messenger (USA Today). Bush's pick for CIA chief, Gen. Michael Hayden, oversaw this program at the NSA, a fact that guarantees fireworks at his confirmation hearing. Check out the original story. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Likely New CIA Director Misled Congress on Wiretapping

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2006 Michael Hayden, who will probably replace outgoing CIA chief Porter Goss, told Congress in 2002 that all domestic surveillance was consistent with the FISA law--knowing full well of Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program. The Fraud and False Statements statute (18 U.S.C. 1001) makes Hayden?s misleading statements to Congress illegal, according to a Clinton-era national security official. See a Time article on Hayden's impending appointment. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

New Bill Allows Warrantless Spying

Staff / Truthdig Mar 17, 2006 OK, OK, it's not time to get hysterical yet This one doesn't look likely to pass, but Four senators have introduced a bill that would allow the NSA to eavesdrop, sans warrant, for up to 45 days GOP Sen Arlen Specter objected, saying the law would allow government to "do whatever the hell it wants" Oh Right What a departure that would be. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Feingold Proposes Bush Censure Over Spying

Staff / Truthdig Mar 13, 2006 Only one president in U.S. history has been censured--Andrew Jackson in 1834. But Russ Feingold says that this president "must be held accountable." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Senate Panel Blocks Spy Probe

Staff / Truthdig Mar 8, 2006 Senate Republicans shut down a Democratic-led proposal to investigate Bush's eavesdropping program. Instead, a White House-approved seven-member panel will oversee the effort. White House-approved? You gotta be kidding. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudi Group Alleges Wiretapping by U.S.

Staff / Truthdig Mar 2, 2006 This may provide the first detailed evidence of U.S. residents being spied upon by Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Republican Who Oversees NSA Calls for Wiretap Inquiry

Staff / Truthdig Feb 8, 2006 Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) breaks with the White House and calls for a full congressional inquiry into Bush's spy program. | storyThe dam hasn't just cracked--it's gushing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spying Program Yields Few Suspects

Staff / Truthdig Feb 7, 2006 Investigators eavesdropping on Americans in overseas calls have dismissed nearly all of them as suspects, according to the Washington Post. This is huge, because "a search cannot be judged 'reasonable' if it is based on evidence that experience shows to be unreliable."Meanwhile, feisty Russ Feingold, a Democratic senator, takes the attorney general to the cleaners for lying to him a year ago about Bush's surveillance activities. Gonzales shoots back, "I was telling the truth then. I'm telling the truth now." | story Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

N.Y. Times Calls Spy Program Patently Illegal

Staff / Truthdig Jan 30, 2006 The Gray Lady, in an editorial, eviscerates Bush's defense of his spying program, point by point. | editorial Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Disingenuously Re-Brands Spying Program

Staff / Truthdig Jan 24, 2006 The president is now calling it the "Terrorist Surveillance Program." | storyOK, Mr. Bush, but what about the non-terrorists being swept up in your nets? Not that we're surprised by the new moniker; this is the guy who legalized an increase in air pollution and called it "Clear Skies," and labeled a tree-slashing program "Healthy Forests." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gore, ACLU and NYT Come out Swinging on Spying

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2006 The former VP, hot and bothered, says a special prosecutor should investigate Bush's spy program | story or transcriptThe NYT reports that even the former FBI director had qualms about the legality of the spying | story Meanwhile, the ACLU and another group sue Bush over his wiretappingcom/2006/01/17/politics/17nsahtml?hp&ex=1137474000&en=9aa4386db9bb10f6&ei=5094&partner=homepage" title="story">story. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )