mitch mcconnell - Page 30 of 30

Spy Chief Wants to Read Your E-Mail

Staff / Truthdig Jan 15, 2008 America's intelligence czar, Mike McConnell, drops a few eyebrow-raisers in a new interview in The New Yorker. He admits he wants the ability to access all U.S. Internet traffic, and says of waterboarding: "Whether it's torture by anybody else's definition, for me it would be torture." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Intelligence Chief Gets His Facts Mixed Up

Staff / Truthdig Sep 14, 2007 After German authorities foiled a terror plot earlier this month, U.S. National Intelligence Director J. Michael McConnell was all to eager to give credit to recently revised FISA rules, arguing, in effect, that potential civil liberty violations helped save American lives. Woops. It turns out that much of the information used by the Germans was obtained under the old FISA law, which McConnell continues to claim wasn't effective enough. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Big Brother Update With National Intel Director

Staff / Truthdig Aug 24, 2007 J. Michael McConnell, the director of national intelligence, has in part explained Congress' hurry to revise domestic surveillance law. It seems that the FISA court, established three decades ago to keep the government from abusively spying on American citizens, decided that the administration's warrantless wiretapping program was illegal -- and that just wouldn't do. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Odd Couple Still Pushing Immigration Reform

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2007 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Bush are determined to push through the ailing immigration reform bill, despite heavy opposition from both sides of the aisle. Reid, who has partnered with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Democrats would work through the July 4 recess if necessary. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Intelligence Chief to Revise Spy Rules

Staff / Truthdig Jun 13, 2007 National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell, with the blessing of the White House, will rewrite the Reagan-era executive order that defines the function of the United States' many spy agencies and prohibits espionage against Americans. While critics concede that the order is out of date, they worry that an administration with a fondness for spying on its own might seize the opportunity to trample on a few civil liberties. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )