Tech Group Appeals Wiretap Ruling

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2006 A group of technology companies and civil liberties organizations has appealed a court ruling that would require Internet service providers to allow the government backdoor access to their systems. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Judge OK’s Wiretap Lawsuit

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2006 A federal judge has denied the government?s request to dismiss a lawsuit against AT&T. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing AT&T for its involvement in the NSA?s wiretapping program. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gonzales: Bush Personally Blocked DOJ Probe of Spy Program

Staff / Truthdig Jul 18, 2006 Testifying before Congress this morning, Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales said that Bush halted the investigation into the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program by personally denying security clearances to Department of Justice lawyers investigating the case. (article or video) Pardon us for being reflexively cynical about Bush's motives in this one, but the president doesn't have a shred of credibility on this issue. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Err … About that Specter-Bush Eavesdropping Deal…

Staff / Truthdig Jul 14, 2006 Looks like we were a little too hasty on this one. We had blogged that Sen. Arlen Specter had introduced a bill that would require Bush to get court approval for his NSA wiretapping programs. Turns out that's not the case. Specter's bill would merely give Bush the option of bringing his program before a court -- which Bush should have done in the first place. Think Progress and AMERICAblog have the details. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Breaking: Bush to Submit to Eavesdropping Oversight?

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2006 From CNN: Sen. Arlen Specter revealed a bill that would require a court to review the constitutionality of the National Security Agency's controversial intelligence-gathering program, saying the deal was negotiated with the Bush administration's cooperation, and that Bush would sign the bill if it doesn't change dramatically. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Will Give All U.S. Detainees Geneva Rights

Staff / Truthdig Jul 11, 2006 The White House said this morning that every prisoner in Gitmo and in US military custody everywhere is entitled to Geneva Convention protections Bush spokesman Tony Snow claimed that this apparent about-face is "not really a reversal of policy," while admitting that it stems directly from the Supreme Court's striking down of Bush's military tribunals Reminder: This is far from total victory Constitutional expert Glenn Greenwald reminds us that the Hamdan ruling also removed any conceivable argument to support Bush's illegal wiretapping programs, and we haven't heard about any policy shift on that front . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

FBI Plans New Push on Internet Surveillance

Staff / Truthdig Jul 10, 2006 According to CNET: "The FBI has drafted sweeping legislation that would require Internet service providers to create wiretapping hubs for police surveillance and force makers of networking gear to build in backdoors for eavesdropping." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Is Flouting Court After Gitmo Ruling

Staff / Truthdig Jul 10, 2006 Constitutional expert and best-selling author Glenn Greenwald reminds us that the Supreme Court's Hamdan decision not only outlawed Bush's military tribunals, but also removed any conceivable argument to support Bush's illegal wiretapping programs. Greenwald: "Journalists should begin asking the Justice Department every day what their legal justification for warrantless eavesdropping is now that Hamdan has rendered frivolous their prior legal arguments in defense of the President." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Were Cheney, Gonzales and Hayden Lying About Wiretap Capabilities?

Staff / Truthdig Jul 6, 2006 If Bloomberg News is correct in its June 30 report that the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program started up to seven months before the Sept. 11 attacks, then why did the vice president, the attorney general and the new CIA chief say otherwise? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Greenwald Nails Specter on Amnesty Law Lie

Staff / Truthdig Jun 17, 2006 Sen. Arlen Specter went on TV to vehemently deny a Washington Post report that he had proposed legislation which included blanket amnesty for everyone involved with Bush's warrantless spying. But lawyer Glenn Greenwald has apparently proved that the Post was right in its report--and the Specter had lied about it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hayden Confirmed as CIA Director

Staff / Truthdig May 26, 2006 History will surely boggle at this one: The architect of the NSA's domestic spying program has been made the head of the CIA. And the vote was 78-15. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gonzales: We May Prosecute Journalists

Staff / Truthdig May 23, 2006 Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales says that the Bush White House may go after journalists who report on national security-related matters. "There are some statutes on the book which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility." Funny: There are lots of FISA statutes that you don't have to read particularly carefully to learn that spying on Americans without warrants is illegal. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )