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News Bits from the Wacky World of King George
- In a recent letter released under the Freedom of Information Act, the National Security Agency (NSA) revealed that it is paying two news agencies - Reuters and the Associated Press - for information. Other government agencies purchase news wire services, but no other agency presents the NSA's level of secrecy and defensiveness with such purchases. Is it possible that the NSA is influencing the media and free speech?
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) has filed a class-action lawsuit against San Antonio-based AT&T Inc. seeking to end its alleged participation in a domestic surveillance program being carried out by the NSA. The lawsuit alleges that AT&T has and is continuing to allow the NSA access to the company's customer databases without a court-issued warrant. AT&T has no comment at this time.
- The American Bar Association (ABA) denounced Bush's domestic surveillance program, accusing him of exceeding his powers under the constitution. The ABA has stated that a warrant issued from the special court set up under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is the only method for obtaining foreign intelligence through domestic electronic surveillance. If this administration believes FICA is inadequate, they should seek to amend the act rather than ignore it completely.
- A new Government Accountability Office report, released in January, shows that the Bush Administration spent more than $1.6 billion in public relations media contracts in a two-and-a-half year span. This means your tax dollars have been used to sell this administration's failed policies.
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