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December 19, 2005

Double-Talk from the President

I listened to Bush's news conference this morning. There were any number of things which struck me as logically fallacious. But, I want to focus on the domestic spying thing.

Bush asserted that he'd authorized the NSA spying program without any court approval "because it enables us to move faster and quicker. We've got to be fast on our feet." At one point he talked about how people change phones and phone numbers quickly now days as a reason why he couldn't wait for court approval of such domestic spying. Although it was pointed out by commentators after the news conference that any administration can go to the FISA court after the fact and seek approval that way... something that Bush apparently hasn't done.

Bush emphasized that only international calls were monitored without court order — those placed from within the United States and going overseas, or those placed from other countries to individuals living in this country.

He stressed that calls placed and received within the United States would be monitored as has long been the case, after an order is granted by a secret court under the provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

So apparently we're supposed to believe a couple of truly incredible assertions:

1. That phones and phone numbers aren't changed so fast on calls within the United States to warrent spying without court approval.

2. That he has the legal authority to order spying upon American citizens without any court approval... provided they are calling or emailing outside the United States.

Update: Backsplash has a really good post on this.

Posted by Kevin at December 19, 2005 09:04 AM