« China's "Great Firewall" Runs on Fear | Main | EPIC: Google's "Privacy Crusade" Is a Preemptive Weasel Strike »
September 13, 2007
EFF: Terror Plot Busted by Police Work, Not Warrantless Spying
EFF: German Plot Uncovered By Old Fashioned Police Work:
The recent terrorist plot uncovered in Germany was detected by traditional means. According to Newsweek, "One U.S. intelligence official described the law-enforcement operation as a case of 'good old-fashioned police work.'"
Nevertheless, when Mike McConnell, the Director of National Intelligence, testified before Congress on Monday, he cited the German arrests as proof of the importance of conducting electronic surveillance without warrants under the so-called Protect America Act.
After these contradictions came to light, the DNI recanted: "Information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act," McConnell admitted in a statement released on Wednesday.
The foiled terrorist plot in Germany shows that we can protect America while protecting Americans' rights. In response to McConnell's testimony, Rep. Rush Holt stated "The German terror case in question is another example of why I voted against the 'Protect America Act' when it came to the House floor in August. Our existing collection activities are working well overall, uncovering potential terrorist plots in Europe and elsewhere."
Further evidence that the intelligence community -- and the Bush administration -- need to be compelled to back up their extraordinary claims with more than "Because we say so."
Posted by mhall at 7:25 PM | Add Comment
Leave a comment