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Thursday, May 18, 2006

NEW REPORT REVIEWS NSA ACCESS TO PHONE RECORDS

By Carl Rauscher | Thursday, May 18, 2006, 12:42 PM

The secret National Security Agency database of billions of phone calls made by ordinary Americans raises a host of thorny legal issues, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

Secrecy News, an on-line newsletter highlighting government secrecy issues, obtained a copy of the report. The report is timely because the Senate Intelligence Committee is debating today whether to approve General Michael V. Hayden, the former NSA director, to be the new head of the CIA.

“The factual information available in the public domain with respect to any such alleged program is limited and in some instances inconsistent,” the CRS report states. “And the application, if at all, of any possibly relevant statutory provisions to any such program is likely to be a very fact specific inquiry.”

Having said that, the CRS explains that there are several statutes that may be pertinent and that could conceivably entail civil or criminal penalties for telephone companies that provide information to the government without statutory authorization, wrote Steve Aftergood, the author of Secrecy News.

“This [CRS] report …summarize[s] statutory authorities regarding access by the Government, for either foreign intelligence or law enforcement purposes, to information related to telephone calling patterns or practices. Where pertinent, we will also discuss statutory prohibitions against accessing or disclosing such information, along with relevant exceptions to those prohibitions.”

See “Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities,” May 17, 2006:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL33424.pdf

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Border Bucks

By Ken Herman | Thursday, May 18, 2006, 10:24 AM

President Bush told Congress today that he wants $1.95 billion to pay for the immigration reform package he announced Monday, including the hiring of additional Border Patrol agents.

The money would come from the $92-billion supplemental appropriation package pending in Congress.

Instead of increasing the bottom line, Bush scratched out $1.95 billion previously targeted for the war on terror. Administration officials today said those procurements can be postponed without hurting the war effort.

In addition to more Border Patrol agents, the money would pay for infrastructure (lighting, roads, etc.), additional detention beds, local law enforcement support and temporary use of the National Guard in non-enforcement activities along the border.

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Hot First Lady

By Ken Herman | Thursday, May 18, 2006, 08:03 AM

bushes.jpgPresident Bush’s standard mention of wife Laura is now getting a new audience reaction.

“Laura sends her love,” Bush said in a Wednesday evening speech at a Republican National Committee gala in Washington. “She’s a fabulous first lady. She’s got to be the most patient woman in America.”

“She’s hot,” an audience member yelled, reprising a line used by the Bush impersonator who appeared recently with the president at the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

“Yes,” said Bush, reprising another line used by his impersonator. “Muy caliente.”

“I hope she’s not watching, you know,” he added.

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