In 2005 Eric Lichblau and James Risen of the New York Times revealed the existence of the "Terrorist Surveillance Program," a program under which the Bush Administration eavesdropped on the international phone calls and emails of Americans without obtaining warrants. Yesterday, the Inspector Generals' report reveals that under Bush the surveillance program went far beyond even what was previously revealed; that in fact the "President's Surveillance Program" included many other surveillance activities as well. Here are some links providing more background about this story.
The Federal Report on the President's Surveillance Program, prepared by the Inspector Generals of the Justice Department, Defense Department, Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
A new article by Lichtblau and Risen describing the Inspector Generals' report and reaction from key figures.
A Fox News report stating that President Bush authorized the expanded wiretapping in a still-secret Presidential order; that the program was justified on the basis of opinions by John Yoo; that the full nature and extent of the program's activities were concealed from Yoo's superior, Attorney General John Ashcroft, until 2004; that FBI Director Robert Meuller had concerns about the institution and justfication for the program; and that the program was of limited value in the fight against terrorism.
A post from mcjoan at DailyKos describing some excerpts from the report.
An white paper dated January 19, 2006, from the Justice Department under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, arguing that the Terrorist Surveillance Program was legal, and that to the extent that the program was prohibited by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the statute was an unconstitutional infringement upon the inherent powers of the President.
The abstract of a 2007 article by me rebutting Gonzales and arguing that FISA is constitutional. The citation for the full article is 16 William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal 37 (2007).
I will provide additional background and analysis as more details emerge about the President's Surveillance Program.
