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NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance Documents

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 10:12:24 AM EST
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The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense seeking documents related to Bush's warrantless NSA electronic surveillance program requested in December under the Freedom of Information Act. Here is what the Times is seeking:

The Times said a Dec. 16 letter to the Department of Defense requested all internal memos, e-mails and legal memoranda and opinions since Sept. 11, 2001, related to the National Security Agency spying program. The department is the parent agency of the NSA. The newspaper said it asked for meeting logs, calendar items and notes related to discussions of the program, including meetings held by Vice President Dick Cheney and his staff with members of Congress and telecommunications executives.

It also requested all complaints of abuse or possible violations in the operations of the program or the legal rationale behind it. And it sought the names and descriptions of people or groups identified through the use of the program and a description of relevant episodes used to identify the targets of the intercepts.

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    NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance Documents | 31 comments (31 topical)
    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 10:52:56 AM EST
    I let my long time NYT subscription go when they started printing the front page warmongering Judith Miller lies..... maybe it is time for me to resubscribe. Have they finally proven that they are willing to use the tremendous power they have for 'the people' and not the 'many dark actors playing games' whose thirst for power has left quite a trail of death and desruction and irreparibly harmed the reputation and saftey of America.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 10:54:52 AM EST
    Let's play hardball! Bushco will regret threatening the NYT and the journalist. They are now effectively activated. WG-I am very much in the mood for impeachment. In fact, it makes me feel rather buoyant.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#4)
    by Punchy on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 11:23:13 AM EST
    Anyone hear the crickets chirping? That's the same sound we'll hear from the DoD when the judge rules against them. See, nobody in this Admin. has to follow laws anymore. You can be sure the DoD won't hand over a damn thing ("national security, and all, your honor"). Remember: No docs on Bolton's NSA taps No docs on Katrina No docs on NSA wiretaps No SP for the NSA No docs on Cheney's Energy meetings No release of Abu Gharib pics (yet) I see a pattern. And it tells me the DoD will never release any of this. Who's going to make them?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#5)
    by Slado on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 11:45:31 AM EST
    The reason the DOD won't issue the documents is because they shouldn't and they don't have too. Just because the NYT is scared that they will soon get a subpeona doesn't mean the DOD should be scared of some whiney liberal rag. I am still trying to figure out the "power" the NYT is going to exert of the DOD. This is the same NYT that was too scared to run a political cartoon and now they have the "power" to take down the DOD? Please.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#6)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 11:57:29 AM EST
    Slado- The power the NYT has is being reflected in the polls. Take off your blinders the rest of America is waking up. 34% is second lowest next to Nixon who was at 27% before he was forced to resign. Deep trouble in wingnuttia and the trolls are squirming.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 12:05:28 PM EST
    I'm LMAO. The NYT was probably all indignant when they demanded the documents, like they actually have any right to be given classified national security documents. I'd sooner give the documents to AQ.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 12:13:34 PM EST
    Variable-
    I'd sooner give the documents to AQ.
    Are you working in the WH? It seems that they arleady have. AQ it the neocon WH's biggest ally.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#9)
    by Slado on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 12:18:09 PM EST
    Squeaky. Bush has won every election he's entered since he lost his first in the 70's. He's confirmed two very conservative judges that will be on the court for 30 years. He's invaded 2 countries and maybe a 3rd in the next few weeks. He is still as of right now...yep...still president and he will be untill 2009. I am not the one living in a fantasy world of this blog or the NYT's editorial page like you my blogging freind. I'll worry about impeachmet and bogus polling from no less then the same news orginization that brought us bogus stories about Bush. How many times does the NYT and CBS have to screw up for you to stop quoting what they say as gospel?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#10)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 12:28:53 PM EST
    Slado- Save the brownshirt for the war crimes tribunal. You will be a good character witness for the smirk and scowl. See you there.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#11)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 01:22:34 PM EST
    How many times does bush have to screw up before you stop quoting what he says as gospel?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#12)
    by Al on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 03:07:49 PM EST
    Slado, whether you worry about Bush's impeachment or not is totally irrelevant to anybody but yourself.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#13)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 03:28:39 PM EST
    wg - Very well thought suggestions. The problem is what the administration is doing isn't illegal. Squeaky - Glad you brought up those CBS Polls. The polls are loaded. 73% were Demo and only 27% Repub. Given that information I find it astounding that Bush got 34%. And BTW - The polls were of registered voters, not "likely" voters. Big difference come election day. You'd think after Rathergate CBS would know theyt're being watched for accuracy and tactics.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#14)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 03:34:36 PM EST
    Lets not forget Lyingwingnutmorongate.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#15)
    by jondee on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 03:40:31 PM EST
    And jim, you forgot the Spectator link or are just making more things up?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#16)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 04:12:26 PM EST
    The polls are loaded. 73% were Demo and only 27% Repub.
    That's a lie. Total Republicans 272 289 Total Democrats 409 381 Total Independents 337 348 jim, stop lying.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#17)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 04:16:59 PM EST
    jim, you are a liar: actual weighted Total Republicans 272 289 Total Democrats 409 381 Total Independents 337 348 stop lying jim. Lying about such an obvious fact over and over should be grounds for banishment.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#18)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 04:34:20 PM EST
    sailor - Lying? 26% are Repub and 40% Demo? I'd say the poll is lying. Now if you say the Independents are split 50-50, the number is 43% biased for Bush and 57% biased against Bush. What's that they say? There are lies, damn lies and statistics? If you want an accurate survey about anything, you have to know the bias of the person giving the answers.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#19)
    by jimcee on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 05:41:45 PM EST
    Is it just me or are some on this site reduced to name-calling instead of any kind of discourse?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#20)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 06:40:50 PM EST
    jimcee, ppj lied when he said it was 70% dems. I called him on it. The he lied again.
    Now if you say the Independents are split 50-50.
    Obviously the poll didn't say that. So he lied again. It wasn't a mistake, he just plain lied. I see your point, but I don't think it is name calling to say a commenter lied, when they are proven to have, over and over, lied. The facts bear this out. I'm sorry to bring the discourse down to this level, but sheer lying in the face of facts can't be ignored. Do you have a better idea? Do you have other facts? I think you know that I admit when I have been proven wrong by facts.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#21)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 07:31:35 PM EST
    sailor - I made a supposition. That is not a lie, and you know that. As for the so-called "weighting," even after that it is 29% to 37%, so we get a HUGE 5% improvement. Wow! Let's face it. CBS was trying to cook the books, AGAIN. These folks never learn. Maybe that's why they are dead last in the news races. There's posts all over the net about this. jimcee - Uh-huh.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#22)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 07:53:54 PM EST
    The polls are loaded. 73% were Demo and only 27% Repub
    is not a supposition, it is a lie, and when that was proven wrong another lie took its place
    Lying? 26% are Repub and 40% Demo? I'd say the poll is lying.
    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#23)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 09:13:26 PM EST
    If that's not a spade, then I don't know what is. Wouldn't be such a big deal if it didn't happen all the time.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 11:35:26 PM EST
    Sailor, please stop calling other commenters names like "liar." Feel free to disagree, but drop the name-calling please. Personal attacks are not allowed.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 12:19:27 AM EST
    TL, since you are skilled in the practice of law, maybe can you help out by supplying some acceptable courtroom euphemisms that can be used to refer to (a) statements that clearly contradict known facts, and (b) a person who consistently makes such statements?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 12:35:18 AM EST
    Cymro-The solution is to frame responses in terms of oneself. ie :I disagree, the facts.... Very difficult at times. If no good result comes from that it is best to let it rest. I think that is the most frustrating thing for trolls. Some people seem to invite abuse and are not worth the effort. My first instinct in those cases is usually : You are a bla bla bla. This approach does not invite exchange. Trolls do not want exchange but mean to disrupt. It is hard not to take the bait. I do all too often, but am working on it.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 08:19:56 AM EST
    Jim, you need to stop making "suppositions" because they tend not to be based on facts. Bush's NSA policy is not only illegal - it is stupid. If an American is getting a call from al Qaeda, they need to be investigated and probably arrested. This can not and will not be done without a warrant. Listening without a warrant is just that - LISTENING. Clearly, Bush is listening to his enemies - not ours.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#28)
    by jondee on Wed Mar 01, 2006 at 01:20:02 PM EST
    "Suppositions" in big, bold, letters like they were the head line of the NYT; just like the suppositions that convince Amercans that Iraq did 9/11, or the suppositions that lead people to believe that Iraq had WMDs. If anyones over the line here its ppj; whats the message, youre free to knowingly spread lies but not to name call? LSOS.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#29)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 07:24:52 AM EST
    debbie - You need to checkout the Fourth again. Note that word "unreasonable." It is not unreasonable for the NSA to listen in on international calls from known/suspected terrorists to persons within the US, nor is it unreasonable to listen in on calls from persons within the US to international numbers of known/suspected terrorists. Would you tie the hands of our defense team? How many people are you willing to let die because of this? Have you ever complained about the FBI, CIA, Bush, etc., not connecting the dots?

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 07:41:05 AM EST
    There's no evidence that they've connected the dots with their domestic, warrantless wiretaps. There's no evidence that they're doing anything at all but spying on political opponents and making the nixon administration look comparatively ethical.

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#31)
    by squeaky on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 07:53:19 AM EST
    ppj-"unreasonable is not the issue here the issue are the words "probable cauese".

    Re: NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance D (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 07:57:10 AM EST
    Thank the Lord we have a finite dividing line like unreasonable. A word that means exactly what it says. A word that's not subject to interpretation or shifting societal standards. A word we can count on through thick and thin to guide us through the dark and keep us from the rocky shore. A word no one will ever confuse or misconstrue or like supposition and suppository. Ah, the irony.

    NYT Sues Defense Dept. Over NSA Surveillance Documents | 31 comments (31 topical)