Inspector General Report Released on National Security Letter Use and Abuse

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 06:38:00 PM EST
Tags: national security letters (all tags)

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The Inspector General's report on the FBI's use and abuse of National Security Letters has been released. It's called "A Review of the FBI’s Use of National Security Letters: Assessment of Corrective Actions and Examination of NSL Usage in 2006, March 2008" and is available here (pdf).

Also out today, "A Review of the FBI’s Use of Section 215 Orders for Business Records in 2006, March 2008" available here (pdf.)

The ACLU's reaction to the report is here. [More...]

bq. "The FBI has flagrantly put aside the rule of law and its internal guidelines time and again," said Michael German, ACLU National Security Policy Counsel and former FBI Agent. "Without an outside check, agents are able to demand at will and ask questions later. This is the kind of abuse that is inevitable when we broaden the government’s surveillance power and do not attempt to modernize privacy standards. Both the House and Senate have bills waiting to be marked up that will greatly limit this authority. Congress needs to act on this now."

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Inspector General Report Released on National Security Letter Use and Abuse | 16 comments (16 topical)

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The fascist takeover of America has (none / 0) (#1)
by magnetics on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 01:53:38 PM EST

already occurred; but the people have not yet realized.

BushCo DOJ Oversight (none / 0) (#2)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 02:39:13 PM EST

F.B.I. Assistant Director John Miller said today that bureau officials were pleased over all with the report.

So does that mean all "mistakes" were well within the expected margin of error?

Of course the BushCo way to achieve zero "mistakes" is change the laws protecting US citizens. When that is impossible, append signing statements so that, as far as King George and his minions are concerned, the law is in effect changed.

i worry about all the accumulated power (none / 0) (#3)
by hellothere on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 03:14:15 PM EST

that will be passed on to whom? and just what will they do with it. give it back? i think not!

BOth Dem Candidates (none / 0) (#4)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 03:34:15 PM EST

Say that they will go back to normal, and I believe that they will abandon signing statements, VP as a special branch, super secrecy etc.

That is one big difference between the Republican and the Democrats. The democrats believe in oversight and airing differences, a much messier process. The Republicans believe in lockstep and no oversight.

A good example is the Dem nomination process vs the GOP's.

[ Parent ]

Both Dem candidates.... (none / 0) (#5)
by kdog on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 03:37:14 PM EST

say alotta things.

I wish I shared your trust in them squeaky, but I don't. History teaches us that freedom's stolen are rarely returned.

[ Parent ]

A Sure Compromise (none / 0) (#6)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 03:42:31 PM EST

In terms of what I would want the party to be. But they are nowhere close to the current GOP who would revert our country to a Monarchy in a heartbeat were it possible. Whatever you want to say about power corrupting, and pols speaking out of both sides of their mouths, Monarchy is not in the Dem playbook.

[ Parent ]

Monarchy, no..... (none / 0) (#7)
by kdog on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 03:54:27 PM EST

Tyranny? I'm afraid so.

[ Parent ]

well both of you make good points. (none / 0) (#8)
by hellothere on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 04:04:21 PM EST

i would certainly like to take squeaky's view of the higher road. but unfortunately i am skeptical about out future. the democrats are the better choice with all their warts no doubt.

[ Parent ]

Whoever the 3rd name on the ballot is..... (none / 0) (#13)
by kdog on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:48:03 PM EST

in your state, that's the best choice, imo. It doesn't matter who it is, as long as a wrench is thrown in the works.

Best case scenario from a Dem admin...a band aid on our problems and a cease fire in the war on civil liberty. That's best case, again in my knuckleheaded opinion.

[ Parent ]

: i think you covered it pretty well. (none / 0) (#16)
by hellothere on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 08:47:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]

thanks for your comment. (none / 0) (#9)
by hellothere on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 04:09:47 PM EST

you do take the higher road here. i sure hope for all our welfare that you are right on.

[ Parent ]

Hahahhaa (none / 0) (#10)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:22:05 PM EST

After November, when the Dems win the POTUS, we will all be screaming at either Obama or Clinton (or both) for not being progressive enough, for not ending the war fast enough, etc.....

[ Parent ]

IOW Screaming At Them (none / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:32:45 PM EST

For being politicians aka liars.

[ Parent ]

That's our job:).... (none / 0) (#12)
by kdog on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:44:28 PM EST

or at least one of our hobbies.

One thing I'm extremely confident of though....they ain't pulling out of Iraq. That I'll bet my whole bankroll on.

[ Parent ]

And The Mattress? (none / 0) (#14)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:48:12 PM EST

Hope you are wrong, but I am not betting.

[ Parent ]

: And the kitchen sink.... (none / 0) (#15)
by kdog on Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 05:49:49 PM EST

hope I'm wrong too man.

[ Parent ]