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Ultra-Secret NSA

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Find out how the National Security Agency evolved after 9/11, and how it might change again under the incoming Obama administration. James Bamford is author of The Shadow Factory.

Guests:

James Bamford

Comments [10]

Patricia Carrigan from Montclair, New Jersey

Wonderful interview with James Bamford.
If the NSA need to evesdrop and are unable to use non Americans who speak the language of the Taliban, it seems to me it would have been wise to use the young John Walker Lindt. He was a dopey young kid, an idealist, in the wrong place at the wrong time but surely not a hardened terrorist? Why not use him to "listen in" which would get him out of jail and be of some use. It's been done before.
Enjoy your show very much.

Nov. 06 2008 01:16 PM
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Amy from Manhattan

michael w, Obama didn't vote for *or* against the USA PATRIOT Act (look up the full name for a classic example of Orwellianism), because he wasn't in the Senate when it was voted on. He voted for FISA after some changes were made to it that apparently satisfied him (& I'm not defending this, just clarifying--I disagree w/his vote).

Nov. 06 2008 01:02 PM
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michael

The notion of Bamford's that the government does not want to use the FISA courts purely out of arrogance should not pass unquestioned.there are other illegal an /or unconstitutional reasons.Spying on political opponents is one.spying on the party not in power or on groups opposed to foreign and domestic policy is probably going on.Greed would be another reason to spy .There are many conversations and correspondence that could yield great wealth to a speculator.Blackmail could also supply unwarranted intimidation and power.I would suggest that the FISA laws are being flaunted for the very reason they exist-to prevent abuse of power- not out of pique.

Nov. 06 2008 01:00 PM
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michaelw from INWOOD

Thank you Kate!

A person of reason.

A great question for Obama is how can you teach constitutional law and vote for:
FISA & The Patriot Act which name alone begs opposition

Obama didn't get my vote.

Nader

Nov. 06 2008 12:50 PM
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Kate from NYC

The scariest thing is that Obama voted in favor of this. Why?????

Nov. 06 2008 12:38 PM
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Josh from Brooklyn

The language is PASHTO, not PASHTUN.

Nov. 06 2008 12:38 PM
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Benny from Soho

Didn't illegal wiring taping begin before 9/11?

Nov. 06 2008 12:34 PM
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Carey from Manhattan

Wow. Just...wow. I've heard most of this before but it scares the living daylights out of me every time.

Nov. 06 2008 12:30 PM
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anonyme from Midtown

this is like the stasi - as portrayed in The Lives of Others, chiiling movie a few years ago

Nov. 06 2008 12:13 PM
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Amy from Manhattan

Is there any way to know how much of our tax money was wasted on this idiocy?

Nov. 06 2008 12:12 PM
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