I can see both sides of this situation.
On the one hand we have our freedoms and on the other hand we have the real need to conduct intelligence gathering. I am just not sure they are following the rules. If I understand what is going on here, always debatable, they have re-written the FISA so as to broaden their powers in regards to intercepting telephone communications and emails etc.
Now correct me if I am wrong here but the government agencies had plenty of intel to go on prior to 9-11, just not smart enough to connect the dots, not able to share the intel. So how is this going to prevent another 9-11? The problem is every government agency likes to scoop the other one. They have an mutual distrust of one another and no one likes to have their authority given to another agency. So while they say this is going to only effect calls from outside the US on at least one end of the conversation who knows? A FISA court is a secret court trouble is no one knows if it is following the law or not. If a FISA court authorizes a search of your property you will not know about it until after they have come and gone. We are risking more than our lives by giving up our freedoms a nickle and dime at a time. More and more our freedom is an illusion.
I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Now hand over those firearms. Am I a little paranoid? You bet!
["Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"
- Ben Franklin
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