The NSA was founded in 1952 to "...collect information from foreign signals for intelligence purposes". However, it was meant to be a secret agency and it was, until General Lew Allen Jr-director-testified before the House Select Committee on Intelligence about the activities of the agency referred to as "no such agency". He did so on Aug 8, 1975 and his testimony included info on the "...widespread eavesdropping on Americans..." who the FBI and Secret Service considered to be "...suspicious, including opponents of the Vietnam War". Allen stated that the spying "...helped chase down narcotics traffickers and prevent an act of terrorism". Allen did end the program in 1973. At some point thereafter, Congress set up a "...secret court to issue warrants for domestic wiretapping". (This was the court Bush II ignored when he ordered surveillance on suspects. Should be the FISA court; the article does not say). Allen took the position that once a "...secret presidential directive established the NSA..." the spying was legal. He also said that if anything is illegal it is their act of "...testifying publicly".
(Source: "Gen. Lew Allen, Who Lifted Veil on Security Agency, is Dead at 84" by Douglas Martin. Obit for the New York Times. On www.nytimes.com on 1/9/10.)
No comments:
Post a Comment