Is the NSA wiretapping program a wrong way to counter terrorism?

Question

Okay, I asked this question earlier. I'm not sure what happened but I got no answers. Let me just say that I oppose ANYTHING that would invade the privacy rights of innocent Americans. I feel that law enforcement should not have the authority to hack someone's computer or listen on the phone conversations of those who do not pose a threat to national security. Can we really trust that these folks are not sitting back and laughing at people as they visit porn sites? You know they are, and they are probably listening in on intimate conversations too! I bet its alot of fun! I would consider this a criminal act! No different than anyone else who participates in Cyber Crime and invasion of privacy. I know of many people who have a problem with their computer that no anti-virus program will detect, and even computer technicians cannot fix. There is NO WAY you can convince me that the FBI isn't watching people they shouldn't be watching!

Answer 1

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying the only answer that makes any sense on this issue: We just don't know if it works.
We don't know for certain if the wiretapping works, because the government doesn't release any of the data regarding it. Maybe they DID stop a significant threat. Maybe all they've found out is that Akhmed in Akron talks to his brother in Tehran about how wonderful the socks are over here. We just don't know.
As for me, the whole "Trust us, we're you're government and wouldn't steer you wrong" excuse doesn't cut it. I'm a citizen and I deserve answers.
And as for the "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" mentality... Well, perhaps those advocates have forgotten that we live in America. And over HERE the burden of proof is on the accuser, not the defender. I have the right to privacy. I have a right to speak my mind. I have the right to question my government.
And more importantly, it's illegal. The Forgien Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 already allowed the government to get a warrant to tap phone lines without the warrants becoming public. The whole thing is a just a moot debate. There was already a law on the books, detailing how to get the program done legally. The Executive branch just chose to ignore it all and do the program however they wanted. And as any lawyer will tell you: the Law is the Law.

Answer 2

First they now have five days under the new law.; that is more than enough time to report to the court. Maybe the new law will be challenged, maybe not, Congress does their best work if given time for debate. This new law was pushed thru with the bill regarding torture. Mr. bush put a lot of pressure on Congress and it's rumored it will be challenged. We can only wait and see. As for the need, seems there has always been a need to spy, to know what our enemies are doing. Just think there should be some accountability and that's what Congress did when writing the first wiretapping bill. By having any info gathered that didn't involve terrorist to be destroyed. Mr Bush objected to revealing any info. Have to see what the new bill says about revealing info to the court. Problem is it is in the bill regarding torture.

Answer 3

Well, your question was more of a diatribe, and you ended it by stating there's no way you can be convinced of a different point of view. So why did you ask? To vent? But rest assured, you are sorely mistaken. The NSA and FBI and CIA and all the other alphabet soup security agencies have far, far, more important tings to do than listen to some snot-nosed 16 year-old talk dirty to his girlfriend. Or to hack some 60 year-old male perv's computer while he visits the Lesbian Chatroom.
Wire-tapping is a valuable counter-terrorism tool. Many, many terrorist plots have been foiled in the past due to electronic eavesdropping. Many lives have been saved. Believe me, the NSA guys don't give a s h i t about you, providing you are an innocent, law abiding citizen. They want to catch bad guys; that's why they got into the business.
I DO feel it was wrong of Bush to approve the wiretaps without congressional approval. But I am in favor of the practice of wiretapping. I'm innocent, I have nothing to fear. And I have the sense to know they're not gonna be interested in my chats with my girlfriends.

Answer 4

The program you are refering to only involves comunication to or from a foreign source. As I understand things, this is perfectly legal. There is nothing in the Constitution, statutory or case law that forbids our govt from monitoring phones & emails outside the US. This being true, if you are in contact with someone being monitored, your comunications will be recorded, just like if you call someone who's phone has been tapped with a warrant, your calls will be recorded even though there is no warrant to record your calls.

If you don't want your conversations monitored, don't call criminals in this country or terrorists anywhere.

If (& it's a big if, there has been no evidence to suport the charge) the FBI, or any other agence is monitoring comunications that they shouldn't be, that is another story.

Are you saying that the FBI should not have the technology to eavesdrop? That is irresponsible in the extreme.
Are you saying that because they have the technology, that the MUST be abusing it, stay right where you are, I know where to find you!

Answer 5

Remember when people had those scanners that could pick up cell phone conversations? You could buy them at radio Shack. A cell phone is going out through the air and unless you have a secure device your conversation can pretty much be picked up. Guess what another public venue is? You got it, the Internet! This is no more private than sitting in the food court at the mall, or standing in times square. How many FBI agents do you think we have? We certainly don't have enough to monitor all of us 24/7 and listening to our boring phone calls. Believe me, 99.99% of the calls that are made are boring as hell. In answer to your question, the NSA program is needed and is a very good system. If you want totally security I suggest you look into secure phones, and secure sites, and stay out of the public eye.

Answer 6

First of all let me say I am actually made physically ill by some of the narrow minded ignorant conservatives on the yahoo question circuit. Not only do I think that the NSA as repeatedly and is still abusing their capabilities. Privacy is a freedom that is something I think is very important to our society. Furthermore perhaps Bush and the NSA could be more particular in identifying these "terrorists" rather than jumping into Iraq to fight a war completely disassociated with 9/11 and assuming that all of these "terrorists" are working together. Its like WWII all over again...assuming and clumping all of the bad guys together in one group...its utterly disgusting and disconcerning.

Answer 7

What are you afraid of? They may think you are a pervert or something when you visit those porn sites but they will understand that because half the liberals are suspected sex perverts anyway. Don't you think they have your name, number and address in their data base and when a sex crime is committed in your area, you will be a suspect? SERIOUSLY, they only listen in on conversations of suspected terrorists that make or receive overseas phone calls.A lot of the answerers here said they have nothing to hide and they are welcome to listen to or intercept email or see what web sites they visit. They could care less. But if they are checking on me, they are wasting time and money if they think I am a terrorist or that I mean harm to my country or its government officials. I think that anyone that has nothing to hide would not be upset about this program. Only those that are doing things that they would not want their family and friends to know or THAT ARE TERRORISTS AND MEAN THE USA HARM would be upset.

Answer 8

If the wiretapping involves ease-dropping on everyone then it''s counter productive as it takes a lot of our resources away from monitoring the real culprits.

Answer 9

you can say all you want about the wire taps not being wrong but i know or have known people that their sole job was to listen in on radio transmissions and all types of comunications. you might just be surprised to know just how many people are listening and its not half FBI that is doing it.

Answer 10

What if you called a friend and expressed anti-american sentiments? You may be subject to interrogation on the such. You WILL be questioned if you read or talk about things that could be harmful to 'national security'.