IP: LAWS THAT LIMIT SPYING RESULTED FROM ABUSES

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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> Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 08:14:55 -0600
> To: farber () cis upenn edu, ip-sub-1 () majordomo pobox com
> From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat org>
> Subject: Re: IP: Cheney predicts permanent, "never-ending" war
>
> History speaks ill of power to snoop
>
> LAWS THAT LIMIT SPYING RESULTED FROM ABUSES
>
> BY DION NISSENBAUM
>
> Three months ago, the thought of expanding the FBI's powers would have 
> been almost unimaginable.
>
> The agency was being lampooned by cartoonists and late-night comedians for 
> bungling investigations, failing to root out a spy in its own ranks and 
> misplacing hundreds of weapons. Like much else in American society, that 
> perception of an inept Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight was obliterated 
> Sept. 11.
>
> With broad public support in the last month, the nation's leaders are 
> poised to give the FBI more power to investigate terrorism. Late last 
> week, congressional negotiators worked out the final details of a sweeping 
> proposal that is expected to be sent to President Bush early this week.
>
> The new law would give counterintelligence agents broad new leeway to tap 
> phones, intercept e-mail, monitor which Internet sites people visit and 
> detain suspects.
>
> For many, the proposals seem reasonable, if not essential, in these 
> uncertain times.
>
> But giving the FBI vast powers to root out terrorism could be a 
> double-edged sword. The new laws may make it easier for the agency to 
> track suspects and prevent another Sept. 11. But they could also open the 
> door to the kinds of political abuses that compelled Congress in the 1970s 
> to put serious curbs on government snooping.
>
> Such concerns may seem outlandish to some. But it wasn't that long ago 
> that the government used another war against shadowy enemies, communists, 
> to turn its sights on American homemakers curious about women's lib, 
> African-American leaders fighting for equal rights and students opposed to 
> their country's foreign policies....
>
> Full text at
>
> http://www0.mercurycenter.com/opinion/perspective/docs/spy21.htm


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