Like a wannabe standing by and hoping to be noticed, the USA Today copies the cool kids' "leaking national security information" style, and adds to the information previously published by the NY Times.
The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.
The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans -- most of whom aren't suspected of any crime.This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.
"It's the largest database ever assembled in the world," said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA's activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" within the nation's borders, this person added.
Two points regarding the highlighted sections. One, this is not describing a program of "eavesdropping," "wiretapping," or otherwise listening in on private conversations. Two, again we're dealing with anonymous sources. Who knows what their agenda is, what their background is what their possible reasons might be for leaking?
What the NSA is doing is correlating phone calls to establish patterns that may identify terrorist locations. This is what Google does. What Yahoo does. What AOL does. What frickin' WalMart does. They collect data to identify patterns of use, and take advantage of them. For people to be outraged that the government is using the same techniques to protect the nation as a successful large company might to improve their bottom line is laughable. But that didn't stop some people from apoplexy.
The top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said he was shocked by the reported activities.
"It's not one party's government. It's America's government. Those entrusted with great power have a duty to answer to Americans what they are doing," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
[...]
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's telecommunications and internet panel, had a different view: "The NSA stands for Now Spying on Americans."
That is so clever. As if in answer, General Michael Hayden, nominated to head the CIA:
"Everything that NSA does is lawful and very carefully done," Hayden said while making rounds at the Capitol to advocate for his confirmation. "The appropriate members of the Congress — the House and Senate — are briefed on all NSA activities."
To reiterate, "The appropriate members of the Congress — the House and Senate — are briefed on all NSA activities." So some members of Congress, Democrat and Republican, House and Senate, know about this nearly five year old program, and have known about it all along.
Perhaps the funniest line goes to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, of West Virginia:
House Democrats called for a special counsel to investigate the NSA's activities. West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who is to be briefed on all NSA activities [ed: and undoubtedly was on this], also called current congressional oversight "woefully inadequate."
Apparently Sen. Rockefeller doesn't consider the NSA informing him to be adequate oversight. Democrats and the media will bleat loudly into the ether over this, but unless the statements made today by Mr. Bush, Sen. Roberts and Gen. Hayden are total lies then this will turn out to be not only necessary but legal and properly handled.
Lots of links and information at Wizbang, Hot Air for video of President Bush, and Michelle Malkin. See also Power Line, AJ Strata and Jeff Goldstein.
