Re: [privacy] U.S. Government to Ask Courts to Toss Phone

["Lindsey, Ben J" <ben.lindsey () centerpointenergy com>]

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Folks,

  I gotta ask a quick (ok, long) question for you folks, there is just something I guess I don't quite get.  Please 
don't think I'm being adversarial - I'm just confused, perhaps even ignorant.  Here goes:

  When it comes to tapping international phone calls that the "government" (whoever that may be) feels are made to/from 
possible terrorists, I have to admit this doesn't particularly bother me.  I consider that it's a time of war and if it 
ever puts me out in some manner, it's the least I can do.

  Domestic calls are a slightly different ball of wax to me.

  On the one hand I have no problem with my phone records (who I called and who called me) being sent to the 
government.  As a former ELINT/SIGINT specialist, I understand the wealth of information which can be gleaned from this 
once you have identified a particular bad guy/terrorist via some other means. (international calls to UBL for 
instance:)) So many times we wished we had known the endpoints of traffic we handled, and God knows what we missed 
because of it.  But I also have to add that this is really only acceptable to me during wartime or when there are 
perhaps grave national security concerns.

  However, unless I am talking to a suspected terrorist, I cannot accept for any reason the monitoring of my domestic 
telephone calls without warrant.  Sure, I don't care who knows what number I dialed -- but what was said during the 
call was personal and private.  I know how many people have access to the phone record data already, so I'm not 
particularly bothered if the NSA (or other appropriate agency) wants it for their database.

  The views expressed (in general) on these matters in the list seem (to me) to indicate that nothing of the above is 
acceptable at any time without the standard warrant process -- whether there is previous precedent for it or not.  
Things much worse (in the eavesdropping vein) have taken place during (and outside of) national emergencies in the 
past, but there seemed to be no media talking it up (or complaints) until this current action.

  Further:  If you are in the US, but not a citizen (or diplomat of some kind) -- should I care if the NSA listens to 
*every* word you say on the phone?

  Am I misreading everyone (because really its not just this list, I am not pointing fingers -- again, just seeking 
clarity about the issue and views surrounding it) -- or am I in a state of misunderstanding about what is (or perhaps 
the depth of what is) going on?

Thanks,

- -b

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