Eavesdrop debate Will Cost U.S. Lives: Spy Chief

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Eavesdrop debate will cost U.S. lives: spy chief
By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A debate in Congress over eavesdropping on terrorism suspects will cost American lives by exposing intelligence techniques, the Bush administration's spy chief said on Thursday.

At a congressional hearing, National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell faced sharp questioning from Democratic lawmakers who deeply mistrust surveillance programs which the administration put in place after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

He said debate over the programs was important to ensure authorities had proper tools to fight suspected terrorists, but that the open discussion would also help U.S. enemies.

"What this dialogue and debate has allowed those who wish us harm to do, is to understand significantly more about how we were targeting their communications," McConnell told the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

Asked if debates had cost U.S lives, he said, "They will."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070920/pl_nm/security_usa_eavesdropping_dc

[saigon68]

1. Another puppet

[Donnachaidh]

2. they didn't give a shit about outing Valerie Plame

So why is THIS different? Oh yeah -- it's the *good guys* spreading the fear.

[rodeodance]

3. He has been given Dark Vaddrers role have you noticed??

[redqueen]

4. Obeying the rule of law makes us vulnerable!

Let's do away with laws!



The terrorists have won. We're shredding our own goddamn consitution for this bullshit.

[feloneous cat]

5. The folks that WANT eavesdropping will hate it...

As soon as a Democrat is in the WH. THEN they will call it intrusion on normal law-abiding citizens.

[phantom power]

6. Freedom isn't free, is it Mike?

[damntexdem]

7. Support for our freedoms costs American lives?

Well, there IS a price to be paid for freedom.

[november3rd]

8. Americans Happy To Die

As Herodotus said, you can't really tell whether or not someone has lived a happy life until they are dead. In fact, how we die speaks about the fulfillment we experience in life.

Jesus, Joan of Arc, and Ghandi come to mind. What is it Nathan Hale said before the British hanged him? "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country."

Hey, whoever comprises the so-called US lives that are going to be sacrificed, let that serve as a reminder that we can make sacrifices for freedom, democracy and civil liberties in this country, even when the government has been taken over by Michael McConnell & Co.

[Hugin]

9. Just like outting a CIA Agent?

You mean like that or different?

[maddezmom]

10. kick

[Klukie]

11. US Spy chief calls wiretapping debate a threat

Source: LA Times

By Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 21, 2007
WASHINGTON -- -- The nation's top spy told Congress on Thursday that the public debate over the Bush administration's controversial warrantless wiretapping program would lead to American deaths by revealing sensitive surveillance methods to potential terrorists.

J. Michael McConnell, director of national intelligence, testified that congressional examination of laws that govern the program, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, ran counter to established precedents. Under these, he said, "intelligence business is conducted in secret."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-spy21sep21,1,3956608.story?coll=la-news-a_section

[Kagemusha]

12. Are the Dems on to this guy finally?

Do they get it now?