NCIS (TV Show) disturbed me a bit

[radfringe]

I've usually crashed by 8pm on weeknights. But had some trouble settling down - so watched NCIS

won't go into the whole espisode details...

briefly - the NCIS team needed to "listen in" on cell phones/regular phone lines etc. of this street gang

one of the NCIS agents asked if they would need a warrant - was told NO - all they had to say is that they had a tip that the street gang was connected to Al Qeada and terrorism -- and yes, they did tap phones etc.

it also showed one of the agents threatening a suspect with being charged with terrorist activities and shipping him to GITMO

I know it's just a TV show - but it does raise more questions about the legality and procedures used for warrantless wiretapping.

the general assumption of the public is the wiretapping is done to prevent terrorist attacks. Legally, when requesting a wiretap you have to show cause. the way it was depicted in the show -- they just made up a 'cause'

so how many of the warrantless wiretaps are there that use 'terrorism' as a reason when it really has nothing to do with terrorism? it's scary to think that an NSA agent could just say "terrorism" and tap your phones without any evidence and not even have any terrorist connections and further more they could just point a finger, yell "terrorist" and you have a one-way ticket to Gitmo or some other facility

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. trying to get the Sheeple to see that too?

How better than by weaving it into their regular mindless evening entertainment?

Don't be disturbed, it's all part of Project X. :evilgrin:

[file83]

4. Shhhhh! I told you NOT to mention Project X.

Keep it on the down low.... :evilgrin:

[MADem]

2. I can't watch it, and ya know why?

I actually KNOW a shitload of those guys...and not all of them, but a LOT of them, are incompetent buffoons! Hubris-laden Deputy Fifes, who couldn't cut it with the Feebs or the Spooky guys...but for some reason, some foolish producer has chosen to fictionalize their exploits.

[file83]

3. That uneasy feeling you have is called the "Police State" - that's what

the show is portraying. You don't like the feeling it gives you because it doesn't resemble the United States of America that you grew up learning about. The kinds of crap depicted in that show is exactly what the government wants to and is doing.

It's a Police State - Since the government muddies the waters between what's legal and what isn't when it comes to our Constitutional Rights.

[tenshi816]

5. I live about 15 miles from the

Menwith Hill NSA base in North Yorkshire, UK. It's common knowledge around here that they're listening, but aside from the daily protests outside the base entrance there's nothing we can do about it. It's especially galling to British people that an American agency is spying on them on their own turf.

I hate, hate, hate that so many Americans are now becoming accepting about the same thing. Too many people already think that if it's done on a television show, it's OK, so NCIS isn't helping there, is it?

[Kagemusha]

6. I saw an episode like that on NCIS quite a while ago...

Although they present that stuff as maximizing use of authority granted to the executive branch for a good cause, they don't mind presenting it as a reach and pushing the envelope and showing how it *could* be abused. I've no idea if the writer had a point here or was just using real life as a basis for a what-if for dramatic purposes.

I think the situation I saw was threatening to send a drug smuggler to Gitmo as an enemy combattant and it had nothing to do with tapping phone lines.

[radfringe]

7. tv show or not

illegal wiretapping is happening and most likely without any just cause

history is repeating itself --

Inquisition: yell "HERETIC" and someone is whisked away

Salem: Yell "WITCH" and someone is whisked away

War on Terror: yell "TERRORIST" and someone is whisked away

at least with the inquisition and Salem - there was some sort of pseudo-trial before you were burned

[Ian David]

8. This is why Mosoui wasn't arrested before 9/11

The local FBI office had been repeatedly disciplined for using the FISA court to authorize wiretaps that turned out to be unrelated to terrorism.

His boss was afraid they'd be disciplined if they cried "terrorism" to the court one more time, especially since they thought Mosoui was also engaged in other illegal activities.

"What, another terrorism warrant abused for a criminal case? Again? Bad FBI field office! Bad!"