Why Were Telecoms Talking To BUSH/CHENEY About Wiretapping In 2000?????

[kpete]

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Qwest decided Groundbreaker was illegal and opted out of The Program -- warrantless domestic spying - and the project went other major telcos and defense contractors.

Court Papers: NSA Wiretapping ("The Program") Started Before 9/11
by leveymg
Thu Oct 11, 2007

The Rocky Mountain News reports today that in early 2001, Qwest, a Denver-based wireless telecom company, pulled out of a major NSA program believing the spy agency was involved in illegal domestic operations. See, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5719566,00.html

That project, Project Groundbreaker, was awarded on July 31, 2001 to Verizon and a consortium of telcos and defense contractors. Groundbreaker effectively privatized NSA surveillance. Ever since, most of the NSA's domestic wiretapping and intelligence analysis function has been performed by the same telephone and high-tech companies for which some in Congress are now seeking a grant of immunity for massive warrantless wiretapping.

................

The Rocky Mountain News reports that following QWEST's withdrawal in February 2001 from a major NSA surveillance program, the NSA and Bush-Cheney Justice Department retaliated against the company and its President, Joseph Nacchio. See, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5719566,00.html

The NSA contract was awarded in July 2001 to companies other than Qwest.

USA Today reported in May 2006 that Qwest, unlike AT&T and Verizon, balked at helping the NSA track phone calling patterns that may have indicated terrorist organizational activities. Nacchio's attorney, Herbert Stern, confirmed that Nacchio refused to turn over customer telephone records because he didn't think the NSA program had legal standing.

In the documents, Nacchio also asserts Qwest was in line to build a $2 billion private government network called GovNet and do other government business, including a network between the U.S. and South America.

The documents maintain that Nacchio met with top government officials, including President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and then-National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice in 2000 and early 2001 to discuss how to protect the government's communications network.

kpete: Why would this Company be talking with George Bush and Dick Cheney & Condi Rice in 2000!!!
I would like to know when, or did I miss that? If it was before the elections, thats mighty strange indeed!


much more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/11/17489/086

[Pavulon]

1. Since 1930's...

and going strong.

[Richard Steele]

2. BushCabal™ spying never had anything to do with terrorism. Still doesn't. Recommended.

[DemoTex]

13. Absolutely right, dicksteele.

Domestic spying is about domestic politics and Karl Rove. Domestic spying is why the Democrats (and Repubs, for that matter) in Congress, the MSM, etc., are so pliant in the hands of Bu$hco. Rove has a dossier of adverse info on almost everyone in any position to challenge the PNAC Juggernaut.

[mod mom]

18. gathering dirt on your friends AND enemies sure keeps them in lockstep.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Hmmm....and yet, couldn't stop Sept. 11...hmmm...

[deacon]

5. ...more hmmm's and a kick and recommend n/t

[kpete]

4. Someone Answer My Question?????

kpete: Why would this Company be talking with George and Dick in 2000!!!
I would like to know when, or did I miss that? If it was before BUSHCO Was in Office thats mighty strange indeed!

[TwilightGardener]

6. Because they all knew how the story would end, election-wise?

[Junkdrawer]

7. Paul O'Neill Tells '60 Minutes' Iraq Was 'Topic A' 8 Months Before 9-11...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

If you keep this up, this post will be moved to the 9-11 forum will all the other "tinfoil".

[robertpaulsen]

10. I believe the answer is in the following paragraph.

The documents maintain that Nacchio met with top government officials, including President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and then-National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice in 2000 and early 2001 to discuss how to protect the government's communications network.

They portray U.S. government officials, even before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, worried about a "Pearl Harbor" type of attack on the Internet. As early as 1997, a three-star general talked to Nacchio about using Qwest's new fiber-optic network for government purposes, according to the defense.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_5719566,00.html

It's a tinfoil answer, but I believe the correct one: New Pearl Harbor.

[Cerridwen]

11. Even so, the election had not yet happened...what were *, cheney and rice

doing acting on behalf of the U.S. government?

edit: I mis-read time frame. It was early 2001 not early 2000. So sorry.

[robertpaulsen]

14. I'm reminded of a scene at the beginning of Fahrenheit 9/11.

George and Jeb are on a plane prior to the 2000 election and a reporter has asked him a question about the likelihood of his winning Florida. George says with supreme confidence, "We will win Florida. You can mark it down. We will win Florida."

I haven't seen anything confirming that they did speak with them prior to 12/12/00. But I wouldn't be surprised.

[Cerridwen]

15. I wouldn't be surprised, either.

There's another thread here today about 25 years worth of "stealing" elections or is it 25 years worth of research about stealing elections. Ah, hell, I'll find it in case you or someone reading this is interested.

The point is, 2000 is not the first time it's happened.

I'd just like to know the dates *, cheney and rice were playing government.



edit for link and I was wrong again...it was 30 years.

[defendandprotect]

17. Here's the LINK -- it's 37 years of stealing by computer . .. and 25 years of investigation ---

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2018859

by Jim + Ken Collier

Please see the thread . . .

We have to all begin to understand this -- IMO.

[elehhhhna]

8. Even if it was immemdiately after the "election", IIRC the "winner" wasn't

"chosen" right away.

Hmmm.


btw, Kpete, have you read Vanity Fair's November article on HAL/KBR whistleblower lawsuits? You should.

[Emit]

23. That VF article on HAL/KBR whistleblower lawsuits is a must read, IMO

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2031079&mesg_id=2031079

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/halliburton200711?currentPage=1

[Cerridwen]

9. Months before the November ballot (I won't call it an election) or after.

Interesting.

Do we have access to the redacted documents yet?

kpete, I'm hoping it's bad reporting or a typo, perhaps?

edit to add: if not a typo, all I can think is did someone just accidentally mention Nixon taped his conversations?

This could get interesting.

edit to add I read "early 2000" it was early 2001.

[sce56]

12. If that is true can we get a mail truck full of copies of these documents delivered to Pelosi with a

case of Impeachmints!


I wish Keith Olbermann would cover this.

[mod mom]

19. speaking of Keith-anyone else have emails they forwarded to him bounced back

after several days?

I sent him information with links from the report that showed over 50% disenfranchisement in overseas military and another election related email bounce back to me several days after I sent it. Keith doesn't cover election related information so I was wondering if my topics got my material bounced or if his emails changed. Anyone else with this problem?

[BuyingThyme]

16. ..

[KAZ]

20. Because they're not stupid. That's all pre-9/11 stuff anyway.

It would have been a good look into the future had we known. Face it, from now on, what's not legislated is assumed, and what is, will be ignored. How many examples do we need?

[Canuckistanian]

21. Holy sh**, they've outsourced ANALYSIS?

I thought the Telcos were only guilty of switching signals to NSA offices, but they were doing bloody analysis as well??

[robertpaulsen]

22. Kick this to the top!

:kick:

[conscious evolution]

24. This crap started under Clinton?

Crap.We are well and truly fucked.

[Ilsa]

25. Makes me wish we could move far, far away. nt