White House says phone wiretaps back on "for now"

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080224/pl_nm/security_usa_surveillance_dc

The Bush administration said on Saturday U.S. telecommunications companies have agreed to cooperate "for the time being" with spy agencies' wiretaps, despite an ongoing battle between the White House and Congress over new terrorism surveillance legislation.


The Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying wiretaps will resume under the current law "at least for now."

"Although our private partners are cooperating for the time being, they have expressed understandable misgivings about doing so in light of the ongoing uncertainty and have indicated they may well discontinue cooperation if the uncertainty persists," the statement said.

[high density]

1. Thank Jesus!

I was afraid my apartment was going to be blown up by the terrorists any day now without the wiretapping going on.

[hobbit709]

2. When did they ever stop?

[DeadManInc]

4. No kidding. I doubt that they even slowed down

any at all.

[thepurpose]

3. Oh thank the Lord Ms. Dasiy.

[annabanana]

5. Let's see to it that "the uncertainty persists"

Pester your congress critters!!

[ThomWV]

7. I've called and E-Mailed mine frequently during this assult on the Constitution

I've lost track of how many times I've called, but I'll be on the phone again first thing tomorrow morning. I have to go into town tomorrow too, so I'll stop by my Congressman's office there and give it that personal touch.

[ThomWV]

6. This would seem to me to be an indication that a deal has been cut and that immunity is coming.

If the telecom's have resumed assisting with the taps and there are no warrants for the taps, then the phone companies know they will be granted immunity for what they are doing - because it is clearly illegal.

[maine_raptor]

8. ":they may well discontinue cooperation if the uncertainty persists"

One does have to wonder if the companies "uncertainty" isn't over "prompt payment".

After all didn't one of them cut off the "service" when the FBI was late in paying?