Clinton administration conducted domestic spying - Essay Example

1 Clinton Administration Conducted Domestic Spying Conservative news figures have claimed that during the Clinton administration, the National Security Administration (NSA) used a program known as Echelon to monitor the domestic communications of United States citizens without a warrant. This news story has appeared and been aired in numerous news markets, and none of them has offered any substantiate evidence of the story's veracity. The erroneous nature of the story was brought to light by NewsMax, which is a right-wing news website.

In a CBS news 60 minutes report, WebMax quotes correspondent Steve Kroft as saying: "If you made a phone call today or sent an Email to a friend, theres a good chance what you said or wrote was captured and screened by the country's largest intelligence agency. The top-secret Global Surveillance Network is called Echelon, and its run by the National Security Agency"(Kroft) The NewsMax article citing the CBS News 60 minutes report was used as a partisan political tactic as it attempted to debunk a New York Times article published on December 16, which stated that Bush's "decision to permit some eves dropping inside the country without court approval was a major shift in American intelligence gathering practices, particularly for the National Security Agency, whose mission is to spy on communications abroad" NewsMax, has put forth the story for all of its conservative republican cohorts to feed upon; Russ Limbaugh told the listeners of his nationally syndicated radio talk show 2 that the current surveillance program of George Bush"started in previous administrations, laying the operations of Echelon at the feet of the Clinton administration.

Additionally the Echelon claim was also reported by Wall Street Journal columinist John Fund, as well as former Watergate burglar, and now radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy. It is a mess of information which translates into, who you gonna believe Or, what is your political ideology. The politicians are so deeply engrossed in casting unfavorable light or discrediting upon the opposition in their unyielding attempts to gain a political objective or advantage, until they do not hold themselves or each other accountable for the often irresponsible comments and actions, which the perpetrate.

The problem is further exacerbated by the subordinates of the politicians who manufacture misinformation to further justify their bosses misadventures. Additionally by the media, who are proving to be remiss in their professional responsibility, and they merely feed on the frenzy, without verification. The MaxNews article sought to stymie the CSB 60 minutes and New York Times reports by asserting that they (Bush administration), is merely continuing the domestic spy policy which was introduced by the democrats.

If this was the case, then this would be the classic example of the adage; Two wrings do not make a right. However, the allegation of a continuation of a Clinton policy is a half-truth. The policy signed and initiated by President Clinton concerned itself with foreign surveillance, moreover, the rule did not provide Clinton with absolute overriding authority. Point of fact being that Clinton affixed his signature to a document which 3 would provide the United States government with a 12 month window of opportunity to gather information, and the legal authority to carry this out must be certified by the attorney general.

More importantly, the attorney generals certification confirms or attest to the fact that the search will not involve the premises, information, or property of a United States person. Which means United States citizen or anyone inside the United States. Source: http//www.mediamatters.org