would let a secret court issue one-year "umbrella" warrants to allow the government to intercept e-mails and phone calls of foreign targets and would not require that surveillance of each person be approved individually.

The bill would require the Justice Department inspector general to audit the use of the umbrella warrant and issue quarterly reports to a special FISA court and to Congress, according to congressional aides involved in drafting the legislation.

It would clarify that no court order is required for intercepting communications between people overseas that are routed through the United States.

It would specify that the collections of e-mails and phone calls could come only from communications service providers -- as opposed to hospitals, libraries or advocacy groups.

And it would require a court order when the government is seeking communications of a person inside the United States, but only if that person is the target. A target is defined as a person, group, cell or government of interest to a foreign intelligence investigation.

said by supergirl :

If you're not a terrorist or terrorist supporter, who cares?

said by kapil :

I have tried, and boy have I tried, to understand that rationale but it never did make any god damn sense to me.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came....

said by firephoto :

Most of the idiots that give that reasoning only use a phone for gossip and other worthless chit chat so in their mind it's true since no one gives a damn about who is screwing who or where the best tree is to shoot a squirrel and drink a keystone.

said by TK Junk Mail :

But you on the other hand are discussing more weighty topics - like overthrowing the US Gov't.? So you are worried about monitoring.

said by TK Junk Mail :

But you on the other hand are discussing more weighty topics - like overthrowing the US Gov't.? So you are worried about monitoring.

said by TK Junk Mail :

But you on the other hand are discussing more weighty topics - like overthrowing the US Gov't.? So you are worried about monitoring.

said by S_engineer :

Arguments from people that THINK privacy still exists...great. Unplug the modem, turn off the cell, and kill the digital idiot box, you'll have privacy!

said by supergirl :

Yeah, I'm sure Bill Clinton used the NSA to wiretap all the women that accused him of rape.

said by supergirl :

Yeah, I'm sure Bill Clinton used the NSA to wiretap all the women that accused him of rape.

said by bmn :

Yeah, there is no such thing as abusing government power for political gain... No, it has never happened before. Come back and comment when you have a little knowledge of history.

said by supergirl :

I think the " " meant I was joking?

said by superht1 :

Bill clinton didn't abused his power he exploited everyone using his administration privilege
Anyone who is in power can do or say whatever the hell he likes. We people are follower and are idiots in nature.
If we are smart we would not need a leader
If one guy say let's throw nuke everywhere, would you do it? Don't blame him even if its his fault blame the stupid masses who will follow one person. I've had enough of people following one person then blame that one person
Use it as a scapegoat for their poor excuses because can't think on their own. We the people never existed. We the lemmings who will do anything for someone to lead us. It doesn't matter right or wrong. If it sounds good but doesn't work in reality, still do it.

Stop electing one person to do the thinking for everyone
Since nobody is perfect why let one person rule this nation. Did most of love war? Did most of us wanted to go to war? You people let one person convince you to go to war. You are a fool. You are a tool if you are one of them.
If someone poked you with a needle, and you don't know who it is do you bomb the hell out of everyone? if someone pissed you off, do you shoot to kill? There's a lot of stupid people in life and they will always find a reason to kill someone. The laws are made to keep people in check
Is their a law to keep the leader in check?

said by supergirl :

If you're not a terrorist or terrorist supporter, who cares? There has not been one single case of wiretapping an American that has nothing to do with terrorism so what is the big deal?

said by KrK :

I'd say there's been plenty of broad, wide wiretapping and monitoring of Americans who had nothing to do with terrorism.

said by lesopp :

So there ya go, two opposing views with no proof either way.

said by lesopp :

None the less, allegations are not proof.

said by KrK :

... Except for whistleblowers and the like saying the system is being abused.

said by jc100 :

Which country did the 9/11 Hijackers come through (Not Mexico). Canada.

said by jc100 :

Why don't we focus on the real issues in this country like Children needing Healthcare, Crime, Educating Kids, etc, instead of spending money on this crap.

said by openbox9 :

to appease their whining constituents.