Did I Say That Out Loud

While decrying the public debate over the FISA bill and wiretapping, and actually claiming Americans are going to die if the debate persists, NSA head Michael McConnell also gave up a bunch of information about wiretapping that nobody knew before, certainly not during what sadly passed for public debate.

Some highlights of McConnell’s revelations:

Court ruling declared Bush’s program illegal on May 31: “After the 31st of May we were in extremis because now we have significantly less capability” when a federal court ruled part of the wiretapping program illegal, McConnell said.

Private sector actively involved in wiretapping program: “Under the president’s program, the terrorist surveillance program, the private sector had assisted us,” said McConnell. “Now if you play out the suits at the value they’re claimed, it would bankrupt these companies,” McConnell said, arguing for legal immunity for the companies when Congress returns from recess.

McConnell denies White House involvement: “The president’s guidance to me early in the process, was, ‘You’ve got the experience. I trust your judgement. You make the right call. There’s no pressure from anybody here,” McConnell claimed.

Thousands overseas are being monitored via warrants. “Offering never-disclosed figures, McConnell also revealed that fewer than 100 people inside the United States are monitored under FISA warrants. However, he said, thousands of people overseas are monitored,” states the AP.

Takes 200 hours to assemble a wiretapping warrant: McConnell alleged that “the issue is volume and time” as to why he was so adamant about pursuing warrantless wiretapping. “My argument was that the intelligence community should not be restricted. … It takes about 200 man hours to do one telephone number.”

I don't believe that it takes 200 hours to write up a frickin' warrant, but even if it did, tough guys, democracy is hard work. But the real revelation here is that AT&T and other telecom companies collaborated with the government to violate our civil liberties through spying. It's clear that McConnell has validated the lawsuits filed against these telecom companies by admitting this illegal involvement. Which is why there is going to be ENORMOUS pressure on the Congress to bail them out by making these companies immune from prosecution. Which the Democrats should respond to with some version of "Sorry, I can't hear you, maybe you should get a new phone, one that doesn't spy on me," but I am not optimistic about that happening.

AP has more. This is a major blunder by McConnell. Once again, Republicans see nothing wrong with leaking state secrets for their own political purposes.