History: NSA
The beginning of the NSA:
A bipartisan Senate investigation stemming from Watergate, led by Sen. Frank Church, finds the NSA and other intelligence agencies engaged in a massive domestic spying program, targeting anti-war protesters, civil rights activists, and political opponents. Sen. Church remarked: "That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn't matter. There would be no place to hide." Reagan-Bush Administration:
1981 President Reagan signed Executive Order 12333, establishing operating procedure for the FBI to restore domestic surveillance. •Order 12333 goals by the FBI include: •(a) Maximum emphasis should be given to fostering analytical competition among appropriate elements of the Intelligence Community. •(b) All means, consistent with applicable United States law and this Order, and with full consideration of the rights of United States persons, shall be used to develop intelligence information for the President and the National Security Council. A balanced approach between technical collection efforts and other means should be maintained and encouraged. •(c) Special emphasis should be given to detecting and countering espionage and other threats and activities directed by foreign intelligence services against the United States Government, or United States corporations, establishments, or persons. •(d) To the greatest extent possible consistent with applicable United States law and this Order, and with full consideration of the rights of United States persons, all agencies and departments should seek to ensure full and free exchange of information in order to derive maximum benefit from the United States intelligence effort. Source: National Archives. Executive Order 12333--United States intelligence activities The provisions of Executive Order 12333 of Dec. 4, 1981, appear at 46 FR 59941, 3 CFR, 1981 Comp., p. 200, unless otherwise noted. The Obama era:
FBI has been accused of illegally monitoring the Thomas Merton Center, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and Greenpeace USA. •Still using COINTELPRO tactics in order to control crime, terrorism, and homeland security. “Thwarting homegrown plots presents particular challenges in part because of our proud commitment to civil liberties for all who call America home. That’s why we must keep working hard to strike the appropriate balance between our need for security and preserving those freedoms that make us who we are. That means reviewing the authorities of law enforcement so we can intercept new types of communication, and build in privacy protections to prevent abuse.” President Obama, May 23rd 2013 Source: The White House, President Barack Obama. Office of the Press Secretary. Fact Sheet: The President’s Speech May 23 on Counterterrorism |
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