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July 28, 2007

Comments

JimPortlandOR

As I suggested, at least in part, in my comment on Program X vs. TSP, redux, the original program (Gonzo's “other intelligence activities.”). The Times piece peels back a layer or two on this, but conspicuously doesn't mention that the previous collection/mining program (Total Information Awareness) set up by John Poindexter was supposedly killed by executive action (and then by later legislation that forbid that approach, I believe). From December, 2002, to August, 2003, Poindexter served as the Director of the DARPA Information Awareness Office (IAO). Wiki link

So: what seems to be coming out here is that Bush revived (or kept alive?) the forbidden program, contrary not just to the FISA law, but other promised/required actions on data collection/mining of US citizens routinely over long periods of time. If true, Bush can't say this was a response to 9/11 and required a new program. This was a program Congress had expressly not allowed, and if he did it, this is truly a 'high crime or misdemeanor'.

BTW, I believe Poindexter is still in the government (or a contractor), and I'd bet that the outside contractors doing the Poindexter program are still on the government payroll for whatever the 'other intelligence activities' encompass. This link points out the connections between Cheney, Poindexter, and Mike McConnell, the successor to Negroponte as Director of National Intelligence over all US intelligence agencies.

This whole thing is a termite nest, way underground, but probably recording my keystrokes as they are typed. (hehe) Gonzo is the termite that left the nest and got snagged by his story, but the hive will redeem him, for sure.

JimPortlandOR

Hmmm. Here's a link to thoughts from Marty Lederman at Balkinization (the law blog) that offers some sweet morsels and analysis of what Project X might have contained. Well worth a read.

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