NSA collected phone records - Tens of millions of calls

[totalmotorcycle]

You have got to be kidding? NSA is transcribing all phone calls? That has to be an enormous undertaking! Tens of millions of calls so far transcribed, wow.

Mike






NSA collected phone records
Paper reports NSA collecting phone records

It appears ever since 9/11 that NSA has asked several major phone companies such as AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth to turn over their phone records.

While no phonce calls were listened to or taped (in this specific order), just about every phone call since then has been transcribed: who spoke to who, numbers, date, location, duration of call, etc. in an effort to create a national database of every call made.

I'm glad there are companies out there like Qwest who refused to turn over their records (on accounts of privacy and legal consequences).

Tens of millions of calls have been logged so far the source says.

"The NSA wants the database of domestic call records to look for any patterns that might suggest terrorist activity, USA Today said."


source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/ ... cords.html

"Big brother is watching."

[camthepyro]

The same basic thing has been happening since like '97 with that program (I can f-ing remember what it's called) which screened ALL calls in the US, Europe, and other parts of the world. It was a worldwide network, which used computers to screen all calls for certain words like "bomb" or "terrorist" or something. Then, if the computer found words like that, it would pass it along to a real person, who would listen to the whole conversation. Damn, I wish I could remember the name of that program.

[Kal]

I can't remember it either but in the UK it all goes through GCHQ, along with emails, texts and just about any other form of communication that is electronic in origin.

[dieziege]

I love the fact that none of you can remember the name LOL!

Echelon

[camthepyro]

That's it!

[mydlyfkryzis]

Name: Echelon

[MrGompers]

I highly doubt that these calls were actually transcribed. Do you know how much manpower that would take ? I do believe that phone numbers, locations, and names are recorded tho and thats what the article said as well. Unless I missed a part.

The govt has been using 9/11 as a crutch to do things like this. I find that very disrespectful. The govt especially Bush missed an opportunity to unite the country after 9/11. Instead they chose to divide the country.

Bush had the entire country's attention on that pile of rubble & all he can say is "they will hear us soon" or some dodo like that. Gimmie a break. He could've said lets all move to Cleveland and we would've went. He had no clue how much power he actually had at that moment. He fuckying blew it. (then again maybe he didn't we did get the patriot act afterall)

This is getting crazier by the day. With this call database imagine how much dirt can be found against your perceived enemies. Especially, during election time. Hey lets go look up this guys phone records... oops he called a drug dealer... oops he called a prostitute... oops he called an abortion clinic. Explain that Mr (____) whos running against me in the next election.

This has noting to do with terrorists or terrorism. Those guys are not talking on the phone. This has every thing to do with control & maintaining that control over the populace. Not to mention feeding the war machine. Remember War is good for the economy.

Terrorism(tm) is the new communism.

The govt should not be wasting time & money on krap like this. I'm not afraid of any terrorists. If they actually do manage to kill me thats the price I paid for freedom I guess. They think randomly searching people on NYC subways are going to do anything ? Wake the fuckk up already govt.

How many people were killed in 9/11 ? Approx 3,000. So, the govt is spending billions of dollars to prevent x number of deaths related to terrorism again and we don't even know it will happen again. Why not spend that money on things that kill far more people & and can be quantified. Lets try spending the money here.

Traffic accidents, lets design some better cars and/or roads.

Finding cures for diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, MS, MD, ALS and a whole bunch of other acronyms.

Drug addiction legal & illegal. (addiction creates a whole lot of crime as well)

These 3 combined must amount to over 1 million deaths per year. Seems like a much better value to me to spend the money here.

Thats it. I'm moving to New Zealand.

[camthepyro]

Alright, nothing against you personally Mr Gompers, because you seem like a decent guy and I like you, but your reasoning is just naive.

After 9/11, we as a country realized how vulnerable we were to terrorist attacks. If we hadn't done anything about it, we'd just be showing all the terrorists out there that they can knock down buildings, kill people, etc. with out any drastic counsequences. That's not the signal we need to be sending.

As far as money being spent, it shouldn't be the governments responsibilty to cure AIDS, or take care of the poor (and that's just a generalization, some people actually do NEED assistance, like people with disabilites, etc. But we should not be handing out welfare to lazy "O Ring" people who won't get off their "O Ring" and get a job).

The governments responsibility is not to baby it's citizens, and take care of their every need. A governments responsibility is to protect their citizens, enforce laws, and ensure order in general.

Everyone seems to think that it's the governments responsibility to take care of them, and make sure they are taken care of, basically take care of them like they were their mother.

I've heard many of you say that you would hate it if the government told you you couldn't ride your motorcycle. But like saying you want everything for nothing.

You want to be able to do what you want, but not have to make any sacrifices.

It should be up to private orginizations to take care of things like AIDS cures, and things like that. People expect the government to provide everything they need, well, newsflash, that's not what the government is there for.

[MrGompers]

I'm not sure where you were headed with that. Remember that war is good for the economy. Many people get rich off of war.

Terrorism(TM) is the new communism.

Eurasia has always been at war with Oceania. Oceania has always been at war with Prussia. Prussia has always been at war with Eurasia and the wars go on & on. War = Peace....Slavery = Freedom....2 minute Hate = osama bin laden
(you would have to read 1984 to understand what that paragraph means)

As far as money goes. The govt collects my money as well as others money.
I/we have no say in how its spent. I do not want my money paying for war or the illusion of protection from terrorism. That money can be better spent elsewhere.

During the cold war how many russian tanks rolled down 5th avenue ? How many russian soldiers marched down 5th avenue ? The answer is zero. The US govt spent billions of dollars protecting us from perceived enemies & so did Russia. In the end the only people who benefitted were the war mongers. Both countries would've better served their populace by spending that money elsewhere.

As for the govt babying its citizens I don't see that. The govt is not poor despite what they tell us. With all their money they should be spending it on things that will benefit society as a whole. Finding cures for diseases certainly fits that bill. So does helping people with addiction or better managing traffic (in an effort to reduce deaths)

Right now the govt mantra is "how much of your freedom are you willing to give up to increase your protection"? my answer is NONE. I am willing to take the risk that the terrorists will get me. I highly doubt they will get me & I fear disease, traffic, & drug addicted people far more that I do terrorists.

A quote that fits here very well

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
I'm with Ben on this one.

Since your still young you prolly haven't broke away from your parents view points yet. Once you get to college you certainly will tho. In the meantime heres some books that you mite find interesting. Maybe you have read some of them already.

1984 - George Orwell
Animal Farm - George Orwell
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (gotta love that in the year of our Ford bit)
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury (yes thats the creator of Star Trek)
Any speech written by Abraham Lincoln
The Communists Manifesto - Karl Marx
Wealth of Nations - Adam Smith (father of economics) if you go to college and study business you'll have to read this anyway.
The Jungle - Upton Sinclair (deals with meat industry & the immigrants who work in it).
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (more immigrants & their plight)
Anything by ARISTOTLE especially, "The Ethics of Aristotle", and "Politics"
The Art of War - Sun Tzu
The Bible (but only for historical reference)

The last three are all in the public domain.

Increase the Peace

[MrGompers]

Ok CAM I read your reply again. I should clarify something.
I did not intend to say we shouldn't be looking for the terrorists who orchestrated 9/11. Those clowns need to be tracked down & brought to trial.
I'm all for bombing the krap out of Afghanistan. The world needs to know we will take action against anyone who attacks us.

I am protesting the war in Iraq & the money that is being spent there. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

Please note I am not protesting against any American soldiers who are currently fighting in Iraq. I have alot of respect for them & want them all to return home NOW!!!