U.S. Spy Net on Israel Snares Congress

[UK2K]

[QUOTE]President Barack Obama announced two years ago he would curtail eavesdropping on friendly heads of state after the world learned the reach of long-secret U.S. surveillance programs.

But behind the scenes, the White House decided to keep certain allies under close watch, current and former U.S. officials said. Topping the list was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The U.S., pursuing a nuclear arms agreement with Iran at the time, captured communications between Mr. Netanyahu and his aides that inflamed mistrust between the two countries and planted a political minefield at home when Mr. Netanyahu later took his campaign against the deal to Capitol Hill.

[B]The National Security Agency

[Derka]

No question at all that we spy on our allies; that's just good sense whether Israel likes it or not. I'd think they were crazy if they didn't have human and signals sources dedicated to us. They damn well should be.

[UK2K]

No question at all that we spy on our allies; that's just good sense whether Israel likes it or not. I'd think they were crazy if they didn't have human and signals sources dedicated to us. They damn well should be.

It's not about spying on our allies, its about our government 'inadvertently' spying on Congress. Which is a huge, huge, no no.

This sort of behavior opens up all kinds of issues. Imagine, a president, able to collect private conversations from congressman in the name of national security. Everyone they talk to, everything they say...

That sounds like tyranny.

[oh the horror]

Accidentally putting my hand in someone's pocket. Oops didn't mean to be there BUTTTTTT since I'm already there don't mind me while I help myself to some cash.

[Derka]

It's not about spying on our allies, its about our government 'inadvertently' spying on Congress. Which is a huge, huge, no no.

This sort of behavior opens up all kinds of issues. Imagine, a president, able to collect private conversations from congressman in the name of national security. Everyone they talk to, everything they say...

That sounds like tyranny.

You sure? Sounds to me like Congress was holding diplomatic talks with a foreign head of state behind the president's back on the subject of the Iranian nuclear program. Those aren't "private" conversations since US national interests are at stake; that's the public's business. Furthermore, the Constitution doesn't empower Congress to conduct foreign policy. The Senate is empowered to advise and consent on treaties and that's all.

[UK2K]

You sure? Sounds to me like Congress was holding diplomatic talks with a foreign head of state behind the president's back on the subject of the Iranian nuclear program.

They are fully allowed to discuss national issues, are they not? You don't know the nature of their discussions, you are only speculating in an attempt to defend a tyrannical president. Obama doesn't own members of congress like you think he does.



Those aren't "private" conversations since US national interests are at stake; that's the public's business.
From the same article... had you kept reading:


In 2011 and 2012, the aims of Messrs. Netanyahu and Obama diverged over Iran. Mr. Netanyahu prepared for a possible strike against an Iranian nuclear facility, as Mr. Obama pursued secret talks with Tehran without telling Israel.

What was that about national interests and public's business? Does your point of view still apply to our Dear Leader? Or does he not have to abide by the same rules? (Democrats are the party of 'do as I say, not as I do', so I won't be shocked at your answer).

And as an FYI, what a congressman says to his wife about national interests before bedtime is NOT public business. It never has been, it never will be. What a congressman says to another member of a foreign government, even when discussing national security matters, is NOT public information.


Furthermore, the Constitution doesn't empower Congress to conduct foreign policy. The Senate is empowered to advise and consent on treaties and that's all.

Who said they were? You are speculating in an attempt to deflect away from, and defend, Obama.

All that aside, are you saying its cool for the NSA to spy on members of congress? Is that what you're getting at?

Cause if so, you're going to be really pumped when Trump gets in office.

[Derka]

ROFL, a tyrannical president. There's literally no arguing with something that stupid. I give up with you people :oldlol:

[UK2K]

ROFL, a tyrannical president. There's literally no arguing with something that stupid. I give up with you people :oldlol:

Cause the leader of a country, using government intelligence agencies, to inadvertently spy on lower members of government that may or may not agree with said leader's policies, is totally on the up and up.

K. :confusedshrug:

And if it was Bush accidentally spying on Democrat leaders of Congress, you'd be cool with that too, I'm sure.



tyrannic
1.of or characteristic of a tyrant.
2.unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; arbitrary or oppressive; despotic:
a tyrannical ruler.

Arbitrary AND oppressive sound exactly like Obama to me. You disagree?

[Nick Young]

Obama's destruction of Libya WAS ILLEGAL.

Obama murdered American citizens without trial.

He is currently artificially prolonging a war in Syria at the expense of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

He certainly fits the description of a tyrant.

[NumberSix]

Allies? Why would you consider Israel an ally, when they still commit crimes against humanity and annex lands that dont belong them :confusedshrug: Israel should be sanctioned and isolated by the U.S. Doubles standards by the U.S. just a further proof they are not to be trusted.
Who do they belong to? :confusedshrug:

[FillJackson]

Cause the leader of a country, using government intelligence agencies, to inadvertently spy on lower members of government that may or may not agree with said leader's policies, is totally on the up and up.

There's nothing really unusual about this.

Israel is a legitimate surveillance target. The congressional intelligence committees knew we were spying on Israel. At the time there was talk of Israel striking Iran, so we had stepped up our usual level of surveillance.
Furthermore, there are rules in place for when a "US person" is incidentally caught up in surveillance. The NSA has to go through a "minimization process" when this happens. There are further stricter rules (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/12/29/the-cold-war-era-rules-designed-to-protect-u-s-lawmakers-communications/)if a lawmaker is caught up. [QUOTE]Special safeguards for lawmakers, ... were put in place starting in the 1990s. ..... [B]required intelligence agencies to notify the leaders of the congressional intelligence committees whenever a lawmaker

[dunksby]

I thought OP would be cool with this, NSA spies on everyone.

[KyrieTheFuture]

If everything I say can be monitored, the people who made that law damn well better fall under its jurisdiction also. I would be way more pissed if we weren't spying on congress. It'd be total bullshit if they said everyone but themselves were subject to that.

[Terahite]

We figgin' to act like Israel doesn't control Congress and our NSA?

No disrespect to this psy-op piece, at least the author can spell.

[NumberSix]

Oh my god. The government does spying on other countries. Who could have guessed such a thing.

[DonDadda59]

Obama's destruction of Libya WAS ILLEGAL.

Obama murdered American citizens without trial.

He is currently artificially prolonging a war in Syria at the expense of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

He certainly fits the description of a tyrant.

New year, same crown.

http://www.cristyli.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Imperial-President.jpg

All hail Emperor Obama. :bowdown:

[NumberSix]

If everything I say can be monitored, the people who made that law damn well better fall under its jurisdiction also. I would be way more pissed if we weren't spying on congress. It'd be total bullshit if they said everyone but themselves were subject to that.
Isn't that the kind of thing that Nixon had to resign over? Illegally spying on democrats?

[FillJackson]

If everything I say can be monitored, the people who made that law damn well better fall under its jurisdiction also. I would be way more pissed if we weren't spying on congress. It'd be total bullshit if they said everyone but themselves were subject to that.
If you are an American, everything you say is not monitored.

This is not an example of everyone being monitored. This is specific surveillance of a legitimate foreign intelligence target.

[DonDadda59]

If you are an American, everything you say is not monitored.

This is not an example of everyone being monitored. This is specific surveillance of a legitimate foreign intelligence target.

:applause:

Only common sense to watch the elders of Zion. They're a shifty bunch.

http://i.imgur.com/JkJpiZd.jpg

[TheMan]

Cause the leader of a country, using government intelligence agencies, to inadvertently spy on lower members of government that may or may not agree with said leader's policies, is totally on the up and up.

K. :confusedshrug:

And if it was Bush accidentally spying on Democrat leaders of Congress, you'd be cool with that too, I'm sure.



Arbitrary AND oppressive sound exactly like Obama to me. You disagree?
:oldlol:

So now Obama is a strong armed oppressive tyrant spreading death to foe and countrymen alike...

I thought Fox News and their minions were claiming he was weak, capitulating and bitchmade not too long ago :confusedshrug:
:coleman:

[Terahite]

:oldlol:

So now Obama is a strong armed oppressive tyrant spreading death to foe and countrymen alike...

I thought Fox News and their minions were claiming he was weak, capitulating and bitchmade not too long ago :confusedshrug:
:coleman:

Oppressive and spreading death is the correct summation of Obama. If you take what Fux News says seriously about "weakness" then you are playing into the fake zionist-neocon dichotomy which is merely a rehash of the phony cold war paradigm. Stop trying to distort the issue at hand which is the current regime's total disregard for human life.

[fiddy]

New year, same clown.
:
fxd

[FillJackson]

Only common sense to watch the elders of Zion. They're a shifty bunch.
Are you trolling or just deliberately being a dick?

[DonDadda59]

Are you trolling or just deliberately being a dick?

Why does it have to be multiple choice? I'm a complicated man. :confusedshrug: