March 11, 2008
by Fred Flanagan
The debate over secret spying on American citizens and immunity for the telecom companies is one of the most important debates in recent times. The needed investigation may never happen unless the members of the controlling political party find enough backbone to demand a complete investigation. So far, the investigation of secret wiretaps on American citizens has been blocked.
Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of checks and balances on government powers. In times of war or imminent danger, the president does have the authority to take action. The question we face now is why the president, who had the authority to take immediate action with a 72 hours requirement to get a warrant from the FISA court, failed to report the wiretaps as required by law.
President Bush failed to ask for additional authority if he felt it was necessary, and he failed to report the continued secret wiretaps for over two years. The secret program started before 911 at a time when Osama Bin Laden was being ignored as a serious threat to America.
The telecom companies were complicit with the government in breaking the law and ignoring civil liberties. Immunity will probably be given to the telecom companies because members of the oversight committees were aware of this secret program and failed to speak out. Complicity!
We would set a dangerous precedent if we allow his actions to go unquestioned. We need a serious investigation into why wiretaps were needed outside of the available process provided in the Patriot Act and FISA law.
Who was the administration spying on without a warrant and oversight? Why was this process needed? These are the questions we need to ask of our government leaders. We have to protect our constitution, civil liberties and avoid giving our elected leaders expanded authorities without oversight.
Without checks and balances, we could have a serious abuse of power by individuals in power. Can anyone remember Watergate? Does spying on political opponents and anti-war activists come to mind?
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We can protect against possible terror threats and still preserve our democracy. The debate over perceived or expanded presidential authority is crucial in a democracy.
We need to ask the correct questions. Who was the government spying on without oversight? And, why was it necessary to avoid the FISA court?
Stealth government is a danger to the future of our democracy. We do not tie the hands of our leaders from protecting us from our enemies'. We only ask for the required oversight by the people we elect to govern our nation.
The American people have every right to demand answers and accountability from those they elect to govern. No one is above the laws of our nation - not even the President or Vice-president of the United States.
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Fred Flanagan [send him email] is the author of "My America - Is Democracy Floundering?" His book is a citizen's view on the current political environment in America. Find it online at http://flanaganunleashed.com/MyAmerica.html.
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