U.S. Allegedly Eavesdropped On GI's Calls

2 U.S. Military Linguists Say Gov't Listened In On Personal Phone Calls Of Military, Aid Workers Overseas

(AP)  The Senate Select Intelligence Committee is looking into allegations from two U.S. military linguists that the government routinely listened in on phone calls of American military and humanitarian aid workers serving overseas.

"These are extremely disturbing allegations," said Committee Chairman Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., in a statement issued Thursday. "We have requested all relevant information from the Bush administration. Any time there is an allegation regarding abuse of the privacy and civil liberties of Americans it is a very serious matter."

ABC News first reported the charges Thursday, citing one current and one former military linguist by name. They are contained in the book "The Shadow Factory," to be published next week.

The linguists said National Security Agency interceptors routinely monitored and recorded the private calls of U.S. military personnel, Red Cross and other humanitarian workers; personal discussions that had entertainment value pillow talk or phone sex were shared among intercept operators, they said.

National Security Agency spokesman Patrick Bomgardner said some of the allegations have already been investigated by the agency and found to be unsubstantiated.

"Others are in the investigation process," he said, declining to provide further detail.

The recently adopted eavesdropping law requires the government to get court permission to listen in on American phone and computer communications anywhere in the world. However, the previous version of the law only required attorney general approval. If an American's communications are incidentally listened to in the course of eavesdropping on another target, the contents of the American's comments call and the identity of the person are supposed to be protected, a process known as "minimization."

"At NSA, the law was followed assiduously," said Mark Mansfield, spokesman for CIA Director Mike Hayden, who headed the NSA during the period in question. "The notion that General Hayden sanctioned or tolerated illegalities of any sort is ridiculous on its face."

[notfooled]

Yet another example of routine violation of American civil liberties by the Bush/Cheney crime syndicate supported by all Rethuglicans.

Vote all Rep''s out come election day

[helloall34]

This is certainly no surprise.

[republic1776]

Military Service.
They signed a contract, they are U.S. Government Property.
Expected in Crisis, no violation.

[willowing]

republic1776, I feel sorry for you. I can see the Constitution of the United States of America means nothing to you.

[retmilspouse]

"National Security Agency spokesman Patrick Bomgardner said some of the allegations have already been investigated by the agency and found to be unsubstantiated."

Does not matter to Dems. At this point in time its whatever fits their bill of getting their guy elected at all costs. Dig up dirt, new or old, make it up, pay people to lie, say its true knowing that it cannot be proven either way, all just in the process to win an election. Sad Sad Sad Sad state of affairs.

[willowing]

Also, a person as property is a prostitute. Shame on you for putting the US military in that category!

[dburfears]

ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO DESTROY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

REPUBLICANS HAVE PUSHED UNLIMITED GOVERNMENT POWER TO WATCH EVERYTHING YOU DO- EVEN IN YOUR BEDROOMS

REPUBLICANS DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR RIGHTS, OUR PRIVACY, OUR AMERICAN WAY.

I''m a pistol, rifle, and shotgun owner.

I''m a LOT more concerned about the Republicans who want to:
- eliminate my right to privacy
- eliminate my right to due process
- eliminate my right to demand a warrant before the government can intrude into my life
- reduce my right to speak freely without being labeled a "terrorist"
- restrict my right to assemble, protest, and petition the government without the Secret Service having me arrested,

I''m concerned about the precarious medical insurance I have, that could be taken away by a greedy insurance company at any moment- leaving me and my family bankrupt from medical bills.

I''m concerned about the militarism that has taken over the Republican party- a policy of placing our troops in harms way around the world for a "policy" of spreading democracy at the point of a gun while ignoring the real terrorist threats in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

I''m concerned about a "HANDS OFF" economic ideology that is enriching the already rich and leaving average folks behind.

I do not believe Obama can or would "take away my guns". The NRA is a narrow one-issue group that would throw away everything else in the altar of some kind of "PURITY". f''em.

[shortestfuse]

"The notion that General Hayden sanctioned or tolerated illegalities of any sort is ridiculous on its face."
Why is that notion so ridiculous? Apparently the people working at NSA are so brainwashed that the idea of questioning or having doubts about the actions of their superiors is unthinkable.

[sfupid_me]

Also, a person as property is a prostitute. Shame on you for putting the US military in that category!


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Posted by willowing at 10:44 PM :

A person as property is a slave, not a prostitute
__________________________________________________________________

Lighten up. People in the military aren''t slaves or prostitutes, those are your words.
I am in the military in Iraq, and we all carry guns. In a military environment, it is important to weed out anybody who could do major harm to the rest of us, and if it takes a wiretap to keep me safe, so be it. Its very simple, if you are worried about the CIA or ''Bush''s boys'' listening in on your calls or reading your emails, don''t sign up. And if you aren''t trying to hide some nefarious plan, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

[endofempire]

Once you sign on the dotted line, you become Government Issue (Hence the term G.I.). You want privacy, you joined the wrong country club. Pu$$ie$.

[babooph]

Spying on enemies is standard-what does the Govt. do to the troops that makes them enemies !!??

[ubrew12]

"At NSA, the law was followed assiduously," said Mark Mansfield, spokesman for CIA Director Mike Hayden, who headed the NSA during the period in question. "The notion that General Hayden sanctioned or tolerated illegalities of any sort is ridiculous on its face."

He added: and of course, if Hayden did engage in illegal behavior he wouldn''t tell you anyway. NO ONE Watches the Watchers in THIS administration. They are completely out of control.

[republic1776]

The Liberals want to make sure they weaken America.
"We must lose!"
So they can be right!

[lemonskink]

Does this really surprise anyone? GWB and his cronies decided a long time ago during the great Patriot''s Axe that it would be a wonderful tool to protect them, and to head off any enemies of their regime, and I''m talking whistleblowers, and anyone who got in their way while they were performing their dirty deeds. It had little if anything to do with terror.

[inventagod2]

Bu$h hired all his daddy''s Iran-Contra buddies, we expect nothing less than treason at all levels of government...

[toby2958]

Oh yea the Bush administration cares so much for our troops that it spies on them.

Nice.

[apprxam]

Repugz are just getting exponential sillier every -f=ing-day. I thought ConZ-ervatives and Lie-Ber-Terrorist were about liberty from government, so why the unfetterred interventions given to "big brother"?

[jerr11]

OK, here''s today''s top 10 list:

Top 10 Bush''s accomplishments:

1. Al Quaeda resurgent in Afghanistan.

2. Bin Laden enjoying quiet retirement in Waziristan.

3. American Taxpayers paying $12 billion a month to Sunni warlords to keep the surge going.

4. Iraq delivered to the Iranian mullahs at the cost of $3 trillion and over 4000 Dead American troops.

5. Meanwhile back at home, homeowners losing their homes.

6. Dow off the cliff.

7. Unemployment at all time high.

8. But there''s a silver lining here: Halliburton''s profits are through the roof.

9. ******** Cheney is laughing all the way to the bank.

10. G W Bush getting ready to enjoy his retirement on 99 acre ranch in Paraguay.

[tapsettle]

Land of the Free???? HA HA HA HA HA HA !!! You get what you vote for dumb americans, you get what you vote for.

[annd2302]

First off, if those used an %u201Cautovon%u201D line then there is no story or charges. The government owns the Autovon lines so they can listen to whomever they please. Wake up America, smell the coffee, and get to bigger and more important issues. My daddy bigger than your daddy, my daddy is bigger than your daddy, bunch of first graders%u2026%u2026%u2026.

**AUTOVON, short for Automatic Voice Network, an American military phone system built in 1963

[tapsettle]

Posted by annd2302

Your whole point is based on an assumption that may or may not have been the case. Do you have an opinion if another line was used? I think the point here is that freedoms are being eroded, even from those most loyal to their country.

[mcfinished]

Does this actually surprise anyone?

GW Bush and his Republicanazi cronies don''t believe we have any rights.

GW Bush should be charged with treason for his trashing of the US Constitution and our rights.

[pirmin3]

In the police state that Amerika has become the Cheney gestapo listen to everyone anyway. Why should this surprise anyone??

[sfupid_me]

Also, a person as property is a prostitute. Shame on you for putting the US military in that category!


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Posted by willowing at 10:44 PM :

A person as property is a slave, not a prostitute
__________________________________________________________________

Lighten up. People in the military aren''t slaves or prostitutes, those are your words.
I am in the military in Iraq, and we all carry guns. In a military environment, it is important to weed out anybody who could do major harm to the rest of us, and if it takes a wiretap to keep me safe, so be it. Its very simple, if you are worried about the W''s men in black listening in on your calls or reading your emails, don''t sign up. And if you aren''t trying to hide some nefarious plan, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

[mcfinished]

I recently watched a copy of "The Story of Hitler''s Secret Police 1933-1945 Gestapo" and I was surprised by the amount of similarities with the GW Bush admin, and the way it has removed the rights of individuals, spied on it''s citizens and the illegal kidnapping of people from foreign countries and their torture (aka extraordinary rendition).

It really is scary.

[mcfinished]

sfupid_me at 04:29 AM : Oct 10, 2008 wrote:

"And if you aren''''t trying to hide some nefarious plan, then you probably have nothing to worry about."

Interesting choice of words.

"...then you PROBABLY have nothing to worry about".

Indeed.

[mcfinished]

sfupid_me at 04:29 AM : Oct 10, 2008 wrote:

"I am in the military in Iraq, and we all carry guns. In a military environment, it is important to weed out anybody who could do major harm to the rest of us, and if it takes a wiretap to keep me safe, so be it. Its very simple, if you are worried about the W''''s men in black listening in on your calls or reading your emails, don''''t sign up."

Regardless of whether a US Citizen is in the military or not (and remember, this article also includes non-military folks), there are certain laws and procedures that need to be followed when "wire tapping".

If they aren''t followed, then it''s illegal - and that concerns us all.

[andrew_693]

Bush and his rich friends have the right to fack anyone in the military, and that''s what they are doing, it''s like doing a servant, the military''s function is to protect the interest of cheney, rumsfeld and other rich people''s property. It''s been like that since medieval times and even before.

[excoachken]

Where can I find out how many of my international vacation calls back to family members was listened in on? Will the Bushys ever tell us which of us has been spied upon? Probably doesn''y make any difference now, since the Reagan "trickle down" economic experiment has left me unable to afford an over seas trip again!

[andrew_693]

This government is down and dirty like a dog, they even killed Pat Tillman, fabricated a hero story and lied to his family,

now they want to know who is voting for Obama, so they can kill them the same way they killed Pat Tillman.

Posted by niceface09 at 01:34 AM : Oct 10, 2008



Pat Tillman , is no hero, he was just a misguided bully full of steroids wanting attention. If he had half a brain he would have learned what this war was about and the inside job the jesus squad pulled on the twin towers. He was just another dummy acting on impulse with no prior capacity for analytical thought.

[vet_sk]

Wwe were even told in Iraq that they were listening in on our calls. That was the deal if we wanted to call home.

[bsb53]

in the survey i read most of the military support mccain in the election

[closethippy1]

When Cheney became VP after Jr. was officialy made President in January of 2000 he refused to fill out the required paper work.
It''s incredible how this guy will not follow the most simple procedures. It''s almost as if a punk musician was made VP and the guy is just flipping his finger at everybody.

[sfcusarmy1]

This isnt even news to anyone who is in the military and serving over seas. It is clearly posted on the phones that we call home on that our conversations can and will be monitored. Hope they got an earful of me and my wifes phone *** every time I called home! LOL

[txlakeside]

Eavesdropping is FREEDOM LISTENING! Corporate Welfare is FREEDOM BAILOUTS! The Patriot Act is FREEDOM WRITING! No bid war contracts are FREEDOM PURCHASING!

SEIG HEIL AS YOUR FREEDOMS DISAPPEAR!

[chimpyout]

The coverup was performed assiduously; officials behaved egregiously; and we get the news gratuitously.

As U. S. Grant, faced with far less government corruption than we have today once said, "let no guilty man escape!"

[antoniof123]

You know what I have had it with the Republicans they will never again see a vote from me on any level.

In fact I am going to join what ever groups are against the GOP. PERIOD.

I have had enough of them.

This is how the GOP supports the troops listening in on there conversations. Some support take McCain/Palin and shove them where the sun doesn''t shine.

[bustardo]

I have worked with the military for over 30 years. It has always been the policy that these calls could by monitored. This applies to any and all government communications methods. My phone has a sticker on it that states "This telephone is subject to monitoring at all times. Use of this telephone constitutes consent to monitoring". WHen you are a member of the government or work for the government, you by use of the facilty consent to such monitoring. This is not some new Bush doctrine so get off your bashing ways.

[gop_will_win]

I always enjoy having my telephone conversations monitored. It gives me a feeling that I am special knowing that the government cares enough about me to listen in on my calls. Makes me feel safe and secure. I dont know who in their right mond would complain about something like this.

[squidly8]

The screaming is coming from those who have not been in the military. As a member of the military, you live under a known, different set of rules as the general public. You are subject to double jeopardy in a civil case - one punishment by civilian courts and another punishment by the military. Our "familygrams" on submarines were always censored - as much as you could do with the allowed 40 words.

There is huge precedent for this - Think WWII. All mail was censored by your superior officers. People would get letters with material cut out of the paper. And OMG this was perpetrated by of all things a DEMOCRAT. Not only that but one of the DEMOCRATS held in the highest esteem!

Non issue.

[strangeworld]

Just be a good little Nazi and accept what the republo-fascists tell you. Who needs privacy?...who needs freedom?...The GOP will determine what you will have for you. Our forefathers are rolling in their graves.

[strangeworld]

At the very least, the taxpayer should provide the employees of the NSA with hand creme and tissues when they are required to spy on Americans talking dirty to their spouses. What a bunch of sickos.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II has always felt that he should know EVERYTHING about EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE!

So it is not surprising that he should be listening in on phone conversations, using the excuse that he is looking for "terrrrrorrists". He especially wants to know what the military grunt thinks about him, JUST IN CASE!!!

And if the NSA and CIA "bend the rules" to include EVERYONE, so much the better since the Great Emperor has been keeping "dossiers" on every person he can!

As has been shown time and again, the Great Emperor Bush II cares nothing about the rights of the people, as he feels the people have no rights, unless they are rich enough to afford them!!!

SIG HEIL, I SUPPORT THE TROOPS, SO LONG AS THEY SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT ME!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, I SUPPORT THE TROOPS TOO, BUT I WILL VOTE AGAINST THEM IN CONGRESS EVERY TIME!!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, I LIKE SHOOTING THEIR GUNS!!!, Palin!!!

[kaiyo4u]

Posted by iam4honesty at 09:01 AM : Oct 10, 2008


I too am ex-military and we are told from the outset that any and all forms of communication are subject to monitoring, and yes, we are told about events in WWII mostly. A lot of posters (on the walls) about being aware of what we are saying. I agree with this. Especially in this day and age with all the electronic trappings used for surveillance.
As far as the humanitarian workers, if they are using their own communications devices, then I agree with you, but if they are using government facilities, then they talk at their own risk.
It''s not about libs and conservatives, it''s about playing your cards close to your chest.

What if some guy was talking with his wife and told what he was going to do the next day and got blown up in the area he told her he was going? Do you see where this is going? Anytime someone out there is trying to find your location where you are most vulnerable and kill you, then you need to keep a zipper on your lips about everything...

[stevex47]

Absolutely hilarious how the nutjobs stomp on The Constitution.

What words did boosh use to describe The Constitution?

Nutjobs, stop blaming everyone else for your complete and utter failure !

Until you take responsibility for your incompetence, you will never move forward.

[Keypinitreel1]

I was in Taji,Iraq Mar 2003- Feb 2004..4ID Field Artillery.

When we were lucky enough to see a phone. We were told our calls were being monitored and told specifically what not to talk about. Such as: Location, Personnel, supplies, injuries or kills,movement dates times and units.

We knew that not only was the US spying on our calls..so were other countries. A violation could result in a black out. No phone, no mail..no contact with the outside world for the entire unit. When you see people killing people and things of that nature... the way it was happening... you would understand why. Not only is it for US personnel safety...its also because sometimes things said would conflict with whats being pushed over the TV and radio. Sometimes its best that people dont know whats going on when lives are on the line.

[Keypinitreel1]

For the record...even though Im not a supporter of this administration. When it comes to war... some things do not need to be talked about. No need for the extra risk and confusion.

Get hit by a mortar attack when people shouldnt have known that you were there and you learn the reason there is a such thing as communication security... without a word being said.

[latrocinor-2009]

for your complete and utter failure !
Posted by stevex47

Yes, you definitely must be speaking about yourself seeing that you do not care about the USA or troops safety.

So many losers, so little maturity.

[latrocinor-2009]

"Rasmussen Markets data shows Obama is given a *** chance of winning in November"
Posted by RepForBarack

So what? What is your point. Should we simply not vote and just appoint him?

[latrocinor-2009]

Sounds downright unAmerican when you say it. They "own" you? What is the publication date of the first UCMJ?
Posted by Nancy_Naive

What is the price of eggs in China?