blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/federal_source_.html
Phony Lottery Scams Hit Hundreds of Thousands in US >> Federal Source to ABC News: We Know Who You're Calling May 15, 2006 10:33 AM Brian Ross and Richard Esposito Report: A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we (Brian Ross and Richard Esposito) call in an effort to root out confidential sources. "It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation. ABC News does not know how the government determined who we are calling, or whether our phone records were provided to the government as part of the recently-disclosed NSA collection of domestic phone calls. Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation. One former official was asked to sign a document stating he was not a confidential source for New York Times reporter James Risen. Our reports on the CIA's secret prisons in Romania and Poland were known to have upset CIA officials. The CIA asked for an FBI investigation of leaks of classified information following those reports. People questioned by the FBI about leaks of intelligence information say the CIA was also disturbed by ABC News reports that revealed the use of CIA predator missiles inside Pakistan. Under Bush Administration guidelines, it is not considered illegal for the government to keep track of numbers dialed by phone customers. The official who warned ABC News said there was no indication our phones were being tapped so the content of the conversation could be recorded. A pattern of phone calls from a reporter, however, could provide valuable clues for leak investigators.
LEAHK | May 15, 2006 9:51:49 AM Having the intelligence community monitoring phone calls is very disturing and a direct violation of the constitution. Pls take a look the web page for SAIC and check out the job posting. Lot's of jobs requiring SAP clearance and contracted to the NSA, DIA, etc.. What it comes down to is our govt has outsouced intel gathering to corporate America. Witht the high level use if statistical analysis and just bits and pieces of converstations, they call tell a heck of lot about a person.
I hope they do find out who is leaking national security info to the press. Maybe you guys should start trying to "FOR the USA" instead of "AGAINST the USA" ALL THE TIME I hope the FBI nails lots of idiots who are out to destroy the intelligence agencies and cost us more soldiers and spys!
jeff bynum | May 15, 2006 11:12:10 AM I hope the information they gain allows them to catch the scum that leak information, and helps them arrest the communist scum who publish it.
Brad | May 15, 2006 11:13:00 AM well maybe ABC news better stop leaking classified information. This only helps our enemies and right now I believe ABC news is an enemy of the US.
George Chelpon | May 15, 2006 11:15:31 AM I believe that it is a great idea to maintain telephone surveilance over news organizations who disclose classified and sensitive secret information. Lets nail the government employees who knowingly break their oath to not divulge classified information.
bridget | May 15, 2006 11:17:21 AM "Under Bush Administration guidelines, it is not considered illegal for the government to keep track of numbers dialed by phone customers." Under the law as signed by Bill Clinton collecting the information is legal. Why do you portray it as "under Bush administration guidelines?" If they are investigating leaks they probably have warrants for the searches so they can see who is leaking information. I am glad they are rooting out the people breaking the law. I hope they get the one who broke the law by telling you about this.
Big Dog | May 15, 2006 11:21:12 AM Anyone who doesn't believe this is just the tip of the NSA domestic spying iceberg is either naive or foolish. The first thing that crossed my mind when USAToday broke the story about a database full of purely domestic call records was that the Bush regime would be using it to keep track of every journalist and blogger. Just another step taken by this administration to suppress dissent and just another step towards stifling freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Maybe now the MSM will finally wake up and start reporting the facts about this administration instead of trying to remain neutral.
bob | May 15, 2006 11:23:40 AM Anonymous sources will never be credible. It seems that the media tends to quote a "source" but won't name them. If you feel strongly about something, have the courage and conviction to stand up and be named. Another reason why I find out facts, before I reach a conclusion.
this program may have more to do with monitoring "traitors" like reporters and leakers than with tracking terrorists." And i bet we could add political opponents and candidates to that list too.
voxpopgirl | May 15, 2006 11:26:09 AM I am a journalism graduate, UNC-Chapel Hill. I hope they catch every government leaker of classified secret information and put them in prison for life. And any reporter publishing known classified secret information should be shot.
Tom Camp | May 15, 2006 11:26:53 AM The problem, folks, is that the government has broken the law. I'm always staggered when people who claim to uphold the "values of America" willingly and joyfully allow their government to violate those values.
Tom Paine | May 15, 2006 12:50:44 PM I think that this is very good news. Something has to be done to investigate the main-stream media as the MSM has obviously declared war against the President in regards to the war on terror and and the liberation of Iraq. It is outrageous how they are working to leak classified information and to undermine our security at every turn with their reporting. It is also outrageous how they fabricate stories against the President or in a timely fashion recycle old stories as if they were new. I personally no longer trust the MSM at all and feel extremely threatened by their agenda.
Garry | May 15, 2006 12:50:51 PM I'm appalled that so many of you think this is a good development, that journalists should be gagged. I just can't wrap my head around why anyone would want their own government to have this kind of crazy power over their citizenry. Especially a government led by a man who considers his greatest accomplishment in office catching a fish.
Madison Underwood | May 15, 2006 12:50:59 PM You guys in the press have been sucking up to this president from the very beginning. You reported his lies, you bought the BS, and you did it all for access and so you could get invited to the right parties, and so he could towel-snap you and give you stupid nicknames. Maybe if you'd done your job from the beginning, we wouldn't be living in a fascist state run by a madman right now. it was more important that Al Gore was stiff and John Kerry had no charisma. But don't start crying now about your rights being violated.
Jill | May 15, 2006 12:51:01 PM i cant wait till the democrats get back in power and start cracking down and tracking all the rightwing thugs and some of the commenters found here. some people are so dumb and shortsighted and have ZERO understanding of the rule of law, the constitution, and civil rights.
ron | May 15, 2006 12:51:06 PM First they came for the activists, and I said nothing. Next, they came for the journalists, and I still said nothing. I'm shocked by the "pro spying" comments I read above -- are you fucking kidding me? Are you so completely bent by the lies and manipulation and fear-mongering of "President" Bush and his co-conspirators? You actually believe anything that comes out of this administration? Stop listening to the crap coming from FOX and Limbaugh and O-Lielly.
andy | May 15, 2006 12:51:10 PM I am tired of thae news media leaking secret information in order to hurt PREDIDENT BUSH. I would prosucute the news media leakers for treason like LINCOLN did.
Ron Zacharias | May 15, 2006 12:51:16 PM This has to be one of the most frightening issues of our time. I as a citizen deserve to know what the moral cons...
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