Eavesdropping Didn't Help Uncover Terrorist Plot

crymeph0 writes "Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell asserted that the 'Protect America Act,' which frees the intelligence community from pesky things like judicial oversight while they eavesdrop on international conversations, was used to good effect in exposing the recently foiled terrorist plot to bomb US military facilities in Germany. Not so, according to other, anonymous, intelligence community officials. McConnell was forced to admit his errors in a phone call to Sen. Joe Lieberman. Turns out the military got wise to the bad guys months before the law was passed, simply due to alert military guards noticing odd behavior by some passers-by, a.k.a. good old fashioned police work."

Re:So what are you trying to say?

[MyLongNickName]

Your user name is very appropriate.

Re:Cue leftist nonsense

[Runefox]

You're right. In fact, this just proves it hasn't gone far enough. What we need is a police officer in every household, whose board and food is paid for by the residents, who are under constant supervision with cameras, hidden microphones, and bugs on every line. That should keep those pesky terrorists at bay, and after all, if you have nothing to hide, why are you worrying?

Sources.

[Dausha]

"McConnell was forced to admit his errors in a phone call to Sen. Joe Lieberman."

Thus say anonymous intelligence community sources who were eavesdropping on the phone conversation. It has been confirmed that eavesdropping doesn't work.

Re:So what are you trying to say?

[Anonymous Coward]

Tell me something. How would they be able to know who the "bad guys" were in the first place?

They have beards, goatees or moustaches. For examples see Roger Delgado as Dr Who's The Master, Ming the Merciless or Spock in the alternate universe. Continually stroking the beard is a dead giveaway.

How would they be able to decide that you or I am not worth monitoring because we don't pose a threat, but that Ahmed and Yasir and their connections are worth investigating?

Ahmed & Yasir aren't bad guys. ok, so they sold some bad meat one time... but their deli is the best value in town.

Selling bridges == supporting terrorism

[eknagy]

I hope you realize that by selling bridges, you authorize buyers to destroy them (they can destroy their property, right)?
Therefore, offering bridges that you do not own is supporting terrorism.

Re:Did anyone really believe him in the first plac

[InvisblePinkUnicorn]

"New law catches terrorists does"

In his old age, Yoda's grammar worse and worse has gotten.

Re:Oblig. Insightful. Ha Ha Ha

[Mr. Underbridge]

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Those who employ overused quotations from intelligent men to support their own nebulous point have neither intelligence nor a point.

--Mr. Underbridge

Re:So what are you trying to say?

[Sunburnt]

Not really. His nickname isn't too long by /. standards.

Based on the false dichotomy presented in your analogy, however, I'd say he has a point about yours.

Re:So what are you trying to say?

[jamstar7]

Good thing I'm a long haired bearded non-Christian, eh?

Er, wait...

Re:Did anyone really believe him in the first plac

[DrCode]

That's because Yoda is German, and we're getting the Babelfish translation of what he says.

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[account_deleted]

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