I Have A Question
According to today’s New York Times, the government is relying heavily on wiretapped conversations in its evidence against Jose Padilla.
In 1997, as the government listened in on their phone call, Adham Hassoun, a computer programmer in Broward County, Fla., proposed a road trip to Jose Padilla, a low-wage worker there. The excursion to Tampa would be his treat, Mr. Hassoun said, and a chance to meet “some nice, uh, brothers.”
. . .
Tens of thousands of conversations were recorded. Some 230 phone calls form the core of the government’s case, including 21 that make reference to Mr. Padilla, prosecutors said.
Yes, you read that right: the phone calls in question were recorded starting back in 1997. That’s four years before the Patriot Act was signed into law.
I’m going to guess that these Padilla tapes were recorded legally, since they form the basis of the government’s case. And I’m therefore going to guess that those listening in received FISA warrants.
So here’s my question: why does the Bush Administration and its lackies still insist that they need the powers of the Patriot Act to protect us from terrorists? When the FISA system was clearly working?
And if Bush didn’t really need the Patriot Act before, then why did he just issue a signing statement claiming the authority to read my mail without a warrant?
Just wondering.