From Secrecy News:
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), chair of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, sent a letter (pdf) to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff seeking answers to a series of detailed questions about the new initiative, which was first reported in the Wall Street Journal. Among Rep. Markey's questions were these:
· Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the development of appropriate guidelines for domestic use of spy satellites?
· What assessments of the legality of the new surveillance program have been performed?
· How does the Department plan to ensure that Americans' privacy and civil rights are protected once this new surveillance program becomes operational?
· What assessments of the legality of the new surveillance program have been performed?
· How does the Department plan to ensure that Americans' privacy and civil rights are protected once this new surveillance program becomes operational?
A copy of Mr. Markey's August 16 letter is here. A response was requested no later than September 7.
The new surveillance program "has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates who say the government is overstepping the use of military technology for domestic surveillance," wrote Eric Schmitt in the New York Times. See "Liberties Advocates Fear Abuse of Satellite Images," August 17.
The new surveillance program "has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates who say the government is overstepping the use of military technology for domestic surveillance," wrote Eric Schmitt in the New York Times. See "Liberties Advocates Fear Abuse of Satellite Images," August 17.
2 comments:
Ya know, if they are going to use the satellites on us, how about busting some crack and meth dealers, huh? We kill each other at a higher rate than terrorists kill us. There are too many Americans who fear walking out their back door at night more than fear international terrorism.
Homeland Security should start at home. I'm more scared of getting whacked in something random by a sloppy drug dealer who can't freaking shoot straight than I am by some dude named Abdul from another country. The chances of getting killed by a drunk driver are even higher. Let's all send the drunk drivers to Git-Mo! That would stop it!
I think it's dinner time. I'm crabby. :-)
Go grab some kitty yummies. No crappy cats on the blog. ;-)
It's Orwellian in this country. Be careful, kittybowtie. There may be a satellite in your cat box.
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