:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::
"Everything is being compressed into tiny tablets. You take a little pill of news every day - 23 minutes - and that's supposed to be enough." -Walter Cronkite, RE TV news. The Web has changed that for many, however, and here is an extra dose for your daily news cocktail. This prescription tends to include surveillance and now war-related links, along with the occasional pop culture junk and whatever else seizes my attention as I scan online news sites.:: 7.21.2005 ::
:: "The Patriot Act: Section 215" ::
From NPR.org, Taking Issue
The Patriot Act widened the government's surveillance powers in an effort to fight terrorism. But many contend it also put civil liberties at risk.
Among the act's most controversial provisions is Section 215. It allows investigators broad access to library, bookstore, rental car and many other records, and it prevents the recipient of such an order from disclosing the request for records. As Section 215 comes up for renewal, Taking Issue asks whether it strikes the right balance between law and liberty or needs amendment.
ALSO
In Depth: Section 215 Explained
:: "JANE, YOU IGNORANT SLUT" ::
ADDTL. NPR COVERAGE
Let Investigators Do Their Job
By Heather MacDonald
"Preemptive terror investigations cannot be conducted in the news media. Telling a Mohammad Atta that the government wants to see his airline reservations is a sure-fire way to torpedo any chance of unraveling his plot."
Checks Are Needed to Protect Rights
By James Dempsey
"Intelligence investigations are broader and more secret, and are not subject to after-the-fact scrutiny. We need to build in protections at the beginning."
posted by me
:: 9:51:00 PM [+] ::
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