"1984"

"When [Total Information Awareness] got taken apart, it didn't get thrown away," one top government official told the paper.

Who knew?!! Anyone who has been paying attention. The shadow government is building a police state around us. Why? Because they do not wish to suffer the consequences of a free American People once the reality of what they've done becomes known to the larger body of the People.

People need to remember all of the stuff that the intel community has perpetrated on US citizens across the years - cold war experiments, etc. This is just more of the same. Our government has always treated us like mushrooms - kept us in the dark and fed us manure....

Has anyone considered that the phrase "domestic spying" has been taken out of context. The phrase was coined and used without the thought of our own citizens twisting its true meaning - this was probably done by some newbee to the press trying to make a name for him/herself.

The law was put in place to allow the intelligence community to monitor illegal activities that could endanger our national defense. I often wonder why so many US citizens complain over the fact that at some point in time their own phone conversation may be flagged because of a key word or phrase that was used. I understand the importance of privacy and agree that it is our right as US citizens. However, if it comes down to someone overhearing me talk to my dying mother's conversation or an extremely private conversation between me and my wife.... and the posibility of them intercepting a call/conversation that could save the lives of thousands - then they can listen all they want.

What we need to understand is the criminal networks use sophisticated communications and code words...this is the reason for needing such systems in place to allow "domestic spying."

If we had reports and recorded messages of the terrorists prior to Sept 11 and unfoiled even one of the hijacked plane plans - this would not even be discussed like it is. However, we must also consider that releasing such messages could provide the collection methods used. If that happens, then they will change their methods of communicating and make it that much harder to intercept.

After the Sept 11 report was published everyone saw the intelligence failures that led to the attacks. Everyone, at that time, demanded change and improvements to prevent any future attacks. Now that these changes are taking place - "we" are screaming invasion of privacy.

What we should also consider is that our "right to privacy" is also allowing the criminals protection. Something has to give. Is it so wrong to give up the slightest bit of privacy to ensure a better domestic spying program that prevents future 9/11 attacks?

Domestic spying simply means its going on in the US. Not necessarily directed at you or your neighbor. Not domestic as in US persons are the target. I think we need to find that common bond we had after 9/11 and join together with a plan to divert future attacks.

I appreciate the concern to protect my rights to privacy. However, I also appreciate the efforts of our gov't to try to develop a plan to counter terrorist plans such as 9/11. Unconventional warfare is hard to divert, face, challenge, and neutralize.

THE CIA, FBI, AND THE OTHERS WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE SHI! IS GOING TO HIT THE FAN. THIS COUNTRY HAS MORE GUNS THAN ALL THE OTHER COMBINED I THINK A CIVIL WAR IS COMING AND SOON OSAMA BIN LADEN COULD BE IN THIS COUNTRY WITH ALL THAT HAS CAME IN FROM MEXICO. THANK BUSH FOR THIS!

Sounds like someone needs to wake up to some "Actuality"...

Not to diminish real threats, I know some exist, but as well some of these scenarios remind me of home handymen or house re-roofers canvasing neighborshoods for some easy money. Not the legit people, no. The ones that take their advance and leave the state. If 'some' FBI or CIA come across some 'easy' pickins, who's to say they're not gonna run off with the cash? My legal aid divorce lawyer did that, a famous case; he ran away with another clients inheritance/trust before he could even interview me. And that wasn't the end of it. Of course the 'good' lawyers were very embarassed by his actions. But act he did. Had a lot of fun in the Caribean...or was it the Maldives...? before they caught him.

We The People of this great land are also known as a Sleeping Giant. Usually we are busy with the day to day requirements of responsible life. While we were out at work one that calls themselves one of us stabbed us in the back and kicked us when we had our attentions elsewhere. We The People are not a collect idiot we know who the enemies of freedom and democracy are.

We are not the enemy the disease in Washington is eating at our fiber. All that has been done is to destroy America's trust in its gov't, question who and how we vote and who and or what even deserves to be listened to let alone believed. This CF thrust on the American populous, is being slowly shrugged off and we are learning the truth. Not widely disseminated lies from agencies in which we gave blind trust cause they we as much us as our right hand. We The People will get thru this though at a very great cost. We The People, will listen and learn the truth; We The People will not be hoodwinked like this again. When the truth comes out about 9/11 and its aftermath there is no where on this planet safe from the reach of freedom loving law abiding peaceful people who only whish to live there lives according to our laws and constitution.