FBI, DOJ Announce New Civil-Liberties Safeguards

[babylonsister]

Why should we believe one thing these agencies advertise when we know they're crooked?

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003680.php

FBI, DOJ Announce New Civil-Liberties Safeguards
By Spencer Ackerman - July 13, 2007, 2:09 PM

Ever since a March report by the Justice Department's inspector general highlighted mistakes made by the FBI in obtaining e-mail and financial records without a court order -- through what's known as a National Security Letter -- Bureau and DOJ officials have pledged to establish institutional safeguards against further abuse.

Today Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FBI Director Robert Mueller announced that attorneys will form an oversight office within DOJ's National Security Division to examine "all aspects of the FBI's national security program for compliance with laws, regulations, and guidelines," according to Assistant Attorney General Kenneth L. Wainstein. Additionally, FBI will create an integrity and compliance office for internal policing over all FBI activities, which a DOJ announcement terms a "substantial innovation."

Time and further scrutiny will tell how exactly this will all work -- to say nothing of how well -- but Wainstein termed the move "historic." One question: will there be an office in place to ensure that Gonzales reads reports he receives about FBI abuse?

Additionally, in a letter to Vice President Dick Cheney and congressional leaders, Mueller and Gonzales noted that the FBI has just completed a "historical audit of the FBI's use of NSLs in all 56 field offices." The two say that it largely confirms the inspector generals' findings. We'll bring you the report as soon as we have it.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Time and scrutiny....

Yeah...and I would win all bets it will all go in their favor no matter what, and the public be damned.

[C_U_L8R]

2. I get the feeling we're about to be screwed

[aquart]

5. Yeah. Because they always mean the opposite of what they say.

And they say it with such straight faces, too.

[BlooInBloo]

3. Sure! I'll just put that in my invisible bank!

[aquart]

4. "All 56 field offices." My, that's a whole lot of traitorous Americans.

Would they care to give us a ballpark figure of how many American citizens are committing treason by plotting acts of terrorism? A few of us? Lots of us? ALL of us?

Or is that also covered by executive privilege?

[originalpckelly]

6. In other news, Charles Manson has announced a new anti-murder initiative.

[Oilwellian]

7. Mistakes made by the FBI?

That's rich! And so the FBI "audited" itself and their own illegalities? How quaint of them. And now they're going to conduct oversight on themselves? Riiiight. I feel all better now. NOT! How about we keep it where Congress and the judiciary committee in particular maintain oversight...you know, the way the Constitution says it should be done.

[MissWaverly]

8. do "safeguards" apply to democrats and lefties

or are they only for those who have been "born again" or are members of the Republican party.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. I'm feeling safer already!

Yes! USA USA USA! My it is just grand to have all these fine folks overseeing my freedom.

[Frustratedlady]

10. So this means they are providing oversight to themselves.

If they thought their actions were right the first time around, how will they know they are wrong when they audit?

HISTORICAL audit makes sense. It's a first, for sure!

[Nikki Stone1]

11. Yep. What a joke.

NT

[Edweird]

12. Gonzo - the chief law enforcer - is a lying criminal scumbag. I believe them why?