Debate over politically-biased 'Pentagon space spies watch Americans' headline....

"Jim Oberg" wrote in message
...
The AP headline, used in various news sites, claimed that 'Pentagon space
spies watch Americans'

This original headline identified the assets as the government's spy
satellites.

And if the police used two cans and a string to listen in, then
a warrant isn't needed?

I think the problem many have, including me, is not what assets
they are using, but WHO is using them. The fact that it's military
personal/agencies that are being used for domestic intelligence
or policing is the issue. It is an American tradition AND law
that domestic policing not be done by military agencies.


"The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385)
It generally prohibits Federal military personnel
and units of the United States National Guard under Federal authority
from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States,
except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act



There are many in Congress that feel they did not 'expressly permit'
the tactics being used with the Patriot Act as the administration
claims.



I wish journalists would attempt harder to avoid sucking political-tinged
arguments and terminology into what should be straight reportage. Many of
them -- AP in particular, Reuters is far worse -- don't seem to 'get it'.


If one assumes that in a hot-case those classified assets would be
used, then the use of spy satellites in the article wouldn't be
overly sensational.

Just a little.



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