Spying at the NSA

Obviously, I'm a few days late on this topic but I still felt like writing a bit about Bush's newly discovered spying techniques. Let me start out by saying that I don't mind NSA spying on certain people's phone calls. Suspicious Americans, a.k.a Muslims and/or those with Middle Eastern connections, deserve to be watched and monitered, especially in this post-9/11 world.

The President has every right to do this, as it is in the interest of National Security and helping to protect American Citizens. You might say, but 'what if the President is snooping in on your phone calls and listening to your conversations. How would you feel about that?' Well the honest answer is if he was listening to ordinary Americans phone calls there would be cause for worry, but I seriously doubt he is, and allow me to tell you why. First, this was done as a National Security measure, and while your local airport baggage screener can't tell a terror suspect from Grandma, you can bet the NSA can. Second, the NSA doesn't have a limitless supply of cash, and it would hardly make sense for them to waste thier money listening to the phone conversations of an 18 year-old white dude, who doesn't even own a gun.

And finally, if they really are listening in on ordinary Americans phone calls, well, I would have to laugh. It would be a classic example of the inefficency of Governmental Beaurocracy. C'mon, think about some super smart government guy at NSA. He probably has an advanced degree from some Ivy League school, has access to all kinds of top secret material, can do things with technology that most people can't even dream of, and he's listening to you talk with your friend about last nights dinner or what not. (Or perhaps it's two 13 year-old girls discussing the latest gossip.) I mean really. What exactly would they be trying to accomplish?? Hopefully, you can see the downright absurdity of that picture.

Now, it might be possible that you just don't see the absurdity in that last little bit. Maybe you're thinking hard, and your comparing this spying to what Nixon did back during his Presidency to his political enemies. Okay, I'll play along. First, let me note that Bush is nowhere near the paranoid wreck that Nixon was. Further, if Bush was using this to hurt his enemies, why do so many people hate his guts now? If the current image of Bush is the one he got from blackmailing political enemies, then, wow, the people at NSA really suck at their jobs. Additionally, Bush has no motive to eliminate political enemies anymore, because he can't be re-elected. So let's dismiss the foolish Nixon comparisons.

In the end there is absolutely nothing wrong with spying on and discriminating against, known and perceived threats to National Security, even if the threats are American citizens. In fact, preventing these people from doing what they want to do (harm America and some of it's citizens) is part of W's job as President.