Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Wiretap Powers

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/washington/10fisa.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=senate+approves+bill+to+broaden&st=nyt&oref=slogin
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 1:41 PMSubject: Senate Approves Bill to Broaden Wiretap PowersTo: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor:
Three and a half years ago, this newspaper learned of a pattern of criminal violations of the FISA statute of 1978, in which our government was spying on our own citizens without the required search warrants. One year later, this pattern of crimes--but not their extent--was made public. Now, the senate has voted to block the civil laws suits that might have finally laid bare to the light of the day the extent of these crimes. It is possible that our next attorney general will take seriously his/her duty to enforce our laws, including the criminal provisions of the FISA statute. My hopes for that are dimmed by senator Obama's endorsement of the official cover-up of these crimes in the current bill.
Barry Levine
1142 Brown Ave
Lafayette, CA 94549