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NBC Given "OK" to Run Pentagon Snooping Story, Hoping an Uninformed Public Will Believe Bush is "Strong on Terror"...
by Greg Szymanski    The Arctic Beacon
Entered into the database on Monday, December 19th, 2005 @ 06:45:36 MST


 

Untitled Document

NBC Given 'OK' to Run Pentagon Snooping Story, Hoping an Uninformed Public Will Believe Bush is 'Strong on Terror' to Sway Last Minute Passage of Illegal Patriot Act Stalled in Senate

Insider at New York Times says Bush is trying to turn the Pentagon story into trump card in getting Patriot Act through Senate. Source says administration gave go-ahead to run story as corrupt media continues to work hand-in-hand with neo-cons to trick sleeping public.

The screws aren’t coming loose in the corrupt Bush administration with the release of the Pentagon snooping story, but only a clear-cut sign they are be tightened down even harder on innocent Americans not falling in step with the neo-con party line.

The writing is already on the wall that the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) will not stop invading individual privacy rights, as in 2006 expect more and more innocents being labeled ‘domestic terrorists’ for no good reason.

The main issue surrounding the release of the NBC story, finding Bush directly ordered the NSA and DOD to use its data base to spy on citizens is not the substance of the story but its timing.

The question must be asked why the story was released by NBC News during the important Patriot Act debate in Congress when the New York Times actually knew about it over 18 months ago, never running the story as a favor to the Bush administration.

“The answer is the Bush administration put its ‘rubber stamp’ of approval on the release of the story during the hot Patriot Act debates in order to launch a counter-attack against opposition lawmakers and civil rights groups, depicting them as anti-American and weak on terror protection,” said an insider working for the New York Times who wishes to remain anonymous to protect his private interests.

“I know the story has been widely talked about amongst journalists all over town for years. I remember a couple of bar room discussions with some guys having the information but no outlet to print the NSA story.

“It’s really a joke what has happened to the manipulated press since I know for a fact the NBC story was only allowed to air after the powers that be outside of the media gave their stamp of approval.”

In fact, the Times source went on to say the timing of the story was an orchestrated effort between media big shots and the Bush administration to give the ‘illegally installed President’ another ‘bully-pulpit’ to play his terror card in the middle of America’s heartland, where many uninformed citizens have already been brainwashed into believing the phony war on terror and the necessity of surrendering civil rights for a false sense of protection and security.

“The timing of the release is geared to make Bush look strong, not weak, and to force into submission those supporting the repeal of the Patriot Act by making them appear weak in the eyes of Americans, many of whom are uninformed ironically due to the media’s lack of coverage regarding other wrongdoings of the Bush administration..

“The Bush strategy along with the help of NBC and other large news outlets is to bank on the uninformed masses to support the President’s position that it’s better to sacrifice certain civil rights measures in order to protect against another terrorist attack.”

And to verify the credibility of the Times source, President Bush immediately started his counter-attack, using his Saturday radio address to strongly criticize lawmakers and others who leaked the NSA/Pentagon snooping story, using the terror card and saying they were compromising the safety of the American people by exposing the secret surveillance geared at rooting out domestic terrorists.

Besides Bush, other administration attack dogs, like attorney General Alberto Gonzales, also were quick to use the same strategy.

Immediately after the NBC story surfaced, Gonzales told reporters:

“Let me just say that winning the war on terror requires winning the war of information. And so we will be aggressive in obtaining that information, but we will always do so in a manner that's consistent with our legal obligations.”

And just when the Pentagon snooping story was released the U.S. House of Representative voted to extend the illegal Patriot Act while also adding even more restrictive measures sought by the Bush administration, making it even easier for the government to snoop on Americans without the concern of previous Constitutional protections.

However, the Senate for time being has blocked passage of the act but under complicated rules of order, the discussion is not closed and Bush and Republicans still are trying to somehow push the legislation passed in the House through the Senate before the deadline.

Using Live TV Saturday prior to his weekly radio address, Bush again strongly criticized those opposed to his views:

“The terrorists want to attack America again and kill the innocent and inflict even greater damage than they did on September 11th and the Congress has a responsibility not to take away this vital tool that law enforcement and intelligence officials have used to protect the American people,” Bush said.

Bush also used national TV to publicly scold the Senate, something not normally done before his weekly radio address, again using the “terror and fear card,” saying the Senate’s decision to block quick passage of the Patriot Act was “irresponsible and endangers the lives of Americans.”

Although the Senate rules and technicalities are complicated, for all practical purposes, the fate of the Patriot Act is still up in the air.

Neo-cons essentially wanted a quick four-year extension of the Patriot Act's chief provisions, including modifications drafted during weeks of congressional negotiations, adding even more restrictive provisions on civil rights.

The House approved the bill Wednesday. But in the Senate four Senate Republicans -- Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Larry Craig of Idaho joined Friday's Democrat-led filibuster, leaving proponents well short of the 60 votes needed to end debate and force a yes-or-no vote on the legislation in the 100-member chamber.

Fifty-three senators initially voted to end the filibuster, seven shy of the required number. Majority Leader Bill Frist, (R-Tenn.), switched his vote from yes to no at the last minute, a parliamentary move allowing him to seek another roll call later, opening the door for more debate and more political pressure to be applied to those Senators resisting the Patriot act’s approval.

“You see, all the press, the NBC story, Bush on TV and all the attention is geared at pressuring the Senate hold-outs. The administration and the corrupt media knew this and that is why the story was released now and not years ago,” said the source within the Times.