So you don't have a historic example? Your ignorance is amazing.
Its about damn time someone started calling people out on this crap, and I'm starting with you. YOU DON'T KNOW what you're talking about. So shut the $%## up, and do some basic history research.
Listen, I could demolish my own argument in one second. I've only partially reported the facts in my post, and I'm not telling the complete story. There is a big history in the 70s, and anyone who has studied the Church Committee, COINTELPRO, Nixon Administration, and FISA courts should know where I'm going with this. Its basic 1970s history, and the NSA was all wrapped up in that controversy from years ago.
Right now, you are making up bull$* based on ignorance. You use weasel words, "what if" scenarios, and suppositions to "support" your opinion. On the other hand, there are some _FACTS_ that we can discuss, but only if you can prove to me that you aren't a dumb, ignorant sheep of the masses.
EDIT: Here's a hint. What is St. Patrick known for?
Why did you fucking ask for one? I've got tons of historic examples -- from US and from all other the world. I'm not some kool aid drinker that thinks things are different in the US. It amazes me when people are so naive (and politically infatilized) as to think those kind of barriers matter or that they respect the law regarding US citizens. That's probably why people are amazed time and again, like goldfish, when this kind of shit re-emerges in the news.
>There is a big history in the 70s, and anyone who has studied the Church Committee, COINTELPRO, Nixon Administration, and FISA courts should know where I'm going with this. Its basic 1970s history, and the NSA was all wrapped up in that controversy from years ago.
Basic 70s history if you're an American (and even then, most can not tell Belgium on the map). I've read about all this cases time and again. Didn't bother to check if NSA was involved (rather than CIA) because I could not give less fucks. When it comes to this, those are the same kind of agencies, working from the same side and for the same purposes and using the same practices. The pendantic distinction you made between them would only interest a bureacraut.
You're talking about policies that you don't understand, and you're talking about power structures that you don't have any interest in learning about. You are proud of your ignorance, and instead of responding to my challenge with facts and history, you respond with unsubstantiated opinions.
This conversation will go nowhere until you decide to wake up, do some research, and actually form an argument. I've started this conversation on facts, and I intend to keep it on facts. If you're not interested in conversing about the realities of this subject, you might as well give it up against me.
That was then and this is now. Budget wars aside, all those co-operate constantly anyway.
>The reason why NSA failed to "help" the Boston Bombing attacks for instance, is because the Boston Bombers were American People.
Or, far more possible, because they are incompetent and/or that kind of surveillance doesn't work for those cases.
>All this hub-bub about domestic surveillance, and people don't even get the right _AGENCY_ who is authorized to target Americans. The amount of ignorance on Hacker News is outstanding.
Perhaps you have been living under a rock and haven't heard that this "autorizations" amount to squat, that Americans' communications are regularly and massively surveilled, and that there are tons of BS ways to sidestep those "rules".
It's like talking to a 7-year old: "But daddy could never lie or do bad stuff".