British Expatriate Network

http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5110282.stm

Once again, Bush is spying on everyone. I wonder what else has the government done to private records...

Can't say I'm bothered. If the Brits hadn't tracked the money during the IRA bombing campaigns we would never have known it was American money financing them.

Yes but now we're all friends and those that were convicted and jailed have been mostly let go - so was it even worth it?

But........ but... but....

They're tracking money crossing the border. Leaving and Entering "The Land of the Free". Connecting with the rest of the (Unfree) world. Surely the minute the money is outside the border, the tracking does not encrach on this being the land of the free and no watch would be sparked until is crosses the border. Watching where it goes protects the freedom.

;)

I don't give a Hoot anymore. Seems to me if the govt is out to get me, they'll get me and if they're not, then I can probably manage to lead a reasonably normal private life. If it floats their boat to spy on me and my dealings, fine. Just so long as it doesn't make waves for my boat.

The problem goes a little far beyond 'govt trying to ge me' issue. What about keeping the information secure? Identity theft is one of my concerns, don't forget what happened to the veterans information...it got stolen from a home of a government employee!

I don't agree with how they (govt) are doing things, but them again, maybe I am not seeing the bigger picture. Also, I don't belive that they are just tracking money crossing the border. I am just too skeptical, but in my opinion once a liar, always a liar.

The security of the infomation is the real problem ,this administation like all others before it has the tools and outhorization to from time to time obtian private information on its citizens and non citizens.
the cia and branched of have been around for years ,many citizens where spied ) on ( if you want to use that word ) in ww2 the vetman war , the cold war , the cuban crisis , the maccarthy era etc any time the govt things there subversive activity going on in the country . you write as if its a new development under bush , he has extended sometypes of servalence but keep in mind the FIRSAT duty of this and any administation id to protedt its citizens from enimies domestic and foreigh ,

we have lost a lot of our civil rights bit not in the way you discribe we ahve lost a lot of persinal freedom to do and say what we like providing it dosnt insiit violence and some power to choice as a individual who we associate with, employ , reside near or with , support , and gererally conduct our personal life , many administrations before this have nibbled away at our FREEDOM OF CHOICE .

the security of the personal; details of vets and menbers of the armed services affects people in my familyand brings a concern as to why was the information *that is classified * end up in somebody personal home in the first place .
thoughtout the years the general relaxing of the rules as to who gets to use , know , and collect personal info of our service man /women has been the reason leeks like this have accured its hardly a thing that can be pointed directly at bush any more than world events can point to any one leader in the free world being to blame .
the blame shame whatever you like to call it for the HATE and SPITE in the world has not been a sore that appeared overnight it has been festering for years . even before the founding of isreal , this curse of hate which is prevalent in manking ( all country all religions all politicics )will ontinue while we feed it and blame the * others * while not excepting any of the blame ourselvesfor our past

the problem of illegal immigration has been ignored for years byadministations of both perties for fear of losing votes . being thought of as racist , bowing to presure grouips etc and now the chickens have come home to roust and whatever president bush does wil be wrong in some citizens eyes even thou he is the only president with enough courage to do something .

remember most other countries have strict laws about illegal aliens *even mexico * .

to protect out way of life and our freedoms we have to pay the price .we lose some fredoms the right to privacyin certain instances is one of them .
,
any law abiding citizens has nothing to fear, any more than the sober motorist has any thing to fear from a road side check that pretects him /her from drunken drivers who could do him or her harm .
nationasl from other countriies that shout for privileges should be prepared to offer the same to US nationals

Oh, I blame the mothers, If Mrs Bush had spent more time looking after George instead of running round to supermarkets showing her husband the new check out tills, none of this would have happened.

wink

HEHEHE

Annie, your post raised questions that are terrible to contemplate. we all know that George W. pickled his brain with various substances, but:

Did he need do it because his mommy didn't breast feed him?

Or perhaps:

Did he need to do it because his mommy did breast feed him?

I like a nibble as much as the next man, but holy cow,what a thought :mrgreen:

He wants bitty

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

cannot see it being that effective cuz you would see all the money launders for drugs money being put away.

Absolutely. Snow was ranting on about it hurting the USA but if they froze terrorist's money, based on information gathered, as he said, the terrorists would know it was monitored. !

Interesting Guardian article refers to the amount of Congressional oversight or laws that Bush has either circumvented, changed or ignored, ultimately comparing him (unfavourably) with King George III (!)


http//www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1799716,00.html

The issue isn't merely that they are doing this (or the phone records either) - these are ostensibly legitimate methods of countering terrorism. The issue is one of accountability - and the determination of the Bush administration not to be accountable.
It is this determination to furtively search into the lives of people that is open to abuse.
The lack of oversight, judicial or legislative, is ripe for abuse.
Annie made the point about Britain and the IRA. Actually I have first hand professional knowledge of occasions when the Police in London used anti-terror law and procedures to investigate law abiding individuals who happened to hold unpopular views. These included anti-monarchists and anti-globalization protesters, environmentalists and human rights activists.
In the US such activities are protected speech under the Fist Amendment.
In the UK they are protected by the Free Expression clause of the ECHR and the Human Rights Act.
In both cases, if the state has legitimate cause to violate thos protections they may do so.
That the Bush administration does not bother to follow the correc tprocedures can only lead one to be suspicious of the legitimacy of their activities.