Back when spy satellites were put in orbit above the United States, Americans were told not to worry, that their surveillance capabilities would be unleashed against foreign targets and not against citizens of the United States. Now the Department of Homeland Security has revealed its intention to harness the spy satellites for use in domestic surveillance. The United States Congress has gone months without any updates or formal documentation on the program as Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff proceeds with plans for the Homeland satellite surveillance program.
Don’t worry, says Chertoff in an interview, your government promises to follow the law. As the end of this Bush administration, at the end of a long line of revelations, do you really believe that?
(Source: Wall Street Journal December 20 2007)
Of course I believe it. Look at all the signing statements, look at FISA that Dodd just filibustered. This administration intends to follow the law if they have to change the law to do so retroactively.