Why So Much Secrecy?

The New York Times' Adam Liptak reports that secrecy is at issue in lawsuits opposing Bushie's domestic spying program.

Liptak writes:

"The Bush administration has employed extraordinary secrecy in defending the National Security Agency's highly classified domestic surveillance program from civil lawsuits. Plaintiffs and judges' clerks cannot see its secret filings. Judges have to make appointments to review them and are not allowed to keep copies.

Judges have even been instructed to use computers provided by the Justice Department to compose their decisions.But now the procedures have started to meet resistance. At a private meeting with the lawyers in one of the cases this month, the judges who will hear the first appeal next week expressed uneasiness about the procedures, said a lawyer who attended, Ann Beeson of the American Civil Liberties Union...."

So, what could the administration possibly have to hide? My guess is it has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with a coverup of whom they are targeting -- peace groups perhaps? Other activist organizations? Political opponents? All of the above? -- All of which would be illegal and grounds for impeachment.

It is, and has always been, clear to me that this administration ignored and continues to ignore the law not for national security reasons but, rather, to subvert the law itself, thus assuring no access to evidence that might incriminate them.

They could have gone about things legally. Congress would have happily changed the laws to give them whatever powers they needed to track terrorists. But they chose to undermine the law. Why? I challenge anyone to come up with another credible explanation.

Also See:

• WaPo: Bush Administration Argues in Support of Warrantless Wiretaps:

  "The Bush administration argued in court papers filed today that both a lawsuit and a ruling challenging the constitutionality of its warrantless surveillance program should be thrown out because the government is now conducting the wiretaps under the authority of a secret intelligence court.In a filing with the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Justice Department lawyers argue that the lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and other plaintiffs should be considered moot because the case 'no longer has any live significance.'
  
  The ACLU said the government's claims have no merit and it plans to file a response to the arguments Friday...."

• Terrorism Threats and Responses - NYT Complete Coverage

Bonus:

In case you missed this wonderful little tidbit reported last December 5th by FOX News, of all places, take a look. FOX reports that the FBI can listen to your cell phone and eavesdrop on your conversations -- even when your phone is turned off -- and you would never know it. Nice, huh?

Technorati tags: New York Times, Domestic Spying, Justice Department, Courts, Lawsuits, A.C.L.U., news, commentary