Letters to the Editor
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FWIW
Edited down slightly from my original:
Concerning immunity provision for telecoms who participated in
warrantless surveillances, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) said: "These
companies deserve our thanks. They do not deserve a flurry of
lawsuits seeking access to documents the disclosure of which
would harm our country."
If they violated the laws, they do not deserve thanks. They
deserve to be treated as the laws provide, like anyone else.
The administration has sought to prevent any examination of
what laws may have been violated by invoking a "state secrets"
privilege, frustrating legitimate lawsuits by people such as
Khalid el-Masri -- who was kidnapped, abused, and tortured by
the CIA (in a case of mistaken identity) -- and even reasonable
and legitimate inquiry by Congress to find out what has been
done with the warrantless spying.
Republicans like Smith are only seeking to prevent the extent
of law-breaking by the Bush administration from ever becoming
public, to prevent political damage to the administration and
Republican party. This is hardly a matter of "national security".
Cheers,