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Re: White House may make NSA the 'traffic cop' over U.S. computernetworks

  • From: Roy
  • Date: Tue Feb 15 17:09:52 2005 
I think that puts HomeLand Security in the same category as Congress :-)

Roy Engehausen

[email protected] wrote:
On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 16:44:27 EST, "Brance Amussen :)_S" said:

The question... How soon before all AS owners passing *any* government traffic, will be
required to install "Homeland Security (NSA) taps"? Even if the traffic is
in transit to another AS.. Not all government agencies are on the NMCI. Somewhere along the line, they are going to say they need taps to maintain
security *premeptive security* that is.. In the interest of Homeland Security I doubt it will be long..
Especially in light of *this* little gem:

http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleprint/2664/-1/315/

Congress Votes to Waive All Laws for Homeland Security

� OMB Watch � Home � Regulatory Policy � In Congress � DHS Above the Law

Published 02/10/2005 04:33 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robert Shull, (202) 234-8494

WASHINGTON (February 10, 2005) � The House of Representatives voted 243 to
179 today to reject an amendment that would have stripped section 102 from
the �REAL ID Act of 2005� (H.R. 418). The bill, as passed, would empower
the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive any federal laws, without
limit, in the course of building barriers along the nation�s borders. This
controversial, precedent-setting legislation received no hearings or
extended debate prior to passage. The bill now moves to the Senate for
consideration.

The following is a statement by J. Robert Shull, Senior Regulatory Policy
Analyst with OMB Watch.

�America is a nation founded on the rule of law, but apparently not when
homeland security is involved. This is a license to waive any law, for any
reason � or for no reason at all.

�If enacted, this bill would grant the Homeland Security Secretary
unbridled authority to act however he sees fit, without consequence. His
actions also would be exempt from judicial review, making him unaccountable
to any authority.

�Laws that protect the environment, safeguard public health, ensure
consumer and workplace safety, prevent unfair business practices, and ban
discrimination � none of these laws, or any others, would apply to the
Department of Homeland Security.

�No government agency should be above the laws that preserve America�s
democracy.�