A reader commented on the previous story "Consequences" and to answer him properly really requires a further look at this current NSA scandal. (I say current, because it isn't the first, and probably not the last.)

In this current issue I have two different takes.

The first is that this is more than just handing over CDRs (call data records) because it has been described by insiders as “the largest database in the world.” The implication of that to me is that there are voice records (phone records) or text records (electronic/computer records) attached to the phone number dump. Let’s term the phone number list as “records” and the attached files of voice and text “recordings” for simplicity.

Why do I think the phone record dumps contain more than a CDR listing phone numbers and times calls were placed? The answer is right here.

AT&T provided National Security Agency eavesdroppers with full access to its customers' phone calls, and shunted its customers' internet traffic to data-mining equipment installed in a secret room in its San Francisco switching center, according to a former AT&T worker...

According to a statement released by Klein's attorney, an NSA agent showed up at the San Francisco switching center in 2002 to interview a management-level technician for a special job. In January 2003, Klein observed a new room being built adjacent to the room housing AT&T's #4ESS switching equipment, which is responsible for routing long distance and international calls...

"While doing my job, I learned that fiber optic cables from the secret room were tapping into the Worldnet (AT&T's internet service) circuits by splitting off a portion of the light signal," Klein wrote.

The split circuits included traffic from peering links connecting to other internet backbone providers, meaning that AT&T was also diverting traffic routed from its network to or from other domestic and international providers, according to Klein's statement.

The secret room also included data-mining equipment called a Narus STA 6400, "known to be used particularly by government intelligence agencies because of its ability to sift through large amounts of data looking for preprogrammed targets."

Now, granted, no human being, or group of humans could ever conceivably monitor or review all of this. That’s a given, but with the computer power available to NSA, there are several programs that can skim through the voice or electronic date recordings, with variable and adjustable search parameters. Remember, the Feds were doing this more than 10 years ago in a much simpler format under a program titled “Echelon.”

And, yes, we definitely want a search string available to search for “al-Quaeda” “attack,” “bombing,” “martyr” – you get the idea. Recordings containing these search results can red flag a telephone number for further, more intensive investigation, to include 24/7 real time monitoring. The image I’m seeing in that instance is from films: two cops sitting in a basement with a tape recorder. I’m OK with that, because I do not want another terrorist attack on the US, or anywhere lese for that matter5. I think all reasonable people can agree on that.

The second view is far more ominous. I write about the failings, failures, criminality and just plain incompetence I see in Bu$hCo, and the threat all of this poses to the America I grew up under – that’s the America the Founding Fathers envisioned.

Suppose we changed the search strings, looking for words like "stop Bush," "impeach Bush," or something I for one live in constant fear of, "assassinate." Politcal assasination is never a proper solution to a problem in a democracy. Such an action would tear our badly divided country asunder in a fatal division that would make the Civil War of 1860-1865 look like the Whiskey Rebellion. But I believe Mr Bush and Mr Cheney are becoming more and more paranoid in the face of ever-rising dislike and resistance to their policies. So I can envision circumstances in which they would believe in this hypothetical. After all, their automatic response to any perceived obstacle is to grab a hammer.

The use of this program for detection of strategic and tactical anti-terrorist threats is acceptable. Its perversion into a police tool to suppress political dissent is not acceptable.

So, as a hypothetical question: do you trust the George Bush, Karl Rove and Republican Party to only use this program for good?