Friday, December 16, 2005

Utterly Predictable

The gang at The New York Times must be feeling pretty smug right about now. Just a few hours after they disclosed existence of expanded domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA), the Senate voted against extending key elements of the Patriot Act. If the Patriot Act is not reviewed, the infamous "Gorelick Wall," will reemerge, virtually eliminating cooperation between law enforcement and the intelligence communities.

Reaction from some of the so-called leaders of the U.S. Senate has been equally disappointing. Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter announced late today that he plans a probe of the program, and President Bush's decision to authorize it. Meanwhile, the Times reporters and editors who exposed the surveillance effort get a free pass.

Somewhere along the Afghan-Pakistan border, Osama bin Laden is smiling, as he reaches for his cellphone and laptop.

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