Editore"s Note
Tilting at Windmills

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November 24, 2008

EAVESDROPPING ON BLAIR.... And to think, some of us nervous nellies were concerned that the NSA might abuse its surveillance powers and listen in on communications it shouldn't have.

A former communications intercept operator says U.S. intelligence snooped on the private lives of two of America's most important allies in fighting al Qaeda: British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Iraq's first interim president, Ghazi al-Yawer.

David Murfee Faulk told ABCNews.com he saw and read a file on Blair's "private life" and heard "pillow talk" phone calls of al-Yawer when he worked as an Army Arab linguist assigned to a secret NSA facility at Fort Gordon, Georgia between 2003 and 2007.

Last month, Faulk and another former military intercept operator assigned to the NSA facility triggered calls for an investigation when they revealed U.S. intelligence intercepted the private phone calls of American journalists, aid workers and soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Faulk says his top secret clearance at Ft. Gordon gave him access to an intelligence data base, called "Anchory," where he says he saw the file on then-British prime minister Tony Blair in 2006.

Faulk declined to provide details other than to say it contained information of a personal nature.

Surveillance on foreign heads of state is not especially uncommon, but as Zachary Roth reminds us, "the U.S. and Britain have pledged not to collect information covertly on each other."

What's more, this is the second report in as many months about wiretap abuses -- ABC News also reported in early October that NSA officials had listened in on calls made by U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, American journalists, and American aid workers overseas.

ABC noted today that the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees are already investigating allegations on surveillance abuse. Perhaps it's time to widen the scope of the questions.

Steve Benen 1:15 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (13)
 
Comments

I can just imagine what they heard when they tapped Blair - "Ooh, yes, George, I like it like that.."

Leaving that aside, I'd like to know where Blair was when he was being tapped. If it's the UK, I'd think an extradition warrant for the Chimp is in order - if you guys won't impeach him, I'm sure we can find him a nice cell alongside some Islamic terrorists. They deserve each other.

Posted by: ally on November 24, 2008 at 1:22 PM | PERMALINK

Sounds like an investigation needs to be launched by the Senate Government Oversight and Homeland Security committee! [insert cynical laughter here.]

Posted by: BubbaDave on November 24, 2008 at 1:28 PM | PERMALINK

Nothing to see here, all in the past, important thing is that Obama keep on Bush people so he's bipartisan!

Posted by: Gore/Feingold '16 on November 24, 2008 at 1:28 PM | PERMALINK

I'm sure Jay Rockefeller will get to the bottom of this, and pronto!

Posted by: Glenn on November 24, 2008 at 1:57 PM | PERMALINK

You can easily imagine how powerful it would be for a foreign power to have access to the private conversations of American political figures.

Once you think about that, check this out...

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/spyring.html

Posted by: Racer X on November 24, 2008 at 2:06 PM | PERMALINK

Anyone that actually thinks that Bush Handlers, Inc. didn`t monitor and keep any and all communications they wanted to is in deep, deep delusion.

Why do you think the Dems in Congress rolled over so often for King Georgie & his handlers ? Why do you think Ms. Pelosi took impeachment off the table ?

There are things none of these people want on the front page of the NYTimes, WSJ & Washington Times.

Clear your head out & think real world instead of your dreamland.

"...it`s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine..." - REM

Posted by: daCascadian on November 24, 2008 at 2:08 PM | PERMALINK


One thing you can be certain of is that Blair will say a sum total of zero about this before Jan 20th next year. If there's one credo that slimy piece of shit has remained true to it's the one about never, ever, questioning the activities of the current American Government.

After all, it might cost him money.

Posted by: Tony J on November 24, 2008 at 2:09 PM | PERMALINK

You call it eavesdropping. NBC calls it "Our New Fall Lineup."

Posted by: Danp on November 24, 2008 at 2:29 PM | PERMALINK

Think about all the recordings the NSA has on you, and you, and you, etc.

Posted by: Brojo on November 24, 2008 at 2:29 PM | PERMALINK
If it's the UK, I'd think an extradition warrant for the Chimp is in order - if you guys won't impeach him, I'm sure we can find him a nice cell alongside some Islamic terrorists. They deserve each other.
Now THAT would make me a raging Anglophile for life. Posted by: Steve LaBonne on November 24, 2008 at 2:45 PM | PERMALINK

"Think about all the recordings the NSA has on you..."

Well, those poor NSA guys are in for a damn boring evening in my case.

Posted by: bluestatedon on November 24, 2008 at 9:20 PM | PERMALINK

Now, now; let's not be hasty. The United States government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from terrorism using any means it thinks necessary, and there was good reason to believe Blair was a deep-cover member of Al Qaeda. Suspicions were initially piqued when Bush made repeated jokes about "towel heads" which were damned funny, but Blair didn't laugh. Then when the VIP's ordered out for kebabs, Blair asked for extra tzatziki. Cripes, what did he have to do, wear an "I Heart IED's" T-Shirt? Wake up.

Posted by: Mark on November 24, 2008 at 9:57 PM | PERMALINK

Of course Bush did. I expect, as mentioned above, Bush has righteous dirt on everyone, he's rolls like that. So he and his incompetent band of neo-tard criminal lackeys will skate, laughing hysterically, off into the sunset.

I can only hope popular history accurately reflects what an abortion our little Hitler has been.. it would be nice to watch him grow very old where he had no escape from the blistering hatred of the people, who peacefully make his life miserable; W couldn't go get a cup of coffee without attracting 1000 angry hippy protesters armed with hilarious signs mocking the tyrant. No matter where on the planet he is.

That would at least be some justice, maybe.

Posted by: GovtFlu on November 25, 2008 at 3:13 AM | PERMALINK




 

 
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