From CNN and the AP via AudioActivism and Daily Wireless.

X-posted from Brian Russel’s AudioActivism

Domestic spying inquiry killed

AP is reporting that the US Department of Justice has stopped its investigation of the warrantless phone spying done by the NSA at the approval of George Bush.

“We have been unable to make any meaningful progress in our investigation because OPR [Office of Professional Responsibility] has been denied security clearances for access to information about the NSA program,” OPR counsel H. Marshall Jarrett wrote to Hinchey. Hinchey’s office shared the letter with The Associated Press.

We can’t depend on our Federal government’s law enforcers to corral Constitutional abuses.

Again, a great argument for local control of our communications infrastructure. A citizen will have the option of using the community-owned network which maintain the highest standards in privacy or they will be able to purchase higher cost services from ratfink monopolists like Bellsouth.

Without a credible alternative, companies like ATT and Bellsouth will continue to not only abuse the Constitutional protections granted their customers but their own privacy policies to get a competitive edge on governmental contracts.

Via Matt Gross’ Deride and Conquer, an apt reminder:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.