A threat to privacy
"The purpose of TIA, which is still in the research stage, is to create a
mega-database of individuals' school transcripts, Internet and e-mail traffic,
credit card and banking transactions, travel and telephone records, library checkouts
and a host of other activity that most Americans properly regard as private. "
courier-journal.com
MAYBE it wasn't such a bad idea after all to move slowly on the Homeland Security Act.
Tucked away in the bill, now moving with post-election haste toward final passage,
are provisions that could help the Pentagon develop extraordinary snooping power
over its own citizens.
The most alarming such undertaking, which has received far too little public attention,
is Orwellian in name as well as intent: the Total Information Awareness program.
The purpose of TIA, which is still in the research stage, is to create a mega-database
of individuals' school transcripts, Internet and e-mail traffic, credit card and banking
transactions, travel and telephone records, library checkouts and a host of other activity
that most Americans properly regard as private.
Incredibly, this venture of dubious constitutionality, which runs so strongly
against American libertarian traditions, has been placed by the Bush
administration in the hands of retired Rear Adm. John Poindexter.
Adm. Poindexter was last seen in public prominence as the adviser
to President Ronald Reagan who played a pivotal role in concocting a
plan to sell arms -- illegally -- to an American enemy, Iran, in order
to provide support -- illegally -- to the Nicaraguan contras. His good
work netted him felony convictions for lying to Congress, which
were ironically overturned because Congress had granted
him immunity for his testimony.
It is, of course, important not to be naive about the nature of the struggle
against terrorism. Most Americans accept that there may have to be
a yielding of some privacy rights to enable the government to identify and
track potential terrorists moving within the United States.
But TIA would vastly expand government surveillance over the daily lives of the
American people. The potential for grievous abuses, and the unsuitability of
Adm. Poindexter to lead such a sensitive project, should be obvious to everyone,
including President Bush.
Congress can, and should, put TIA on hold. Either the Senate can amend
the homeland security bill, or Congress can delay TIA funding.
Until much clearer explanations are forthcoming about how TIA
will work and what steps will be taken to prevent trampling of constitutional rights,
this program and its admiral should remain firmly moored in port. |
