Ex-CEO: Spy Agency Sought Phone Company Help Months Before 9/11

The New York Times:

The phone company Qwest Communications refused a proposal from the National Security Agency that the company's lawyers considered illegal in February 2001, nearly seven months before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the former head of the company contends in newly unsealed court filings.

The executive, Joseph P. Nacchio, also asserts in the filings that the agency retaliated by depriving Qwest of lucrative outsourcing contracts.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[PollM]

11:59 AM on 10/14/2007

Wow even before 9/11.

It's a decision made, it contradicts their contractual agreement with the customer. They should be held responsible as they have violated their agreement. If they are given immunity this behavior will repeat itself. In addition to the above, I believe telecommunication companies need to inform their customers if they have released any info about their customers and what info. Full Disclosure.

Do you believe telecommunication firms should be given immunity for disclosing customers' phone records & other data to the government?
-------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=702
.

[PollM]

11:52 AM on 10/14/2007

Wow even before 9/11.

It's a decision made, it contradicts their contractual agreement with the customer. They should be held responsible as they have violated their agreement. If they are given immunity this behavior will repeat itself. In addition to the above, I believe telecommunication companies need to inform their customers if they have released any info about their customers and what info. Full Disclosure.

Do you believe telecommunication firms should be given immunity for disclosing customers' phone records & other data to the government?
-------> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=702
.

[MoNut]

11:16 AM on 10/14/2007

The Bush Admin was basically all Nixon trash that should've been dealt with and discarded of properly THEN rather than sweeping it under the rug to fester and become the lingering rot that it is now.

Ms. Pelosi acting surprised at their disregard for our laws and their claims of dictatorial Executive power is just as much a joke.... unless she really DID just beam in from another planet?

Hear a Democrat mention CNN's admission FINALLY of the "mysterious plane" shown in their original footage?

We gonna have to play 'whack-a-mole- for another decade to their offspring too because our 'leadership' can't handle the truth and accountability?

BTW~ When was Bin Laden taken off the CIA payroll? Ever? Or is he kicking back in the safety of Dubai sipping on Mai Tai's until the rest of his Bush employers join him for the reunion? He was in a Pakistani hospital on 9/10/2001.... Amazing how fast he can get away with those IV poles and dialysis machines.

This government needs a good colon cleansing... Starting with the drug and gun running mafia infiltrated in the State Dep't. and all throughout (you can tell them their cries over the Turkey resolution.. Bizniss Partna's, ya hear?

"Compassionate Conservative"... HA....

"Impeachment's off the table"... Triple HA and a go figure.

Cheney being the Nixon trash that he is should've known that it's the little things that will find you out... like faked air quality reports and freudian slips like Rummy's "shot it down" comment....

Well, Dick... Ya got your "Pear Harbor" Hopefully we'll get our version of the Nuremburg tribunals.

Notice ya didn't return that RAIF remote equipment missing from NASA either.

It's the little things, Dick.. the little things. You've gotten sloppy.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

10:24 AM on 10/14/2007

It is really amazing that Clinton stepped down from the presidency nearly 7 years ago and he's still somehow affecting the way policy is made in washington. Somehow he is still to blame for all the shit the republicans are doing.

[1man1voicenovote]

10:20 AM on 10/14/2007

We gave up our FREEDOMS, and Bin Laden STILL HATES US?!

You don't know DICK, CHENEY.

But we love ya anyway!

[1man1voicenovote]

10:08 AM on 10/14/2007

For thirty years, the remnants of the disgraced Nixon Regime have been plotting and planning and "monday morning quarterbacking"

Patiently biding their time, these evil traitors conspired to retake the country.

An unholy alliance of mafias, big businesses and corrupt government officials around the World as well as the USMIC and certain Pentagon Brass came together under DICK CHENEY's guidance.

They plotted the Orchestration of a massive HIJACKING AND PLUNDERING of the United States of America.

It was more successful than their wildest dreams! Candy from a baby!

Until Debra Jean Palfry threatened to EXPOSE the GANG of PERVERTED POWER PLAYERS.

PUBLISH THE LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET THE CHIPS FALL!!!!!!!!!!!
LIVE BY THE MONICA, DIE BY THE MONICA!

[frappe]

09:31 AM on 10/14/2007

And where have the guardians of our Constitution been through all of this, both pre- and post- 9/11? Where have our elected representatives been? Sworn to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution, they have all been cowards and no-shows, AWOL from performing their PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY. And when asked by the unpopular chimpster to further desecrate our Constitution, most of them bend and bow like spineless invertebrates. Pathetic.

[1man1voicenovote]

10:14 AM on 10/14/2007

A sex scandal is your only hope...

Seemingly high-minded Constitutional Principles and the discussion of their interpretation lead nowhere.

[JaneC]

09:14 AM on 10/14/2007

Where'd you go Commie?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

09:27 AM on 10/14/2007

He's waiting for Rush to come on Monday and give him his talking points.

[JaneC]

09:28 AM on 10/14/2007

Why we'll just bust his ass again. ;)

[hehehe]

09:04 AM on 10/14/2007

Question: Why do Republicans think it's ok to send death threats to brain damaged 12 year olds?


Answer: Clinton got a blowjob.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

09:29 AM on 10/14/2007

Republcans only know how to spread fear. They are worse than any terrorist.

[Thalia]

10:00 AM on 10/14/2007

But Clinton spread bjs, esp. among Republican offspring, by all accounts.

Which is worse, I ask you?

[JaneC]

09:00 AM on 10/14/2007

Why is it that the trolls see this as a "win" for their team? Are they really that stupid? If so they, like the regime they worship, are a threat to every freedom loving American and can be classified as nothing more than traitors.

Thankfully their numbers are dwindling. Let's hope it's not too late.

[Thalia]

09:16 AM on 10/14/2007

Because it upsets "libs" and they live for that, and it feeds their need for an authoritative daddy who can protect them from all those bogeymen out there.

Read Frank Rich today. Scary stuff.

[JaneC]

09:20 AM on 10/14/2007

Imagine where they'd stand today if they'd gone after Al Qaeda with the amount of hatred and determination they've gone after their own citizens.

They could have been stars on every possible level. How insane they are.

[frappe]

09:18 AM on 10/14/2007

Judging by their thoughts and actions, they do seem to have a clear preference for fascism over freedom and democracy.

[hehehe]

08:58 AM on 10/14/2007

Why don't Republican all move to Afganistan?

They would be so much happier there.


Even the terrain matches their souls.


Barren, hard and ugly.

[JaneC]

09:01 AM on 10/14/2007

They can take Chimpy. They can change his name to something more fitting to where his loyalties are. Maybe Osperma Bin Wasted?

[hehehe]

09:05 AM on 10/14/2007

LOLOL!

[JoJoGunner]

09:04 AM on 10/14/2007

Saudi Arabia. It's perfect for Repubs. It's a theocracy with lots of oil. No oil in Afghan.

[hehehe]

09:05 AM on 10/14/2007

They don't need oil.

They can burn their chickenhawk fat.

[JoJoGunner]

09:07 AM on 10/14/2007

Islam and Christianity are really the same religion. Muslims and Christians are just confused Jews. Republicans will be happy in Saudi Arabia. Really you guys will be happy there. Move.

[hehehe]

08:56 AM on 10/14/2007

Dick Cheney is a hero to the Right.


Pretty much says all you need to know about them.

[lornejl]

08:51 AM on 10/14/2007

" House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) on Wednesday released an interview with GOP lawyer Dana Jill Simpson implicating former White House adviser Karl Rove in the prosecution and conviction of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D) on corruption charges."

Valerie Plame, Joseph P. Nacchio, dumbya's DOJ doesn't screw around, go along with the thugs , or go to jail.

[Thalia]

09:17 AM on 10/14/2007

yes, but what is so disturbing is that no one seems able to do anything about this admin. THAT'S the part I don't get and the part that makes me feel like I've been naive about this country and it's system of gov't.

[kay]

09:24 AM on 10/14/2007

Yet, the Bush Administration are vigorously defending a company against securities fraud charges in the US Supreme Court, next week.

Yup. The government is working for the DEFENSE in that instance, on our dime, against the advice of THIRTY state attorney's general, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Poor Nacchio. He pissed off conservatives. Six years. Buh, bye, Mr. Nacchio!

It's selective prosecution.

[JaneC]

08:48 AM on 10/14/2007

As usual the feeble little trolls who suffer Clinton Derangement Syndrome, think they can spin the topic away from the WH monkey once again with their standard, "bbbbbbut Clinton" BS proving the Reichwing websites only serve to pollute their already malfunctioning brains further. Is our trolls learning? NO.

Once again they're wrong.

The Echelon Myth

"Prominent right-wing bloggers - including Michelle Malkin, the Corner, Wizbang and Free Republic - are pushing the argument that President Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program isn’t news because the Clinton administration did the same thing."

The right-wing outlet NewsMax sums up the basic argument:
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/20/the-echelon-myth/

[Thalia]

09:19 AM on 10/14/2007

And again, what I don't get is, if Clinton was doing all these terrible and illegal things, why did Repubs go after a ten yr. old land deal and a bj?

Like how they love to call him a rapist. If he raped someone, why did Repubs ignore that and go after a consensual affair and use a meritless, bogus civil suit to do so?

Makes no sense.

Fortunately for Repubs, sense is irrelevant.

[ownsthepodium]

10:07 AM on 10/14/2007

You kids need to move on from Clinton, really.

[JoJoGunner]

08:48 AM on 10/14/2007

Bu-bu-but Clinton! Bu-bu-but Clinton! Bu-bu-but STFU!

[JaneC]

08:49 AM on 10/14/2007

Pretty damn pathetic isn't it?

[JoJoGunner]

08:51 AM on 10/14/2007

When all else fails - bu-bu-but Clinton!

[hehehe]

08:53 AM on 10/14/2007

Jane, we all know Republicans take a Wide Stance when it comes to matters of the Truth.

[frappe]

09:25 AM on 10/14/2007

Yes, so wide in fact that they have one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, while they're pissing all over today.