NSA Had Domestic Call Monitoring Before 9/11?

MarkusQ writes "Bloomberg is reporting that, according to documents filed in the breach of privacy suit on behalf of Verizon and BellSouth, the NSA asked AT&T to set up its domestic call monitoring site seven months before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Could it be that they were intending to monitor domestic calls (and internet traffic) all along, and the 'Global War on Terror' was just a convenient excuse when they got caught?" From the article: "...an unnamed former employee of the AT&T unit provided them with evidence that the NSA approached the carrier with the proposed plan. Afran said he has seen the worker's log book and independently confirmed the source's participation in the project. He declined to identify the employee."

Not about the terrorists, eh?

[Anonymous Coward]

So you tell me that it wasn't about the terrorists? I can't believe it.

No, I'm sure our government had a good reason.

[Anonymous Coward]

    I have NO doubt that our government was just doing the prudent thing. 9/11 is proof that it was necessary. You guys are just too cynical.

From the Tin Foil Hat side of the house...

[docwatson223]

It could be said that the Bush Administration had this planned as a part of 9/11....

Stupid choice of words

[Anonymous Coward]

Why the .... state the date as seven months before 11th of september 2001? It would be so much simpler and easier to understand if you just say since 11th of february 2001. Now if I want to know how long time before or after some arbitrary date it is, I can compute that myself. For example it could as well have been stated as sixteen months and four days after 7th of october 1999, but I can do that computation myself if I want to.

Re:Well it couldn't get any worse...

[Millenniumman]

They still make wonderful companion animals, or were you referring to the call monitoring?

Use tag "flamebait"

[SuperKendall]

With Slashdot's new tagging system, you can finally add moderation to stories you have always dreamed of!

Regardless of your feelings on NSA wiretaps, both domestic and international - you already know what all of the commennnts on this story will look like. Why even bother? An article like this one simply meant to stir up feelings and add nothing new to the discussion would ina comment be marked "flamebait", so why not tag it as such?

To tag, simply click on that small triangle next to exiting tags. Below is a text entry box for your tag (flamebait), after entering simply press the "Tag" button next to it and your tag is added. If enough people use the same tag it makes the front page and helps people understand just what they are going to see in the comments inside.