SCOTUS uses catch-22 to reject illegal wiretapping case

[tinythinker]

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court rejected a challenge Tuesday to the Bush administration's domestic spying program.

The justices' decision, issued without comment, is the latest setback to legal efforts to force disclosure of details of the warrantless wiretapping that began after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The American Civil Liberties Union wanted the court to allow a lawsuit by the group and individuals over the wiretapping program. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the suit, saying the plaintiffs could not prove their communications had been monitored.

The government has refused to turn over information about the closely guarded program that could reveal who has been under surveillance.

ACLU legal director Steven R. Shapiro has said his group is in a "Catch-22" because the government says the identities of people whose communications have been intercepted is secret. But only people who know they have been wiretapped can sue over the program, Shapiro has said.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled against an Islamic charity that also challenged program, concluding that a key piece of evidence is protected as a state secret...

full article

So the US government is now just coming out and candidly admitting that it can do whatever the hell it wants whenever the hell it wants to whoever the hell it wants and then block any legal challenge by claiming it is a "state secret". No attempt to at least preserve the veneer of respecting the idea of "by the people for the people" or following the Bill of Rights.

[Metacrock]

tell us something we don't already know!

[tinythinker]

tell us something we don't already know!

Pottos in the westermost part of that taxon's range tend to have a small keel on their caninform premolar which might be employed in chewing through the bark of trees to get to the sap.

[Metacrock]

tell us something we don't already know!

Pottos in the westermost part of that taxon's range tend to have a small keel on their caninform premolar which might be employed in chewing through the bark of trees to get to the sap.

I knew that. doesn't everybody? (asshole)