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Surveillance and the National Security Agency

In an effort to keep you up-to-date with the latest information in the unfolding debate over secret surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA), Debate-Central.org presents the following information.

C-SPAN Debate - Feb 6, 2006

On February 6, 2006, CSPAN featured a debate on NSA Surveillance between Robert Turner, with the Center for National Security Law, and Glen Greenwald, a former New York City litigator.

C-SPAN’s summary: “Professor Turner and Mr. Greenwald talked about the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on domestic surveillance that began later in the day. Professor Turner supports President Bush's interpretation of the 1978 Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA). Mr. Greenwald, a constitutional law attorney who writes a weblog on these issues, does not.”

“FISA vs. the Constitution”, Robert Turner’s article in the Wall Street Journal
See Glen Greenwald’s blogs, Unclaimed Territory and NSA Scandal.

C-SPAN Program - Dec 28, 2005

On December 28, 2005, CSPAN featured a discussion on presidential powers with Professor Peter Shane, Ohio State University Law School.

C-SPAN's summary: "Participating by video from Columbus, Ohio Professor Shane talked about presidential powers. Topics included the origins of the authority granted to the president, instances where President Bush has used it, and historical use of presidential powers by other presidents. Professor Shane also responded to telephone calls and electronic mail."

View Congressional testimony, Column and NPR Radio Interview by Peter Shane.

C-SPAN Debate - Dec 21, 2005

On December 21, 2005, C-SPAN featured another debate on domestic surveillance featuring Victoria Toensing, Deputy Assistant Atty. General under Bill Clinton and author James Bamford.

C-SPAN’s summary: “Toensing and Mr. Bamford spoke about domestic surveillance. They discussed the monitoring of U.S. citizens by the National Security Agency.”

Congressional Testimony by Victoria Toensing in support of wiretaps.
Books and columns by Victoria Toensing.
Books and columns by James Bamford.

Featured Publications and Articles

Richard Epstein, “Give Me That Old Time Constitution,” Wall Street Journal, March 1, 2006.
John Markoff, “Taking Snooping Further: Government Looks at Ways to Mine Databases,” New York Times, February 23, 2006.
Roger Pilon and John Eastman, “Be Very Wary of Restricting Presidential Power,” Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2006.
Richard Posner, “A New Surveillance Act,” Wall Street Journal, February 15, 2006.

Surveillance News Archive

See our archive of the news on this topic from both sides in Debate Central's index:

Surveillance : Wiretapping without Court Order-Pro
Surveillance : Wiretapping without Court Order-Con
Surveillance : Judicial Oversight of Surveillance-Pro
Surveillance : Judicial Oversight of Surveillance-Con

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