SPYING/SURVEILLANCE
- April 7, 2009 - President Obama approved the purchase of expensive new spy satellites and will also buy more commercial imagery from the private sector to improve satellite coverage. The two new spy satellites will be equal to or better than the large, high-resolution secret satellites now in orbit. At the same time, Obama also agreed to increase the amount of commercial imagery it buys. The new program will take the place of one that had been previously awarded to Boeing. The Pentagon canceled that project in 2005 because it was over budget and behind schedule. Lockheed Martin of Bethesda, Md., is favored to win the new secret multibillion-dollar contract for the two new high-altitude spy satellites. The sophisticated spy satellites now in orbit are nearing the end of their service life, and replacements must be launched in the next decade to prevent blind spots.
A: Upgrading these spy satellites is necessary in order to keep America one step ahead of its adversaries and terrorism. This program has been an effective proven instrument in the war on terror over the last several years. So maintaining and improving this equipment is imperative.
- Feb 9, 2009 - President Obama' administration announced that it would keep the same position as the Bush Administration in the lawsuit Mohamed et al v Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc. In front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, federal administration lawyer Douglas N. Letter, made the same argument for preserving "State Secrets" as the Bush administration had. In the case, Binyam Mohamed an Ethiopian native, and four other detainees filed suit against a subsidiary of Boeing (Jeppeson Dataplan). They accused the company of helping the CIA secretly transport them to countries where they faced torture and interrogation. The Bush administration argued that the case should be dismissed because even discussing it in court could threaten national security and relations with other nations.
A, F: .Obama gets an A in this case for not allowing terrorists suspects to sue Jeppensen Dataplan just because they claimed they were tortured by other nations. In allowing to do so, it would have strained America's relations with those accused nations and deter them from working with the US in the future with the war on terror. Obama gets an F because he went back on his word and disappointed his liberal supporters who now feel betrayed. Obama campaigned against the State Secrets privilege stance that the Bush administration took but now has done an about face by invoking the state-secrets privilege in more than one case.
- January 22, 2009 - President Obama has sided with the Bush administration on the question of whether the President should be allowed to establish warrantless wiretapping programs designed to monitor US citizens. The President has asked a federal judge to stay a ruling that would allow key evidence into the domestic spying case against the government. Obama agreed that aU.S.
A: Obama understands this is an important tool to fight terrorism and to keep Americans safe. This tool played a key role in thwarting possible new terrorist’s attacks under the Bush administration. Ironically it was the Bush administration who received great criticism from Obama supporters on this issue claiming it violated the privacy of Americans. But the fact is, the government has better things to do than to eavesdrop on your phone conversation. This tool is only used for suspected criminals and terrorists. Many Obama supporters see this decision as a disappointing start to an administration promising transparency and openness.
A: Upgrading these spy satellites is necessary in order to keep America one step ahead of its adversaries and terrorism. This program has been an effective proven instrument in the war on terror over the last several years. So maintaining and improving this equipment is imperative.
- Feb 9, 2009 - President Obama' administration announced that it would keep the same position as the Bush Administration in the lawsuit Mohamed et al v Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc. In front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, federal administration lawyer Douglas N. Letter, made the same argument for preserving "State Secrets" as the Bush administration had. In the case, Binyam Mohamed an Ethiopian native, and four other detainees filed suit against a subsidiary of Boeing (Jeppeson Dataplan). They accused the company of helping the CIA secretly transport them to countries where they faced torture and interrogation. The Bush administration argued that the case should be dismissed because even discussing it in court could threaten national security and relations with other nations.
A, F: .Obama gets an A in this case for not allowing terrorists suspects to sue Jeppensen Dataplan just because they claimed they were tortured by other nations. In allowing to do so, it would have strained America's relations with those accused nations and deter them from working with the US in the future with the war on terror. Obama gets an F because he went back on his word and disappointed his liberal supporters who now feel betrayed. Obama campaigned against the State Secrets privilege stance that the Bush administration took but now has done an about face by invoking the state-secrets privilege in more than one case.
- January 22, 2009 - President Obama has sided with the Bush administration on the question of whether the President should be allowed to establish warrantless wiretapping programs designed to monitor US citizens. The President has asked a federal judge to stay a ruling that would allow key evidence into the domestic spying case against the government. Obama agreed that a
A: Obama understands this is an important tool to fight terrorism and to keep Americans safe. This tool played a key role in thwarting possible new terrorist’s attacks under the Bush administration. Ironically it was the Bush administration who received great criticism from Obama supporters on this issue claiming it violated the privacy of Americans. But the fact is, the government has better things to do than to eavesdrop on your phone conversation. This tool is only used for suspected criminals and terrorists. Many Obama supporters see this decision as a disappointing start to an administration promising transparency and openness.
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