NSA used government surveillance on US Law Firm representing foreign government in lawsuit. - Polidicks

[url]http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/15/report-document-shows-surveillance-of-us-law-firm/5516927/[/url] [QUOTE]WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Security Agency was involved in the surveillance of an American law firm while it represented a foreign government in trade disputes with the United States, The New York Times reported in a story based on a top-secret document obtained by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden. The February 2013 document shows that the Indonesian government had retained the law firm for help in trade talks, the Times reported in a story posted on its website Saturday. The law firm was not identified in the document, but the Chicago-based firm Mayer Brown was advising the Indonesian government on trade issues at the time, according to the newspaper. The NSA is prohibited from targeting Americans, including businesses, law firms and other organizations based in the U.S., for surveillance without warrants, the Times reported. Intelligence officials have repeatedly said the NSA does not use the spy services of its partners in an alliance of intelligence operations — Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand — to skirt the law.[/QUOTE] Interesting. I'm personally all for protectionism, but the fact that they're spying on Americans on legal matters is downright disturbing.

[QUOTE=Xystus234;43931071] The NSA is prohibited from targeting Americans, including businesses, law firms and other organizations based in the U.S., for surveillance without warrants, the Times reported. [/QUOTE] i'm a little confused i thought the big issue with the NSA was centered around the agency spying on americans? am i missing something

[QUOTE=Ganix565;43931165]i'm a little confused i thought the big issue with the NSA was centered around the agency spying on americans? am i missing something[/QUOTE] They are meant to be monitoring communications of foreign threats as well as direct individuals that are likely associated with them. Not a law firm that is working for another country in making trade agreements.

our military courts say its legal and we all know our military courts are basically 100% lawful anyway nothing will happen as long as the international community stays quiet

[QUOTE=sYnced;43931242]our military courts say its legal and we all know military courts are basically 100% lawful[/QUOTE] The military makes it's own laws. Regardless this is approved in a congressional court, not a military one.

[QUOTE=Xystus234;43931246]The military makes it's own laws. Regardless this is approved in a congressional court, not a military one.[/QUOTE] i'm wondering if this makes a difference to another nation's congressional court, or does the usa speak for everyone

[QUOTE=sYnced;43931265]i'm wondering if this makes a difference to another nation's congressional court, or does the usa speak for everyone[/QUOTE] According to the democratic system, they (Congress) theoretically speak for everyone. Considering the average american's opinion regarding the NSA Surveillance is generally optimistic, there isn't a lot of pressure on them to stop the surveillance. Regardless this is exactly why it needs to be stopped, allowing things like this are going to lead to government intervention to domestic means eventually. Meaning NSA Warrants for crime, cyber-attacks, political extremists, dissidents, whistle-blowers, the list goes on.

what the fuck are they going to do? give the launch codes to "terrorists"? [URL="http://leaksource.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/us-nuclear-launch-code-was-00000000-for-20-years-during-cold-war/"]oh wait, the password is all zeros! HA! what do ya know![/URL]

[QUOTE=J!NX;43931289]what the fuck are they going to do? give the launch codes to "terrorists"? [URL="http://leaksource.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/us-nuclear-launch-code-was-00000000-for-20-years-during-cold-war/"]oh wait, the password is all zeros! HA! what do ya know![/URL][/QUOTE] Unrelated and late?

[QUOTE=Ericson666;43938001]Unrelated and late?[/QUOTE] I was exaggerating and trying to say that "What are they going to do, give information that the goverment itself can't even hide properly?"