Iraq’s New Wiretapping System
Jul 31st, 2011 | 9 responses
The “lead” in a Washington Post story this morning reads:
The United States is planning to provide the Iraqi government with a wiretapping system to eavesdrop on cellular calls and messages “to assist in combating criminal organizations and insurgencies,” according to a U.S. Air Force contract solicitation.
And continues with:
The proposed system would allow Iraqi officials to monitor and store voice calls, data transmissions and text messages and would be installed with the acquiescence of the three current cellular communications providers in Iraq, according to documents accompanying the solicitation.
Of course, the immediate déjà vu was “Unwarranted Wiretapping.”
It may also have occurred to some of our readers.
But, according to Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq, “Iraq’s stringent surveillance laws require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing and monitoring private conversations.”
The question that immediately arises is, how truly “stringent” are Iraq’s surveillance laws? As strict as they were in our own country during the Bush administration?
I don’t know—and some of you may say, “Who cares.”
However, in a country that is still in a state of war, or chaos; in a country where 14 of our troops were killed by hostile fire in June, “the bloodiest month since April 2009;” in a country where the security situation is “more dangerous than a year ago,” where more attacks on U.S. troops are occurring; where “a continuing wave of assassinations targeting Iraqi officials and a growing number of indirect rocket strikes on Baghdad’s Green Zone” are taking place and most importantly, in a country where we still have 46,000 of our troops exposed and vulnerable, I would say—perhaps invoking a double standard—-let’s give Iraq’s “stringent surveillance laws” a try.
I have not read Iraq’s Constitution—perhaps I should.
What do you think?
Image, courtesy thelegality.com
9 Responses to “Iraq’s New Wiretapping System”
You know I could give a flying flip about Iraq. Pull ALL our soldiers, (I thought we were not using the word troops anymore because you and Estes thought it a depersonalization of our soldiers committed to battle), …OUT now. This was a waste from the beginning and it is a waste now and will never stop being a waste of time, money and most of all, American lives.
Once again, we screw our allies. Yes, those people that helped us in Iraq and want to emigrate to the U.S. are continuing to risk their lives while the too SLOW immigration/security process keeps them in limbo and in danger. As we pull out, they will increasingly be harmed or killed. There have been other articles on this, but today’s NYT, my favorite Sunday paper, had this editorial:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/us-delays-entry-of-iraqis-who-risked-their-lives.html
It makes me wonder what we may have already given the Saudis…
… and the Pakistanis, even.
I wonder if they secretly added the ability to spy on their spying.
I sometimes fantasize about turning all that spying equipment (or torture) on those who advocated it. What would their reaction be?
dduck:
Great minds think alike? (At least your is great…)
I have written about this issue before and was thinking of updating it. Thanks for lighting a fire beneath my lazy a@*
It really is disgusting that we get into wars so easily and the exiting is the big problem for our own people and our allies.
Dduck:
I was referring to the Iraqi refugee problem, including those who helped us…
Again Duck, I do not care and never will. We are not screwing anybody. They ALL have known for years that we were there temporary. They all have known for years that we are on schedule to leave. We gave them their country from Saddam, but they cannot get it together. We have blown trillions trying to help them. We are hurting. Now it’s them or us. I choose us and let the world see the limits of our patience!
It would comforting Duck if you would cry that same river for our elderly that have been sold out today, in favor of the rich. Maybe when you see them begging in the streets you “might” have a little sympathy. Somehow I doubt it.
Allen, I “cry” out for all people being screwed, and these people helped OUR people as you put “get rid of Husein”.
Aside from being loyal, it is common sense to take care of any one who has helped us. To not do so is to be a untrustworthy country. If a translator helps you find an IED that would have killed you and you delay letting him into the U.S., you are an ingrate.
Yes, I think we should take care of all of our citizens, regardless of age, your point is a moot one on this subject.