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There were two news stories about the NSA this week but you would hardly know that if you get your news from the major media outlets. The second story did receive some time from the independent sources but appears to not be resonating with many people. This is leaving me somewhat confused and disappointed. Perhaps I'm reading more into the story than is there

The story about phone records being turned over to the NSA is not new. The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed their suit against ATT several months ago concerning this very issue. The only news is that ATT is not the only company involved. The disclosure that the only information provided to the NSA was the numbers being called and no personal information seems to have given sufficient comfort to people that are rightly concerned about fighting terrorism. Of course, this administration has never lied to it's constituents...

This is why the 'other' story should have been the headliner. The Justice Department conceded that it was unable to complete a requested investigation of itself and the activities of the NSA because the NSA refused to grant sufficient security clearances to the Justice Department lawyers conducting the investigation. Why are people not bothered by this?

Under the leadership of Mr. Gonzalez, one of the architects of President's Bush spying and torture campaigns, the idea that the Justice Department is investigating itself is somewhat laughable to begin with. However, assuming that there still are some free-thinking, righteous people remaining in the Justice Department, they can not possibly do their job if not provided the proper tools. Only the NSA could have done this. The NSA operates in the shadows, apparently answering to nobody except this administration as they have chosen to go around any laws that do not fit into their mission...and we sit.

If you're still not bothered by this, consider the undisputed fact that the information being collected is not only being used to fight the terrorism you might associate with 9-11. Terrorism has a broad definition and the tools being used by this administration are also being used to intimidate an unknown number of people, U.S. citizens who simply have different political views than this administration, especially where environmental conservation clashes with corporate greed.

The citizens of the U.S. are missing the point and by turning a blind eye, we are getting exactly what we deserve.