Are Members Of Congress Terrorists?

NSA statement does not deny 'spying' on members of Congress
• Agency responds to questions from Senator Bernie Sanders
• Statement cites 'same privacy protections as all US persons'

Spencer Ackerman in Washington and Martin Pengelly in New York
theguardian.com

My Comments About The Article Above

While the NSA hasn't released an official statement yet, I think it's safe to assume the answer is yes. This whole spooking around thing, under the banner of "Homeland Security", was said to have been setup to protect us from terrorists. Especially "foreign terrorists". It looks like congressional members aren't about to get a pass either. There's a very good reason why which goes back before America's beginnings.

Ever wonder what the founders of the nation would think about this?
According to the CIA on it's website...
--- "On November 9, 1775. the Continental Congress adopted its own oath of secrecy."

--- In January 1778, Nancy Morgan Hart, who naturally was tall, muscular, and cross-eyed, disguised herself as a "touched" or crazy man and entered Augusta, Georgia, to obtain intelligence on British defenses.

--- The Continental Congress regularly received quantities of intercepted British and Tory mail. On November 20, 1775, it received some intercepted letters from Cork, Ireland, and appointed a committee made up of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Johnson, Robert Livingston, Edward Rutledge, James Wilson and George Wythe to..."


"All nations have found it necessary, that for the advantageous conduct of their affairs” certain secrets should “remain known to their executive functionary only."
~ Thomas Jefferson ~


Obviously no matter what you, I or Bernie Sanders opinions are on the matter the United States has always been spooking around since it's beginnings. I doubt things are about to change now. Spying is as American as apple pie.

That said I still have a few concerns* Foreign intelligence gathering is a useful tool to leverage out American interests against politicians in foreign nations. There's nothing like getting a little dirt on a foreign leader they'd rather not let come out. It's another thing if it happens to be one of our members of congress. Maybe even the President! I'm not saying it's been done by the NSA, but the possibility of it ever happening is worrisome.

* It's not like it hasn't been done before. J. Edgar Hoover when he ran the FBI was known to have "used the FBI to harass political dissenters and activists, to amass secret files on political leaders, and to collect evidence using illegal methods. Hoover consequently amassed a great deal of power and was in a position to intimidate and threaten sitting Presidents.".

Read more about here-- "Hoover’s Secret Files"

FINAL THOUGHTSWhile spying seems necessary, who can be trusted with such information. Information is power. Such power that may make it possible to even manipulate the actions of the President of the United States.

Therein lies the concern.
     Trust
           (1) Belief that someone or something is reliable,
           good, honest, effective, etc.
           (2) Firm reliance on the integrity, ability,
           or character of a person(s)
           (3) To place in the care of another; entrust



If your looking for a yes or no answer, sorry I don't have one. Sometimes these things don't have one. This is one of those times.

After all, if this was a perfect world with perfect people obviously I wouldn't be in it, would I?