From UPI, 2/14/06:

Whistleblower says NSA violations bigger

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) --

A former NSA employee said Tuesday there is another ongoing top-secret
surveillance program that might have violated millions of Americans'
Constitutional rights.

Russell D. Tice told the House Government Reform Subcommittee on
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations he has
concerns about a "special access" electronic surveillance program that
he characterized as far more wide-ranging than the warrentless
wiretapping recently exposed by the New York Times but he is forbidden
from discussing the program with Congress.

Tice said he believes it violates the Constitution's protection
against unlawful search and seizures but has no way of sharing the
information without breaking classification laws.

He is not even allowed to tell the congressional intelligence
committees - members or their staff - because they lack high enough
clearance.

Neither could he brief the inspector general of the NSA because that
office is not cleared to hear the information, he said.

Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Dennis
Kucinich, D-Ohio, said they believe a few members of the Armed
Services Committee are cleared for the information, but they said
believe their committee and the intelligence committees have
jurisdiction to hear the allegations.

"Congressman Kucinich wants Congressman Shays to hold a hearing (on
the program)," said Doug Gordon, Kucinich's spokesman.

"Obviously it would have to take place in some kind of a closed
hearing. But Congress has a role to play in oversight. The (Bush)
administration does not get to decide what Congress can and can not
hear."

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Ain't that peachy?

Harry