We always get a chuckle when the WaPo clucks about some bureaucracy allegedly in scandal because said bureaucracy broke the iron clad rule of ‘good paperwork, always’. Here today the WaPo notes the FBI sent out thousands (doubtlessly the real total is much higher) of ‘special’ national security requests to phone companies without the proper paper work (read the now notorious ‘national security letter’). And shock, many of these requests really had nothing to do with national security! Gambling? Here? And shock, the bureau tried to cover its ass by creating false meta ‘terrorism’ investigation grab all files, putting the requests in them and then scrambled to back date the proper paperwork.
Of all the legacies left to us by the Warlord, must we endure the most shameful? Bad paperwork? According to what’s her face in the story, the FBI ‘technically’ was not in compliance. If only they had contractors on site who could manage and oversee compliance . . .
We take this light heartened tone because a) we’re pretty sure the WaPo doesn’t have the whole story; b) the Bureau always was destined to abuse the Patriot Act; c) under the Patriot Act the Bureau had the power to xerox those ‘nsls’ like an office holiday party derrieres anyway (and did); and d) we are supremely confident nothing will really change. Bin Laden really did kill alot of America that day. Obama engorges the competence challenged (but very vindictive) Permanent National Security State. Hey, it’s a bi-partisan, Martha Stewart ‘good thing.’