Let me just make a few comments on the FISA bill coming up. Senator Feingold is sending out messages encouraging citizens to contact their representatives and make it clear that the communications of Americans must not be intercepted by the agents of government without close supervision by the courts and Congress.

I think it's shameful that we should have to send such a message. That should be crystal clear to our representatives to begin with. But, I want to add, that it isn't just Americans that need to have their rights protected from unwarranted snooping by the agents of government. I think it's wrong to make a distinction between Americans and other nationals. Being free from government intrusion isn't a civil right (the right to vote, hold office, enforce the law), it's a human right and it's wrong to predicate the behavior of our agents on whom they're interacting with.

Yes, I know there's a long history of spying having been authorized and paid for by our Congress. But, that doesn't make it right. Moreover, our clandestine activities have really gotten out of hand. Not to mention that they're really ineffective since the people who are being spied on surely know it and the only people who are in the dark are the people who are paying for it, Americans.

The idea that America's security depends on American being lied to is really abhorrent.

Finally, it strikes me that this over-emphasis on the interception of electronic communications is really counter-productive. Electronic surveillance has already proved rather useless in countless venues (unused cameras and monitoring facilities in public libraries are just one example). Anyone who's traveled around the country by car has been struck by all the vacant and unused or inoperative "weigh stations" that were built, at great expense, along our highways and, apparently, turned out to be too expensive to man and maintain. (Of course, people who just fly over the country don't know that).

Electrons are tricky. Maybe our representatives who aren't too well versed with how electricity works should be asked if they'd trust their computer to administer their heart medication every day. Never mind when they need a nitro pill.

How many information systems has the Department of Justice gone through without having one yet that's reliable? IT has to be the biggest scam of modern times. Meanwhile, the U.S. is getting its butt kicked by people in sandals who herd sheep and camels. It's no wonder Putin thinks he needs to lecture our Secretary of State for forty-five minutes on the realities of life. Somebody's got to tell them the truth.

You know, if the plan to put missile interceptors in Poland is really aimed at missiles that might be coming from Iran, it's really stupid. And if it's really aimed at being ready for what Russia might do, it's really foolish.