Spy Chief says:

in the news this morning. I read this article.
So the "Spy Chief" says, Russia and China are spying on us, so that makes it okay for us to spy on everyone, even our own citizens??? And this was in testimony at a congressional hearing? Certainly our politicians aren't so easily swayed by fallacious arguments? Surely they have at least a rudimentary understanding of LOGIC! ...or, is it more a factor of the fact that they are secure in their knowledge that the typical public-educated citizen has no clue about how to think rationally? hm.....

"China and Russia are spying on the United States nearly as much as they did during the Cold War, according to the top U.S. intelligence official.

Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, says in testimony prepared for a Tuesday congressional hearing that a law passed last month expanding the U.S. government's eavesdropping power is needed to protect not just against terrorists but also against more traditional potential adversaries, such as those two Cold War foes."

...

"Congress last month hastily adopted the Protect America Act just before it went on summer vacation, propelled by McConnell's warnings of a need to close a dangerous gap in U.S. intelligence law.

Some lawmakers are now having second thoughts as the complicated law — intended to make it easier for the government to intercept foreign calls and e-mails — has come under attack by civil liberties and privacy advocates who contend it gives the government broader powers than intended.

The Protect America Act allows the government to listen in, without a court order, on all communications conducted by a person reasonably believed to be outside the United States, even if an American is on one end of the conversation."