Retracting Those Talons...

Though not directly related to Gitmo, habeas or military detentions, the Talon snoop program was a key "innovation" of the Cambone-Rumsfeld DOD domestic intelligence upswing, which also was the lead bureaucracy behind the creation of Gitmo legal black hole.An ACLU Freedom of Information Act request was directly responsible for revealing Talon's abuses (see the sweet NY Times quote). The ACLU also produced this report---"No Real Threat"---in January.And now, Talon is no more. Said Cambone successor, former head of DIA and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (read eyes in the skies), and recently installed undersecretary of defense for intelligence, James Clapper at his confirmation hearing:

"The history of the intelligence community is replete with instances of abuse of civil liberties -- well intended, but abuse nonetheless." He said it is "important that the proper balance be struck between the counterintelligence mission, on one hand, and the protection of civil liberties, on the other."

Certainly a wonderful sentiment, but could we please stop naming domestic spying programs like we're writing for 24? Perhaps you wouldn't scare the common folk if you didn't name your snoop scheme after the business end of a bird of prey. Just a thought.