Open Letter

Dear Mr. Keller, Mr. Lichtblau and Mr. Risen:

I do not consider myself and my fellow citizens idiots incapable of understanding basic facts.

Fact One: Terrorists have bank accounts, they do not carry all their funds in shiny metal briefcases.

Fact Two: "following the money" is a tried and true investigatorial tactic.

Fact Three: US Government already knows plenty about domestic transactions, we provide annual updates every April 15th.

Fact Four: The NY Times has been (mildly stated) unhappy with the Administration since it's inaugeration January 2001.

Fact Five: The NY Times has already had bad juju with compromising classified information.

Fact Six: "Loose Lips Sinks Ships" is an aphorism for a reason.

Now those are out of the way you need to ask yourself some questions:

1. - Are you a citizen of the United States?
2. - Do you believe that we are engaged in a war?
3. - Do you believe that the purpose of the Constitution, including the provision for a free press, was formed to safeguard US citizens?
4. - Do you believe it is the Government's duty to safeguard it's citizens?
5. - Do you believe your newspaper is read outside of US borders?
6. - Which is more threatening to the health, happiness, and welfare of US Citizenry: a well armed terrorist or a governmental flunky sifting through international fiscal transactions.

By your own article you conclude that the program was effective, legal, and properly oversighted to check abuse. You had no compelling reason to compromise my safety for your ego. I hope you all see jail time. To be pithy: Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. That is all.

T. Sinclair
Whidbey Island, Washington

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See also Hugh Hewitt, Gateway Pundit and Humorists iowahawk, SeeDubya