Comments on Advance Indiana™: Daily Caller Provides Two Examples Of NSA Surveillance Being Used To Target Americans Not Suspected Of Terrorism

My point is that SARS reports have been used since...

2013-06-12T13:05:27.621-05:00

My point is that SARS reports have been used since before 9/11 to detect domestic crimes like money laundering.

And, as mentioned, as a former prosecutor Spitzer was well aware of the SARS filings, and he even had prosecuted individuals for crimes that would have likely come to light through SARS filings.

Spitzer was not caught in an anti-terrorism dragnet, he was caught in his own stupidity--setting up dummy companies and funneling money around all so he could hire a hooker. What got the attention of the feds was the fact that the transactions suggested he might be taking bribes as a public official, not that he was involved in some terrorist plot.

I am sure there might be "ordinary citizens" to hold up as an example of NSA abuses, but Mr. Spitzer is not one of them.

The reporting of SARS was greatly expanded by the ...

2013-06-11T13:49:36.223-05:00

The reporting of SARS was greatly expanded by the Patriot Act under the guise of capturing more potential money wire transactions in support of terrorists. I'm not conflating it. I'm relating the DC's report on the wider net being used to target Americans. The Treasury Department receives the reports filed by banks, but you can bet those reports are also stored in the NSA's vast database.

SARS reports, as you know, are made to the Treasur...

2013-06-11T12:18:47.191-05:00

SARS reports, as you know, are made to the Treasury Department, not the NSA.

Also, SARS reports ARE specifically geared to detect tax evasion, money laundering, and other domestic crimes--they are not specific to terrorism investigations.

I am not taking a position on the NSA PRISM program, but you are conflating to separate programs, administered by two different departments in your post.

Spitzer was a dummy, and as a former prosecutor, he should have been well-aware of the SARS filings--in fact, he tried to take specific action to avoid a SARS filing (by making a series of small withdrawals, etc.).