A picture paints a thousand words...

It's a Grand Old Flag, it's a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may it wave....

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Here's what General Mike Hayden said -- he was the former director here at NSA. He's now the deputy director of the national intelligence -- deputy director of national intelligence -- and here's what he said earlier this week: "Had this program been in effect prior to 9-11, it is my professional judgment that we would have detected some of the 9-11 Al Qaeda operatives in the United States, and we would have identified them as such." The 9-11 Commission made clear, in this era of new dangers, we must be able to connect the dots before the terrorists strike so we can stop new attacks. And this NSA program is doing just that. General Hayden has confirmed that America has gained information from this program that would not otherwise have been available. This information has helped prevent attacks and save American lives. - George W. Bush