The fraud of telecom immunity

This month, Congress will again consider providing legal immunity for the telecom carriers that partnered with the federal government to illegally spy on Americans in violation of the federal Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and some believe, the 4th Amendment.

Not surprisingly, President Bush has been pushing for immunity for the telecoms because it would effectively stifle any investigations into his patently illegal behavior.

Predictably, Bush Administration sycophants and Republicans (pardon the redundancy) have supported immunity, citing the "patriotic" actions of the telecoms in assisting the U.S. government in prosecuting the so-called War on Terror.

However, the true motivation of the telecoms in participating in the illegal spying came to light when the New York Times reported that the telecoms actually cut off FBI wiretaps due to their bills being unpaid.

This fact destroys the fantasy that the telecoms were performing their "patriotic" duty in assisting the federal government in illegally spying on Americans.

Remember this the next time you hear Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or some other right-wing blowhard try to convince you that the telecoms deserve immunity.

Robert H. Fredian

Arlington Heights