Hey all you Homeland Security bashers!

Doesn’t it bother you that there is a “secret court” that has the power to “rebuff[] Ashcroft”?

The documents released yesterday also provide a rare glimpse into the workings of the almost entirely secret FISA court, composed of a rotating panel of federal judges from around the United States and, until yesterday, had never jointly approved the release of one of its opinions. Ironically, the Justice Department itself had opposed the release.

I think this means we’ve had a Star Chamber court in our midst for quite some time, and not as a result of 9/11 or the Patriot Act, either. Sounds like it was started up under our ol’ buddy Jimmy Carter, too, if it’s been around “23 years” as noted in the article. That makes it 1979, well before that dangerous guy Reagan took office.
Then there’s this, from the NY Times version of the story (annoying registration required):

Gregory T. Nojeim, associate director of the national office of the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, said the opinion was “astounding” in demonstrating that the F.B.I. and the Justice Department have tried an “end run around the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.”
“These disclosures couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Department of Justice,” Mr. Nojeim said. “They’ve just been given vast new intelligence powers and are seeking more.”

We’re AT WAR, numb-nuts. Hadn’t you heard?
I hope the ACLU headquarters gets flattened if there’s another terrorist attack in Washington. I really do. These people are not serious and need to get a serious clue. We have fought wars before and have yet to permanently lose civil liberties. I’ve posted on this before. Also here. And here.