I'm sure that by now we are all very aware of what the NSA has been up to since 9/11/2001, (If you aren't, read
Georgia 10's FP Diary to get up to speed) so I won't dwell on the circumstances.
Instead, I'd like to focus on what we can do about it. That's right, us Kossacks...You & me...Average Joe Citizen. We can't force the NSA to to stop their nefarious activities, but we CAN give them one Hell of a wake up call!
We can send them a message...LOUD & CLEAR...that we are on to them, and we aren't going to stand by watch helplessly. What I'm talking about is flooding the NSA with FOIA requests, which will tie them up in knots trying to respond to all of them...And they HAVE to respond within 20 days, by law!
So here's how we do it. Below the fold is a FOIA Request Template. Copy.Paste.Mail...It's that simple.
[UPDATE #1] The NSA SHOULD tell you costs in advance. If this is a concern for you, alter that sentence to read "Please advise me of actual charges before processing this request."
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your city/state/zip]
[Date]
National Security Agency
ATTN: FOIA Office (DC34)
9800 Savage Road STE 6248
Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6248
FOIA REQUEST
Dear FOI Officer:
Pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, I request access to and copies of records showing telephone calls to or from the following telephone number(s) since September 11, 2001, to date: [insert number(s)]. I also request access to and copies of records of the contents of each such call.
I agree to pay reasonable duplication fees for the processing of this request.
If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. I, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.
I look forward to your reply within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
I guarantee you that if a FRACTION of the Dkos community does this, they will most certainly "feel the heat". So copy the template above, fill in your personal information, then mail it off to the NSA at the address provided.
For added emphasis, send it Certified Mail. It will cost you a couple of bucks, but it's worth it to make it look more "official". AND, they have to have someone sign for it, which ties them up a little bit more!
HAPPY MAILING!