Wiretapping is fundamental. An earmark tacked on to a new intelligence spending bill by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Florida) would fund college programs to train future spies. Hastings wants $2 million to finance "centers of academic excellence" at Florida schools that would educate America's youth on snooping and spooking and other intelligence matters. Daniel Craig will guest lecture (no, not really). What ever will graduates of spy school put on their resumes?
The $100 million in earmarks attached to the intelligence bill has riled some folks (more from USA Today here). Rep. John Murtha (D-Pennsylvania) hopes to bring home the bacon -- $23 million -- for his home state's
National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) And Reps. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Roscoe
Bartlett (R-Maryland) put in the most politically controversial amendment: a provision to require future National Intelligence Estimates to look into the dangers of climate change.
