But a more accurate, and, sadly more realistic answer would depend on what you consider to be “trouble.”

The most obvious definition of “trouble” would be “legal trouble” or possible prosecution for our having broken a law. For example, if we “knowingly disclosed” classified information, we could be prosecuted for that. But we didn’t. Everything we said has been published in one form or another and there are links to some of our “sources.” Legally, we (and our readers) should have nothing to worry about.

Which takes us neatly to the point of the article, because there are other forms of trouble that we certainly have exposed ourselves to.

We can assume that the article, and comments, have been “read” by the NSA ECHELON system because if a single foreign reader has “viewed” them, then the contents have travelled through international parts of the Internet and have almost certainly been intercepted. And although it has received a lot less attention lately, the FBI operates similar systems (notably the Carnivore system which you might like to look up) in the United States.

So yes, we are being read, and because we touch on national security issues, the government eavesdroppers could indeed get a warrant from the FISA Court, or isue a National Security Letter and scrutinize us more closely. Or, as we’ve seen, the NSA could begin monitoring our communications without a warrant.

We really do live in a “surveillance society” and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Big Brother is watching you, and listening to what you say, and reading what you write. Our government tells us that we have nothing to fear, if we have nothing to hide, so relax.

–SG