UK - BBC: Using old news to attack Bush

I linked to this BBC report earlier and did a little digging to show just how old this news is.

In today's report the BBC has this to say:

"The political implications may be more damaging than the legal challenges.

US senators and congressman on both sides of the political divide reacted with alarm and outrage to the reports."

And

The Senate judiciary committee immediately announced it would be investigating and could call senior government figures such as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who only last month had failed to mention the programme when questioned by the committee.

They're reacting "with alarm and outrage" over a programme that they have know about for decades? Here's what the BBC reported in 1999 - read "1999".

"Imagine a global spying network that can eavesdrop on every single phone call, fax or e-mail, anywhere on the planet.

It sounds like science fiction, but it's true.

Two of the chief protagonists - Britain and America - officially deny its existence. But the BBC has confirmation from the Australian Government that such a network really does exist and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are calling for an inquiry."

So, they were "calling for an inquiry" into a "spying network that can eavesdrop on every single phone call" back in 1999.

Back in 1999 the BBC had this to say about those legislators they claim reacted with alarm about the new leaks.

Legislators on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to sit up and take notice.

They must have sat back down.
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