It was another "Gotcha!" moment on capitol hill, as the president's intelligence czar was FORCED to admit he lied in recent testimony before congress.  His lie regarded troublesome new changes to FISA that were recently rammed through congress, just prior to the August recess, using a combination of fearmongering politics, and a threat to cancel the legislators' vacation plans, should they fail to bow to the administration's manipulation.

In an effort to calm public questioning about the rash legislation, and to urge even more profound future changes to the FISA law, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told congress a glowing story, Monday, suggesting that new electronic surveillance "tools" had been responsible for foiling a major terror plot in Germany.

The propaganda had the intended effect.

Feverish reports were trumpeted all over Neocon media outlets, borrowing this vindication, to point out just how much good is to be gained, if we would all be willing to dispose of even more of our Constitutional rights! 

Headlines also appeared in newspapers around the globe, and online, like the following:

Spy chief: Expanded U.S. snooping law aided German terror arrests
Wiretaps 'foiled terror attacks'
U.S. says wiretapping helped foil plot in Germany

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Information gained through a U.S. wiretapping program much criticized by civil liberties advocates helped authorities foil attack plots last week in Germany and Denmark, top U.S. intelligence officials said on Monday. . .

New U.S. law played role in German arrests

And here is the real thrust behind the propaganda surge:

Senator Wants to Expand Spying Authority

But now the Neocon MISINFORMATION MACHINE has been temporarily unmasked to the public, if any of the public will be listening, over the distractions the media will inevitably produce (you can bet there is even now, an anxious effort going on behind the scenes to hide, bury, or gloss over this story).

Now a few headlines read much as this one:

DNI McConnell: I Lied To The Senate



Earlier this week, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed the new expansive FISA legislation passed by Congress prior to the August recess — the so-called Protect America Act — had helped to thwart an alleged terror plot in Germany.

A government official later told the New York Times that McConnell was wrong, and that the intelligence had been collected under the old FISA law which required warrants. A chorus of House Democrats immediately raised concerns about McConnell's claims.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) demanded McConnell back up his sworn statement. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) said the Protect America Act "played no role in uncovering the recent German terrorist plot." House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes urged McConnell "to issue a public statement immediately" correcting his remarks.

In a statement released today, McConnell unapologetically acknowledged he lied to the Senate: . . .

Read the full article: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/12/mcconnell-lied/

Using a somewhat friendlier spin, a story by Newsweek has THIS title:

Spy Master Admits Error

Intel czar Mike McConnell told Congress a new law helped bring down a terror plot. The facts say otherwise. . . .

. . .The temporary measure, signed into law by President Bush on Aug. 5, gave the U.S. intelligence community broad new powers to eavesdrop on telephone and e-mail communications overseas without seeking warrants from the surveillance court. The law expires in six months and is expected to be the subject of intense debate in the months ahead. On Monday, McConnell—questioned by Sen. Joe Lieberman—claimed the law, intended to remedy what the White House said was an intelligence gap, had helped to "facilitate" the arrest of three suspects believed to be planning massive car bombings against American targets in Germany. Other U.S. intelligence-community officials questioned the accuracy of McConnell's testimony and urged his office to correct it. Four intelligence-community officials, who asked for anonymity discussing sensitive material, said the new law, dubbed the "Protect America Act," played little if any role in the unraveling of the German plot. The U.S. military initially provided information that helped the Germans uncover the plot. But that exchange of information took place months before the new "Protect America" law was passed. . . .

Read the full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20749773/site/newsweek/

The spy chief of the United States doesn't make THAT kind of "ERROR" in pre-screened, meticulously prepared—even manipulative—testimony before congress, the effectiveness of which, partially depends on this one crucial detail.

This is just one more "tip of the iceberg," as they say, like the numerous OTHER tips, which the Neocon Misinformation Machine failed to keep below the surface in the past, due ONLY to circumstances beyond their CONTROL.  Not that they didn't try . . . because the essence of a Neocon, is summed up in two words: control freak—the ends, as they see it, will justify almost ANY means!

And this, I am afraid, will apply also in their efforts to destroy and to discredit their nemesis—their CONSCIENCE—Ron Paul.

Please join me and freedom lovers all across America (and the world), in helping to combat their deception machine, by donating your time, talents, influence and money, to the Freedom Revolution!

Posted by Paul Bear (www.RonPaulite.com)