Still does not add up for me. If statements released recently are true, it contradicts lots of the assertions I've heard.

Sources for quotes are WH press conference, and Washington Post piece.

GENERAL HAYDEN: That's why I mentioned earlier that the program is less intrusive. It deals only with international calls.

***It's only international calls. ***

GENERAL HAYDEN: The authorization given to NSA by the President requires that one end of these communications has to be outside the United States. I can assure you, by the physics of the intercept, by how we actually conduct our activities, that one end of these communications are always outside the United States of America.

OK, the last 3 seem to pretty much nail that only international calls were monitored. What's up with the earlier assertions that this had to do with chasing down networks of calls where the suspects phone called somebody, so they tapped those phones and then tapped anyone that those phones called, etc.? We did (and were able to do) all this tapping overseas? I'm skeptical.

Then

ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALES: This is not about wiretapping everyone. This is a very concentrated, very limited program focused at gaining information about our enemy.

***

Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the former NSA chief who is now deputy director of national intelligence, told reporters in Washington that the warrantless eavesdropping on calls and e-mails between the United States and overseas was "targeted and focused" and did not constitute a "driftnet" over U.S. cities.

Seems to say there is not some kind of advanced screening technology. Some secret dingus that must not be revealed to the enemy.

Don't get it.