The check is in the mail

News.com is reporting that Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security overlord Secretary is promising that our privacy will be respected as we carry out the War on Terror.

“As we have broadened information sharing, we have made sure that there are strict rules in effect…that prevent people from misusing that information or putting it out improperly,” he said. “That’s built into the DNA of this and all of our intelligence-sharing capabilities.”

No offense, Mr. Secretary, but we have a long history of our government promising exactly that, then promptly paying no attention to the promise. Why should we believe you this time? This won’t be one of those “destroy something in order to save it” routines, I hope?

Of course, we already have some evidence *cough* NSA domestic surveillance *cough* to the contrary, so it’s not a large hope.