I don't see how the wiretapping saga can ever be resolved unless the government submits to a full and critical examination of the events and a determination made if laws were circumvented or not. If that doesn't happen how can citizens be assured their rights were upheld?

Our legal system is rendered completely useless if because of political wrangling or other undue influence it is impossible to determine that persons observed the law or not. Even in the case where national security is at issue there has to be a structural devisement that defines the process that has to be followed. Whatever the current state of that process at any given time, it's the one which must be followed. That it might be inadequate relative to an unforseen event cannot be used as justification to circumvent the law. Doing so introduces the potential for the subjective nullification of the law. Such a scheme cannot possibly ever work in conjunction with the constitution. The obvious question is how can you have a system that introduces contention that cannot be resolved?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28364.html