The problem with your argument is that the NSA documents themselves describe their system as providing "direct access". And no-one who has seen the unreleased m

The problem with your argument is that the NSA documents themselves describe their system as providing "direct access". And no-one who has seen the unreleased materials has argued that this mischaracterizes the system. It does not seem possible for a system with effective checks and balances to be reasonably described as providing "direct access" to private email correspondence. Which leads to an alarming observation: if we assume there is nothing else happening (MITM interception, access to private keys, etc.) then either the FISA system has been automated to the point it offers no reasonable check against abuses of power, or the NSA is confused about its own capabilities and is fundamentally incompetent. Which interpretation do you prefer given the role, power and relative freedom from democratic oversight entrusted to the organization?