Posted on 12/19/2005 10:30:55 AM PST by yoe
After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, President Bush vowed that he would do everything in his power to prevent something like that from happening again, he reminded the American people on Monday.
Bush was defending his decision to authorize the National Security Agency to wiretap phone calls between American citizens in this country and suspected terrorists living overseas -- without approval from the courts.
(That resolution says the president "is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.")
As the commander in chief, the president said he has the authority and responsibility to protect the country. He also said Congress -- through the Sept. 14, 2001, "Use of Force" resolution, granted him authority to use military force against al Qaeda.
He said trying to change current law to allow speedier communication intercepts would have involved an open debate, telling the enemy what the U.S. government intended to do. "And this is an enemy that adjusts," he said.
President Bush also stressed that the NSA surveillance program is "limited" to those with "known al Qaeda ties and their affiliates." And he noted that one party in the wiretapped phone calls must be outside the country.
He said calls between people within the U.S. may also be monitored, but in those cases, a warrant would be obtained as required under the Foreign Intelligence Security Act.
He said the NSA surveillance program is reviewed every 45 days to be sure it's being used properly, and he said he has consulted -- and will continue to consult -- with Congress about it.
President Bush called it shameful that word of the secret program was leaked.
"The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy" -- a dangerous one that still wants to strike America, Bush said.
Wow. How did you get all that?
#1. The president said today they have applied for warrants through the FISA Act. Many times.
#2. He was quite clear that only people associating with AQ were targeted.
And let's not forget that Congress voted on this matter:
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: Lone Wolf Amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
They both surprise me, to be quite honest. They both make a living on this legalese stuff. I Googled "wiretap 72 hours" and came up with lots of reading material.
The Lone Wolf Amendment does not apply to US Citizens or permanent residents. On its face. Period.
THEY ARE NOT "SECRET WIRETAPS".
What the heck? Why are you buyng into the lies of the liberals to you via the liberal media????
"judge" is an idiot libertarian who is spooked when someone says anything having to do with intelligence.
Generally speaking no, specifically yes.
Congress passed legislation which permits the warrantless wiretapping of US citizens.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1543451/posts
Yep, even though Russ Feingold is saying what President Bush is doing is, in his words, "illegal", even though it was Russ Feingold who voted for it.
Be careful with that link:
(B) there is no substantial likelihood that the surveillance will acquire the contents of any communication to which a United States person is a party; and
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