The Democrats were insisting that the bill as they wanted it, would not stop any wiretapped between two people in foreign countries.
The Republicans who actually read the bill, knew that there was a catch-22, that would require intelligence agencies to get permission if the conversation went through the US. Even if the two were NOT in the US.
The next time the Democrats wring their hands in glee as they announce some “milestone” casualty number from the war in Iraq, they can take special delight in knowing they helped push it along.