Question: Why did you avoid using FISA since they almost always grant wiretaps and act secretly?
Pres: Need quick action. We do use FISA. WIthout revealing details of program that we have authority to do this and it's taking into account your civil liberties.
Question: The intel failures, one of the side effects is that we've lost credibility with our allies when we go to them with new intel. Your admin. has gone to our allies with info found on a laptop found in Iran re their nuclear program. Is one of the side effects of the intel failure limited your ability to go forward with future threats.
Pres: I hate to admit it, but it's a good quesiton. No question, the intel about WMD caused all intel services to step back and look at how they gather intel. Where it will be most difficult to make the case going forward is in the public arena.
If we're trying to make the case in Iran, people will say the intel failed in Iraq, how can we trust it in Iran. The first step is a diplomatic effort to get the Iranians to comply. If they don't, there's always the UN.
Doesn't FISA have a provision to allow court acceptance of the action AFTER you do the wiretap? I seem to remember that from govt. class.
If that is the case, hopefully the Dems are too stupid to pick up on that or Bush would be in big trouble here.
He would really only have one defense, that we were using it for international communications.