
Bush admits to approving secret spying CBC \|\| December 18, 2005 [KDR: Do you believe Bush what he tells you that they only use this for "people with known links to al-Qaeda."? Patriot Act Use Against US Citizens Extended] U.S. President George W. Bush has acknowledged that he authorized secret monitoring of "people with known links to al-Qaeda." But his admission has drawn heated criticism from politicians who say Bush overstepped his authority. In an eight-minute radio address on Saturday, Bush said he personally approved the interception of communications more than 30 times since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to Al-Qaeda and related terrorist organizations." He called the program a "vital tool" in protecting American lives against future attacks. Bush criticized a news media leak drawing attention for the first time to a program he called "highly classified" and crucial to national security. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com The New York Times reported on Friday that the National Security Agency has monitored the e-mails, telephone calls, and other communications of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of people inside the U.S. without warrants during the past three years. The Times said it delayed publishing its story for a year after administration officials said the disclosure would harm national security. Bush defended the program and said it is used only to intercept the international communications of people inside the United States who have been determined to have a "clear link" to al-Qaeda and related groups. He vowed the program would continue for as long as those organizations threaten the U.S. Several U.S. lawmakers accused Bush of trampling on civil liberties and democracy. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said "it is time to have some checks and balances in this country. We are a democracy ... not secret orders and secret courts and secret torture." "This shocking revelation ought to send a chill down the spine of every Senator and every American," said another Democrat, Senator Russell Finegold. Even Arlen Specter, the Republican chair of the Senate judiciary committee questioned the legality. "It's inexcusable to have spying on the people of the United States, without court surveillance, in violation of our law, beyond question." The admission comes as Bush is pushing the U.S. Congress to re-approve the controversial Patriot Act, which makes it easier to get court approval to spy on Americans. The original act runs out in two weeks. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
In Depth The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favorite Canadian Political Parties Coming Soon: 9-11
Archive October November December 2005 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Weekly Features

Bush admits to approving secret spying

CBC || December 18, 2005

[KDR: Do you believe Bush what he tells you that they only use this for "people with known links to al-Qaeda."? Patriot Act Use Against US Citizens Extended]

U.S. President George W. Bush has acknowledged that he authorized secret monitoring of "people with known links to al-Qaeda." But his admission has drawn heated criticism from politicians who say Bush overstepped his authority.

In an eight-minute radio address on Saturday, Bush said he personally approved the interception of communications more than 30 times since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to Al-Qaeda and related terrorist organizations."

He called the program a "vital tool" in protecting American lives against future attacks.

Bush criticized a news media leak drawing attention for the first time to a program he called "highly classified" and crucial to national security.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

The New York Times reported on Friday that the National Security Agency has monitored the e-mails, telephone calls, and other communications of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of people inside the U.S. without warrants during the past three years.

The Times said it delayed publishing its story for a year after administration officials said the disclosure would harm national security.

Bush defended the program and said it is used only to intercept the international communications of people inside the United States who have been determined to have a "clear link" to al-Qaeda and related groups.

He vowed the program would continue for as long as those organizations threaten the U.S.

Several U.S. lawmakers accused Bush of trampling on civil liberties and democracy.

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said "it is time to have some checks and balances in this country. We are a democracy ... not secret orders and secret courts and secret torture."

"This shocking revelation ought to send a chill down the spine of every Senator and every American," said another Democrat, Senator Russell Finegold.

Even Arlen Specter, the Republican chair of the Senate judiciary committee questioned the legality. "It's inexcusable to have spying on the people of the United States, without court surveillance, in violation of our law, beyond question."

The admission comes as Bush is pushing the U.S. Congress to re-approve the controversial Patriot Act, which makes it easier to get court approval to spy on Americans. The original act runs out in two weeks.

About KDR | | Home | | Weekly Features Archive

Weekly

Chicken Little Terrorist: Fake Terror Tapes

Weekly Features Archive

In Depth

The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave

Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favorite Canadian Political Parties

Coming Soon:

9-11