Comments on: President Bush On Spying: NSA Secret Wiretaps Have Disrupted Terrorists

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:01:16 +0000

While I do not support the premise the President used to justify the war in Iraq. I don't think Congress' intentions were to give Bush authority to disregard the law in the name of Homeland Security and the 'War on Terror'. Like I said in a previous post Americans need to be fully aware of the civil liberties the Bush Administration is infringing upon, because history has shown that we most likely will not get them back.

By: Raymond

Raymond — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:58:35 +0000

Both of your points are well made, this is definitely a very convoluted issue. How do you balance giving up civil rights for perceived stronger protection? The words warrantless search will really make ACLU and civil right groups cringe. Both of your positions are well stated and appreciated.

By: maiken

maiken — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:45:35 +0000

The “procedures” that Bush is “basically just not following” are the prescriptions of the FISA law, which made it illegal to spy on people in the US without obtaining a warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. “Not following” a law is more commonly referred to as “breaking the law”. That’s why people are upset.

The administration may have a workable defense: they claim that the Congressional authorization to use force against Al Quaida empowers them to skip going to the FISC when surveiling suspected Al Quaida members. This claim can and must be tested by judicial review. If the courts decide it’s bogus, Bush will indeed have broken the FISA law by conducting warrantless searches.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:28:19 +0000

The problem is, there’s a procedure he’s supposed to go through, and he hasn’t been. No wiretap has ever been refused under FIMA, yet he has chosen to do an end-run around FIMA, in violation of the laws from the 1970s (which I am old enough to remember being passed).

Why doesn’t he think he needs to follow the law?

Because he feels the Constitution is only a piece of paper.

I supported him in the war on Afghanistan and Iraq. I still think we don’t dare pull our troops out of Iraq until the country is stable. But I now seriously question this President’s judgement and commitment to America.