Bush admits eavesdropping, slams senators for blocking Patriot Act

US News

Dec 17, 2005, 17:23 GMT

Washington - U.S. President George W. Bush has admitted allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens in 2002 and in an address delivered to the nation on Saturday, he slated senators who have blocked renewal of an act that would allow such measures to continue. US President George W. Bush. EPA/RON SACHS/POOL EPA/RON SACHS/POOL

US President George W. Bush. EPA/RON SACHS/POOL EPA/RON SACHS/POOLIn his radio speech, which in an unusual move was also broadcast live on television, Bush said the secret eavesdropping operations had been conducted in line with the law and was aimed at preventing further terrorist attacks. Such tactics, conducted under the Patriotic Act passed in the wake of 9/11, would continue to be necessary to protect the U.S. from future attacks, Bush warned. The eavesdropping operations, which monitored the international communications of U.S. citizens with suspected links to al-Qaeda or other terrorist outfits, were reviewed every 45 days and each review was overseen by top legal officials including the U.S. attorney general, Bush said. Describing the operations as 'a highly classified programme that is crucial to our nation's security,' Bush said he had reauthorized the NSA's activities over 30 times since the September 11, 2001 attacks. Reports of the secret operations surfaced in U.S. media earlier this week just two weeks before key provisions in the act are due to expire. While the U.S. House of Representatives approved renewing the act, the U.S. senate on Friday refused to extend the expiring portions. In his address Saturday, Bush described as 'irresponsible', the decision by a minority of senators to block the act's renewal. 'That decision is irresponsible and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics and the senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act,' he insisted. The senate voted 52-47 Friday to end debate on the matter, falling short of the 60-seat majority required to force a vote to renew the act. Sceptics are uneasy about some of the security provisions in the act such as those that allow the FBI to seize business and personal records without court approval. Urging senators to end their filibustering, Bush noted that 'this authorization is a vital tool in our war against the terrorists. It is critical to saving American lives.' 'The American people expect me to do everything in my power, under our laws and constitution to protect them and their civil liberties and that is exactly what I will continue to do, so long as I'm the president of the United States,' he concluded. © 2005 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Your Talkback on this Story

Note posts made on our older Talkback system will still show below. However, new posts can only be made via the new system (above). We will export the old comments to the new shortly. You can still comment as a guest on the new system but it also allows you to login using various social network and other accounts.

Other features coming soon.

Talkback

page: 1

Defend US from Bush and CheneyDec 17th, 2005 - 23:11:07

We do not need to be spied on by our government. We are No Terrorist.....Bush and all of the people connected with the “military industry complex” are our enemies!!

Did you ever read Welcome to a new Project of an American Century??? After you do you wonder why September 11 happened........

Just put demolition + twin towers in your Google..... The War on Terrorism is bogus….. Wake up!!!

9/11 was a Reichstag fire to conquer the Middle East

Keeping secret from the sovereign the data that the sovereign had need of knowing in order to discern the uprightness of the character of public servants is unlawful subterfuge.

The sovereign people of America were lied to by Bush and his Administration. The Bush Administration took an oath 'to defend the Constitution for the United States of America against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.'

Lying to the sovereign people is a violation of this oath and makes one a domestic enemy.

Report this comment

dirty dingus mcgee , in calgary .Dec 18th, 2005 - 05:11:51

now , the way i see it , is that we wouldn't need the patriot act if insted of predicateing our daily lives on a bunch of respective fairy tales and were more hip ; i mean , if we paid more attention to each other insted . but alas .rock-n-roll hotchie coo , texas i love you !

Report this comment

page: 1

US

Bush admits eavesdropping, slams senators for blocking Patriot Act

US News

Your Talkback on this Story

Talkback

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in US

From Sites We Like

Latest PopEater News

Latest Cinema Blend News

Latest Tech Herald News

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print