Bush Jabs Congress Over Spy Bill Impasse

Says U.S. In "More Danger Of An Attack" Because Congress Hasn't Extended Surveillance Law

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Friday that "our country is in more danger of an attack" because of Congress' failure to extend a law that makes it easier for the government to spy on foreign phone calls and e-mails that pass through the United States.

Democrats, in turn, accused Bush of fear-mongering and misrepresenting the facts.

Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney met with Republican congressional leaders in the Oval Office to discuss the impasse with the Democratic-led House. Lawmakers left Thursday for a 12-day recess without acting on the law, which expires at midnight Saturday. The president said Congress should complete work on the bill as soon as possible.

Bush argues that without the extension, the intelligence community will not have the tools necessary for protecting the nation from terrorism. Democrats, equally adamant, say he has the authority he needs to intercept terrorist communications, even if the law expires.

"American citizens must understand, clearly understand that there's still a threat on the homeland. There's still an enemy which would like to do us harm," Bush said. "We've got to give our professionals the tools they need, to be able to figure out what the enemy is up to so we can stop it."

"By blocking this piece of legislation, our country is more in danger of an attack," he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a statement Friday, said Bush was "misrepresenting the facts on our nation's electronic surveillance capabilities." She said his refusal to support a temporary extension of the law "can only mean he knows our intelligence agencies will be able to do all the wiretapping they need to do to protect the nation."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a separate statement, said that the expiration of the law does not threaten the safety of Americans. "The president and his allies know this," Reid said. "It is time for them to stop fear-mongering and start being honest with the American people about national security."

Republicans insist there's no time to waste. "The Democratic leaders ought to be held accountable for their inaction," House Republican leader John Boehner told reporters after the White House meeting.

Behind both sides' rhetoric, the issue of what the government can and can't do is complicated by a quirk in the temporary eavesdropping law adopted by Congress last August. It allows the government to initiate wiretaps for up to one year against a wide range of targets. It also explicitly compels telecommunications companies to comply with the orders, and protects them from civil lawsuits that may be filed against them for doing so.

The administration contends the companies will be reluctant to facilitate eavesdropping on foreign terror suspects if the firms face the threat of class action lawsuits, reports CBS News correspondent Peter Maer.

While the wiretap orders can go on for a year from the time they started, the compliance orders and the liability protections go away when the law expires Saturday night, says Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell.

"There is no longer a way to compel the private sector to help us," he said Thursday in an Associated Press interview.

Even if the law expires, the government can get an order from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to compel their cooperation. That court was created 30 years ago for just such a purpose. But McConnell rejects that option. He says the process of getting a court order ties intelligence agents up in red tape.

The 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requires court permission to tap wires inside the United States. Changes in technology since then mean much of the world's computer and phone traffic passes through the United States, much of it on fiber-optic cable. Successive court cases say court orders are needed to listen in on any of them, McConnell said.

To get a court order, intelligence agents have to prove they have "probable cause" to believe a target is foreign agent or terrorist before being allowed to tap a line inside the United States, even if the communication originates and ends in a foreign country.

It is difficult for intelligence agents piecing together shreds of information to get enough to merit probable cause, he said. By the time they can amass enough information to do that, the phone number they wanted to track might already be obsolete, McConnell said.

"More than likely we would miss the very information we need to prevent some horrendous act from taking place in the United States," he said.

The FISA law does make provisions for fleeting targets when there is not time to fill out the paperwork. Within a few days, though, the paperwork must be completed and probable cause proved to get an order approved.

The easy solution, say Democratic congressional leaders, is to extend the current law long enough to allow the House and Senate to work out the differences in their respective surveillance bills. The House finished its version in October, but the Senate did not finish until this week, pushing Congress hard up against the deadline.

The law had been set to expire on Feb. 1. The White House reluctantly agreed to a 15-day extension but refuses to approve any more, and has appealed to House leaders to simply approve the version approved by the Senate, which includes the legal immunity for telecom companies the president wants.

The immunity provision protects phone companies that helped the government in its warrantless wiretapping program conducted outside the authority of the FISA court, a feature the House intentionally left out.

[hungry1968]

I don''t even know why this guy talks anymore. He has not only lost all of his credibility, he has also lost the credibility of the office he holds.

I have more respect for Bozo the Clown that I do for this crackpot.

[mcvet]

It''s so obvious what he and the Fascist are trying to do here. This piece of Human Trash has broken the law and he needs this to protect his behind. God how did we EVER allow something like this to become dictator of our nation? Sieg Heil Bush

[trillion1]

If we are attacked it will because bush and the GOP refused to secure our borders. No dumping that in someone elses lap.

Please Dems, don''t fall for Bush''s craven fear-mongering again. Please protect the Constitution.

[macusweil]

Bush and the telecoms both broke the law. Now he wants them Dems to cover his behind?

I hope they leave him twisting. I do not believe any of his claim of the dire need to spy without a warrant.

When has Bush ever been truthful in the past??

[inventagod]

Dear Mr. Bu$h

NO.

Signed, USA

[mcvet]

Attn Bush Hater: what was your opinion of the policy called ''''Echelon''''...?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:22 PM : Feb 15, 2008
+ report abuse

Get off you knees bootlicker... it''s embarrassing. The ONLY thing that''s going to expire here is the protection this piece of trash needs to cover his butt. But to you freaks, who so desperately want a dictator, that doesn''t matter does it? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[liberalvet]

Let the little piece of s''hit throw his temper tantrum. Idiots and right wing zealots are the only people that listen to him anymore....

[jerr11]

With leaders like Bush who needs terrorists?

The score so far:

Bin Laden: 2,740 DEAD AMERICANS on 9/11

Bush: 4000 DEAD AMERICANS (and counting) in Iraq

Bush wins hands down!

[jjp735i]

Our country is in more danger of an attack because Bush & Friends have left us weak and vulnerable at home. The military is streached thin at home and abroad. We can''t trust the national intelligence agency''s reports anymore because Bush & Cheney twist any intel to reflect what they want it to say. We can''t trust terror alerts anymore because Bush & friends claimed so many false ones while stealing the White House a second time. More than half the country distrust the President. One would think Bush would shut up by now.

[liberalvet]

One would think Bush would shut up by now.


Posted by jjp735i at 12:31 PM : Feb 15, 2008

His ego will not let him shut up, just like it will not allow him to think logically......

[barbaraf4]

"With leaders like Bush who needs terrorists?

The score so far:

Bin Laden: 2,740 DEAD AMERICANS on 9/11

Bush: 4000 DEAD AMERICANS (and counting) in Iraq

Bush wins hands down!" Posted by jerr11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I still am not sure that Bin Laden had anything to do with 9/11. Remember our information source has always been the Bush Administration. Personally I wouldn''t believe anything any of them said if their tongues were notorized.

[j-whitman]

"If the bill doesn''t pass, America will be attacked, If it doesn''t give the lobbyists what they want, I will veto it" ---

-- Maybe Air Force 1 will run out of gas on the way to Africa like Huckabee''s bus, & America will be safer.

[terrapin78]

So why are YOU, GWB, endangering our "security" to ensure that telecoms get immunity instead of worrying about an attack?

You are very transparent, that you will do anything to get the telecoms off the hook even endangering the US (which I do not believe).

And also, the tools are there to do the surveillances legally. Not illegally as done in this mis-Administration.

[liberalvet]

Any Bush hater here has an opinion of ''''Echelon'''' ???

any of you ladies care to comment on ''''Echelon'''' ???

DIDN''''T THINK SO -

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:35 PM : Feb 15, 2008

Just so you can rant and rave here is your bone NEOCON. Echelon is wrong.... It is a blatant violation of privacy. Now I understand your limited intelligence will nto allow for me to have my opinion so please go ahead and follow GWB and GOP policy of forcing your opinion down my throat....

[jerr11]

Any Bush hater here has an opinion of ''''Echelon'''' ???

any of you ladies care to comment on ''''Echelon'''' ???

DIDN''''T THINK SO -

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:35 PM : Feb 15, 2008



I think it means shut up, mofo as*shole.

[terrapin78]

Any Bush hater here has an opinion of ''''Echelon'''' ???

any of you ladies care to comment on ''''Echelon'''' ???

DIDN''''T THINK SO -

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:35 PM : Feb 15, 2008

Are you giving out secrets here on this board?

You are aiding the terrorists talking about Echelon.

I am sending your name into my cousin at NSA to investigate you!

[notblue]

What if BUsh is right?? Is the potential risk to innocents outwayed by political hatred for Bush, would all the Bush haters give up a toll used to protect simply out of hatred for the president? If one was to frequent these post the answer is YES! That''s where we have come to in this country, forget about protection just hate the political rivals! That''s trumps everything even if it means self destruction. If an attack happens now because your afraid of the government listening in on oversees calls made by terrorists these same people will still blame Bush and America, never the attackers.

[liberalme]

(AP) President Bush said Friday that "our country is in more danger of an attack" because of Congress'' failure to extend a law that makes it easier for the government to spy on foreign phone calls and e-mails that pass through the United States.


Where is he getting his information from--we are in more danger of attack??

He isn''t mentioning from who? Could it be???

Is Bush planning something? What''s he "hinting at"?

Hmmmm I think he needs to be waterboarded to find out what he knows, where he got his information from and "when"!

If he (obviously) knows something--listening in on a phone call won''t stop it--we need action!!

Go get em George---save us oh massa ruler!!
When pigs fly__I wouldn''t want to count on the POS to keep us safe.

[ioweign]

-- Maybe Air Force 1 will run out of gas on the way to Africa like Huckabee''''s bus, & America will be safer.

Posted by j-whitman at 12:34 PM : Feb 15, 2008


***** floats...

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo,,,, Echelon ?? -- You''ve learned a new word, good ---

--- If it can be limited to military or terrorist inteligence gathering fine,, If not, it''s right out of George Orwell''s ''Big Brother'' & No Regulation Republicans certainly can''t be trusted with that program.

[liberalvet]

What if BUsh is right?? Is the potential risk to innocents outwayed by political hatred for Bush, would all the Bush haters give up a toll used to protect simply out of hatred for the president? If one was to frequent these post the answer is YES! That''''s where we have come to in this country, forget about protection just hate the political rivals! That''''s trumps everything even if it means self destruction. If an attack happens now because your afraid of the government listening in on oversees calls made by terrorists these same people will still blame Bush and America, never the attackers.


Posted by notblue at 12:43 PM : Feb 15, 2008

Are you not the pot calling the kettle black. You hypocritcal jerk. You make the above statement and then will just as quickly turn around and do the very same thing solely because of your hatred for Bill Clinton and the Democratic party.

[ioweign]

reason no too many know what it is: the liberal media wasn''t really covering stories like this back then, too busy covering midnight basketball leagues and oval office bj''s....!

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:46 PM : Feb 15, 2008

It used VAX computers...that was some time ago...under the original cut and run - Reagan...

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,,, When has Bush ever been right, let alone ever told America the truth about anything ????

[terrapin78]

Bu$h right, now I have heard everything!!!LOL

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo,,,, Looks like your C-130 already took off

[notblue]

neoconism, it''s not southern neocons that a blowing up innocents around the world. Your extreme untrue rhetoric is more destructive to this country than all the neocons in the south. Your style is what has devided this country.

[jeff-fla]

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Ben Franklin

It really sums up the whole issue.

Think about it. What do you think made this country so great?

[ioweign]

What if BUsh is right?? Is the potential risk to innocents outwayed by political hatred for Bush, would all the Bush haters give up a toll used to protect simply out of hatred for the president? If one was to frequent these post the answer is YES! That''''s where we have come to in this country, forget about protection just hate the political rivals! That''''s trumps everything even if it means self destruction. If an attack happens now because your afraid of the government listening in on oversees calls made by terrorists these same people will still blame Bush and America, never the attackers.

Posted by notblue at 12:43 PM : Feb 15, 2008

If Bush is sooo concerned then why didn''t he listen to Richard Clark and stay focused on Afghanistan when we invaded there.

They will not pass this bill with ALL this immunity because the telecos were letting Bush spy before 911. If they are innocent then they have nothing to fear...

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo,,,,,, You republicans keep outing covert CIA Agents in War Time, & creating more Cold Wars Echelon would be needed --

- Then again,, You republicans would just privatize it for your concept of ''Smaller Government'' & sell it to China or the UAE who gave us 9/11

[rowdytexan2]

"There is no longer a way to compel the private sector to help us," he said Thursday in an Associated Press interview.

Bull, go get your warrant on spy on the suspected terrorist all you want to!

[neoconrcrazy]

little rich bushit is desparate to leave the continued impression on the American people that he acted to protect this country - that''s why the unending "sky is falling" "we''re under attack" tiresome rhetoric.

by now he knows too well he made a mega-mistake, intended or not, the facts speak for themselves-

more dead Americans than 911
650''00 dead iraqis
billions wasted
OBL mastermind still at large
Taliban regrouping
nuclear proliferation skyrocketing
new terror cells springing up everywhere

the worst and most dangerous president, a failure, and he has left us with a big cleaning-up job to do.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,, "What if bush is right" --- What if the Moon is made of Green Cheese ??

[jedi08]

Hey RoudyTexan, whats up with your Girl Hillary????

[bogusbones]

how long is this guy going to continue to shove the "terrorist" bunk down our throats. somehow i can just see him cowering in a corner of the white house waiting for the iranian navy to come steaming up the potomac. between him and the soft on terror schtick and rudy g''s 9/11 rumblings, they keep pounding the fear factor.
on another note, the blowing up of the satellite, i can see little georgie boy sitting with the generals thinking how cool it will be to watch the thing blow up. star wars. this guy is so far out of touch with reality, it''s shameful and sinful.
george, do what larry craig should do - resign.

[ioweign]

ECHELON

The centre near San Francisco has also been used to train staff from the "Technical Department" of the People''s Liberation Army General Staff, which is the Chinese version of GCHQ. The Department operates two ultra-secret joint US-Chinese listening stations in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, close to the Soviet Siberian border. Allegedly, such surveillance systems are only used to target Soviet or Warsaw Pact communications signals, and those suspected of involvement in espionage and terrorism. But those involved in ECHELON have stressed to Congress that there are no formal controls over who may be targeted. And I have been told that junior intelligence staff can feed target names into the system at all levels, without any check on their authority to do so. Witnesses giving evidence to the Congressional inquiry have discussed whether the Democratic presidential contender Jesse Jackson was targeted; one source implied that he had been. Even test engineers from manufacturing companies are able to listen in on private citizens'' communications, the inquiry was told.

But because of the special Executive Order signed by President Reagan, US intelligence operatives who know about such politically sensitive operations face jail sentences if they speak out--despite the constitutional American protection of freedom of speech and of the press.

[j-whitman]

jedi08,,,, What''s up with your McCain wanting to keep our troops in Iraq for the next 100 years ???

What''s up with his "Surrendering" to the "Religion of Intollerance" he hates ????

[prinzowhales]

I hope everyone will go to this site...scroll down to the direct link to the short film of the US soldier bragging and joking about the murder and torture of Iraqis and the gang rape of a 15 year old Iraqi girl who later hanged herself. The link is about 7 links below the ''Ron Paul for President banner" the page.

http://www.thepowerhour.com/news.htm

These people are still on the loose. Call your Congress and lets see them put behind bars for a long long time.

[trglazier]

Republicons answer this for me %u2026
If the country is in such extreme danger if the FISA act is not extended along with retroactive immunity to the telecomm companies - why is Bush going to veto the bill if it does not contain that immunity? Is it because he values AT&T and Verizon, et al, more than the American public? Or, perhaps, because the danger Bush speaks of is just hype and cover to protect his big business interests? Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm.

[prinzowhales]

Bush needs this law to protect us...from terrorists who can''t figure out how to walk across the open border of the US from Mexico.

[bm6005]

noclue:

"My country right or wrong" again eh? Just like Viet Nam, another war started by lies (Gulf of Tonkin incident).

[piercetheval]

...the last days of this Bozo are nearing. Let''s shut the door for good on his B.S.

[j-whitman]

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell says,,, "Well, maybe this will happen, or, maybe this will happen" --

-- Truth is, phone company''s are allready protected in cooperating with the government in good faith. & Red Tape doesn''t slow down FISA

Neither repubs or dems can live without the TelCom industries lobby money.

[bm6005]

Posted by notblue at 12:43 PM : Feb 15, 2008
Are you not the pot calling the kettle black. You hypocritcal jerk. You make the above statement and then will just as quickly turn around and do the very same thing solely because of your hatred for Bill Clinton and the Democratic party.
Posted by LiberalVet

Why do you think my name for him is noclue? But be careful, he tried to join but had debilitating injuries from HS football so he''s pretty tough! BTW I really, really, really hate the draft dodging president Boosh.

[abp100100]

could he be any more of an a*s*ole? maybe there are cannibals in africa that will find him acceptable to eat and do us all a favor. whoops, that would make heil cheney president. well looking at it i guess w is the lesser of evils but not by much. can''t january get here faster? i''d even take mccain over this idiot.

[harrydoghiny]

Congress offered a temporary extension of the bill, in return Bush threatened a veto. If we are attacked in the interim, the blame rests solely on his shoulders. Bush is compromising the safety of the American people, not Congress.

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo ---- Contrary to GOP''s consistantly lowering standards of what a win is -- "Basically WON" is mearly a supposition & we don''t WIN wars on suppositions.

[jerkeedoodle]

It''s about time!But what''s their motive?Is it to preserve the constitution,or thwart this twerp?I''d say it''s a little more of the secomd than the first.S.O.B. needs to take an 11 month long vacation.Go see his dad.What''s his name? Kenny Bunkport? LOL

[taddles-2009]

""By blocking this piece of legislation, our country is more in danger of an attack," he said. "

Bush you are a lying sack of $hit!

FISA has not impeded you in doing ANY intelligence into terrorism, saying otherwise is just a lie. You have had 6 warrants out of several thousand turned down so saying that you can''t get them is just a stupid lie. You can get the warrants after the fact so the expediency garbage is yet another lie.

What you want is for FISA to be so irrelevant that you can do the ILLEGAL investigations you want to do, that''s the only justification for your so called "overhaul" of the FISA regulations.

Your time in office has been the biggest disgrace in this countries history. You are an insult to everything that is good about this country. The sooner you and your vile cronies are all permanently removed from office the better off this world will be. Your legacy will be amount to nothing more than a three word side note in every history book...WORST PRESIDENT EVER!

[pandamonium6]

And President Bush cried "WOLF..."
And the American People said "SO..."