Bush Defends Legality of NSA Spy Program, Again

[AuntiBush]

"President also discusses Middle East, Abramoff in State of the Union"

You have to create an account to read this, so... in 2 pieces.

By Terence Hunt
The Associated Press
Originally published January 26, 2006, 12:15 PM EST

President Bush suggested today he might resist any congressional move to change his controversial program of warrantless surveillance for terrorist threats and said: "There's no doubt in my mind it is legal."

Bush told a White House news conference that the domestic spying program "is designed to protect civil liberties" and declared that "it's necessary."

Democrats have accused the president of breaking the law in allowing eavesdropping on overseas communications to and from U.S. residents, and even some members of his own party have questioned the practice.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-bush0126,1,518595.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

[AuntiBush]

1. And...

Asked if he would support efforts in Congress to spell out his authority to continue the eavesdropping program, Bush cited what he said was the extreme delicacy of the operation.

"But it's important for people to understand that this program is so sensitive and so important that if information gets out to how we run it or how we operate it, it'll help the enemy," he said. "Why tell the enemy what we're doing?"

"We'll listen to ideas. But I want to make sure that people understand that if the attempt to write law makes this program -- is likely to expose the nature of the program, I'll resist it," he said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-bush0126,1,518595.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

[Quakerfriend]

2. I have found it interesting that he keeps repeating himself, too.

I wish someone would say, "Gee, the REAL terrorists are all using disposable, pre-paid phones anyway!"

[AuntiBush]

3. He does

repeat himself a lot about this issue, doesn't he. Good call.