Bush calls on Congress to adopt FISA reforms

[babylonsister]

Bush calls on Congress to adopt FISA reforms
By Aman Ali
July 28, 2007

President Bush Saturday pressed Congress to update a security law that would ease restrictions on secret surveillance of terror suspects, a proposal that many Democrats and civil liberty groups are viewing with great suspicion.

Bush said the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 was “badly out of date,” and Congress should pass the updates his administration proposed before it leaves for recess in August.

“Every day that Congress puts off these reforms increases the danger to our nation,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “Our intelligence community warns that under the current statute, we are missing a significant amount of foreign intelligence that we should be collecting to protect our country.”

The administration’s updates to FISA focus heavily on modern technologies not around when the bill was passed almost 30 years ago, such as cellular phones and e-mail. Bush argues that the extended powers his proposal grants are essential to national security.

“It will streamline administrative processes so our intelligence community can gather foreign intelligence more quickly and more effectively, while protecting civil liberties,” Bush said.

However, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) stated this week that the Bush Administration abuses the current FISA law and should not be granted further powers.

“This supposed self-examination, with no involvement by the courts, no report to Congress, and no other outside check, essentially translates to ‘trust us,’” Leahy said. “With a history of civil liberties abuses and cover-ups, this Administration has squandered our trust.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-calls-on-congress-to-adopt-fisa-reforms-2007-07-28.html

[Botany]

1. Isn't this like the robber leaving the bank and asking for the keys ....

... and saying he promises not to rob the bank again?

The NSA spying has not produced one person arrested and
or charged with terrorism or anything close.

[cynatnite]

2. He must've forgot about the ones he made in Oct. 2001...

The changes, effective today, will help counter a threat like no other our Nation has ever faced. . . .

We're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even available when our existing laws were written. The bill before me takes account of the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It will help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle, to disrupt, and to punish terrorists before they strike. . . .

Surveillance of communications is another essential tool to pursue and stop terrorists. The existing law was written in the era of rotary telephones. This new law I sign today will allow surveillance of all communications used by terrorists, including e-mails, the Internet, and cell phones. As of today, we'll be able to better meet the technological challenges posed by this proliferation of communications technology. . .

In his radio address the following week, this is what the President said about the changes to FISA:

The bill I signed yesterday gives intelligence and law enforcement officials additional tools they need to hunt and capture and punish terrorists. Our enemies operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, using the latest means of communication and the new weapon of bioterrorism.

When earlier laws were written, some of these methods did not even exist. The new law recognizes the realities and dangers posed by the modern terrorist. It will help us to prosecute terrorist organizations -- and also to detect them before they strike. . . .

Surveillance of communications is another essential method of law enforcement. But for a long time, we have been working under laws written in the era of rotary telephones. Under the new law, officials may conduct court-ordered surveillance of all modern forms of communication used by terrorists.

George Bush justified the sweeping expansion of FISA back in October of 2001 by insisting that the changes allowed full-scale surveillance of all modern means of communications -- including email and cell phones.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/21/fisa_changes/index.html

[Stargazer99]

3. I pray to God that the congress tells Mr. Bush

where to go

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Another "The Bogeyman is Gonna Getcha" law for the "land of the free and home of the brave".

Our new national motto should be, "Mommy! There's a monster under my bed!"

[kenny blankenship]

5. You in the chimp suit--we've heard enough from you. Shut it!

[Jillian]

6. Oh right - 6 years later he decides to play by the rules?

Kinda late!

[windy252]

7. K & R.

I wonder if Congress and the Senate will be gullible enough to be "duped" again by this.

[babylonsister]

8. I'm thinking no; Leahy said as much. But I've been surprised/disgusted

before.