Democrats Appear Ready to Extend NSA Wiretap Powers

October 8, 2007

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Although no one is certain how this will all play out in the coming days, a Democratic bill will be proposed Tuesday in the House, that will keep the current blanket authority for N.S.A. wiretapping in place for several more years. Currently the program is operating under a 6 extension that was granted in August.

Regardless of the arguments put forth against this proposal by various civil liberties advocates, wiretapping remains one of the most effective tools we have in the fight against terrorism and has prevented numerous terrorist strikes both here and abroad.

Read more from the New York Times

Two months after insisting that they would roll back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush administration, Democrats in Congress appear ready to make concessions that could extend some crucial powers given to the National Security Agency.

Administration officials say they are confident they will win approval of the broadened authority that they secured temporarily in August as Congress rushed toward recess. Some Democratic officials concede that they may not come up with enough votes to stop approval.

As the debate over the eavesdropping powers of the National Security Agency begins anew this week, the emerging measures reflect the reality confronting the Democrats.

Although willing to oppose the White House on the Iraq war, they remain nervous that they will be called soft on terrorism if they insist on strict curbs on gathering intelligence.

Read More - New York Times

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