New Wiretap Bill Would Leave US Vulnerable
March 12, 2008
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The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday said the House of Representatives was drawing up a new wiretap law that would hamper their job of protecting the people.
The bill is a new attempt at reviving a post-September 11 law that expired last month allowing government spying on foreign telephone calls and electronic correspondence without first seeking a warrant.
The White House and the Democrat-led Congress are at loggerheads over the issue of liability for telecommunications companies participating in the wiretap program.
The House let the law expire on February 16 after it refused to rubber stamp a Senate bill that would have given telecommunication companies immunity from prosecution.
The new version of the House intelligence committee bill would grant immunity from future prosecution, but not retroactive immunity for the companies’ past participation in the warrantless wiretaps by US intelligence agencies.
Calling it a “step backwards,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the new bill “will deprive our intelligence professionals of the tools they need to protect the country from terrorist attack.”
“It is clear that House Democratic leaders have once again bowed to the demands of class-action trial lawyers … and put their ideological interests ahead of the national interest,” Perino said in a statement.
The National Intelligence office said it was particularly worried the new bill “would require prior court approval before allowing surveillance targeting certain foreign terrorist and other national security threats located outside the United States.”
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It seems to me that we have some COWARDS in the house and there is no place for COWARDS when it comes to the SAFETY and SECURITY of the people and country.
If it is so crucial to our security the President should just pass it as it is, and worry about corporate liability later.
As it is, if there is any evidence that someone might pose a security risk, they can go to the FISA court, get a warrant and wiretap If a threat looks imminent, they can tap it and get the warrant later (w/i 72 hours, I believe).