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August 05, 2007
House Approves Foreign Wiretap Bill
House approves foreign wiretap bill (227-183 vote)
August 4, 2007 - 11:27pm
By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP)
The House handed President Bush a victory Saturday, voting to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States.
The 227-183 vote, which followed the Senate's approval Friday, sends the bill to Bush for his signature. He had urged Congress to approve it, saying Saturday, "Protecting America is our most solemn obligation."
The administration said the measure is needed to speed the National Security Agency's ability to intercept phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving foreign nationals "reasonably believed to be outside the United States." Civil liberties groups and many Democrats said it goes too far, possibly enabling the government to wiretap U.S. residents communicating with overseas parties without adequate oversight from courts or Congress.
The bill updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. It gives the government leeway to intercept, without warrants, communications between foreigners that are routed through equipment in United States, provided that "foreign intelligence information" is at stake. Bush describes the effort as an anti-terrorist program, but the bill is not limited to terror suspects and could have wider applications, some lawmakers said.
The government long has had substantial powers to intercept purely foreign communications that don't touch U.S. soil.
If a U.S. resident becomes the chief target of surveillance, the government would have to obtain a warrant from the special FISA court.
Congressional Democrats won a few concessions in negotiations earlier in the week. New wiretaps must be approved by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general, not just the attorney general. Congress has battled with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on several issues, and some Democrats have accused him of perjury.
The new law also will expire in six months unless Congress renews it. The administration wanted the changes to be permanent.
Many congressional Democrats wanted tighter restrictions on government surveillance, but yielded in the face of Bush's veto threats and the impending August recess.
"This bill would grant the attorney general the ability to wiretap anybody, any place, any time without court review, without any checks and balances," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., during the debate preceding the vote. "I think this unwarranted, unprecedented measure would simply eviscerate the 4th Amendment," which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
Republicans disputed her description. "It does nothing to tear up the Constitution," said Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif.
If an American's communications are swept up in surveillance of a foreigner, he said, "we go through a process called minimization" and get rid of the records unless there is reason to suspect the American is a threat.
The administration began pressing for changes to the law after a recent ruling by the FISA court. That decision barred the government from eavesdropping without warrants on foreign suspects whose messages were being routed through U.S. communications carriers, including Internet sites.
Key points in the surveillance bill passed by Congress this week:
Yahoo news
* Expands the administration’s powers to eavesdrop, without a court order, on foreign suspects’ communications passing through the United States.
* Requires new wiretaps to be approved by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general, not just the attorney Ggeneral.
* Requires a court-issued warrant when a U.S. resident is the main target of surveillance.
* Requires Congress to reconsider the law in six months.
Wild Thing's comment........
"This bill would grant the attorney general the ability to wiretap anybody, any place, any time without court review, without any checks and balances," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
All you have to do is read the bill, or easier yet this article, to see that this woman was standing there lying through her teeth.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 5, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
... ask these 183 treasonous bastards since when did the U.S. Constitution apply to radical islamic terrorists and murderers that sliced American throats, beheaded American captives, and flew four American & United jumbo jets into our national landmarks and U.S. military headquarters, killing 2,996 innocent civilians?
The kicker is that the national building they voted in - the U.S. Capitol - was targeted by United Flight 93, and that if the passengers didn't take it down in Shanksville PA, a lot of these 183 traitorous represenatives would have been killed on 9-11-01!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at August 5, 2007 06:23 AM
"This bill would grant ...balances," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., ..."I think this unwarranted, unprecedented measure would simply eviscerate the 4th Amendment, ...searches and seizures."
Good Grief! The ONLY people who would fear wire tapping are paranoid or have something to hide (probably illegal or immoral). My dog, Rommel, told me that.
Anyone who listens to my phone better have a lot of coffee to stay awake.
oooooo! "eviscerate"...big word. Congrats, Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif
Posted by: Steve Gaston, "Can You Hear Me Now
Posted by: Steve Gaston, at August 5, 2007 06:57 AM
A small 6 month step in the right direction. I wish the public could freely monitor any Congresscritters phone calls. Heh, heh. Bet we would hear lots of criminal action, treason and perversion.
Posted by: TomR at August 5, 2007 08:02 AM
Darth your so right, they are very fortunate to be alive today. They should be begging for our country to be able to do this.
They can wiretap me anytime. hahaa Gosh If I knew they were I would say, Hi please kill all the terrorists. thank you and have a nice day."
heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 5, 2007 11:32 PM
Steve, LOL I love it and I agree with you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 5, 2007 11:36 PM
Tom oh wow now that is a great idea. I would love that and I bet your right, a lot of criminal action, treason and perversion going on in theirs.
Posted by: Wild Thing at August 5, 2007 11:37 PM
Teufel Hundt Steve... Frau Vader ( from Hamburg West Germany ) say's if you can name your hundt after the Desert Fox Rommel, then we'll name our next Chow Chow KHAN, in honor of Mongol Lord Temujin, Genghis Khan! Do you think Rommel's Panzers or Ghenghis Khan's Mongols would have 'secured' Baghdad after THREE YEARS???
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at August 6, 2007 12:56 AM
