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| Home Front: Politix |
| No probe on NSA spying program |
| 2006-03-08 |
| Senate Republicans on Tuesday rejected demands by Democrats to investigate the controversial National Security Agency domestic spying programme but agreed to legislative proposals to provide more Congressional oversight. Democrats immediately accused Republicans of capitulating to pressure from the White House, which has lobbied hard against an investigation. "This committee is basically under control of the White House,'' said Jay Rockefeller, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, after the Republican-led committee decided against an investigation. "It's an unprecedented bout of political pressure from the White House.'' Democrats on the committee had argued for the need to open an investigation into the secret programme, under which the NSA was granted authority to eavesdrop on the international communications of Americans suspected of having links with al-Qaeda and affiliated terror groups. Pat Roberts, the Republican chairman of the committee, defended the decision, saying an investigation could compromise US national security. "We should fight the enemy, not fight each other,'' said Mr Roberts. President George W. Bush has strongly defended the programme since the New York Times in December reported that in 2001 he authorised the NSA to start conducting warrantless eavesdropping of Americans. The White House argues that Mr Bush has the authority to approve the programme. But critics have accused him of breaking the law by bypassing the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), which allows eavesdropping after permission has been granted by the secret Fisa court. Before the intelligence committee voted on Tuesday, Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican senator, said it was important to have "another set of eyes outside the administration" to maintain public support for the programme. While rejecting calls for an investigation, Senate Republicans did agree to introduce legislation to provide oversight of the programme. Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican senator, said he would introduce a bill that would require the wiretapping programme to be reviewed every 45 days. Under the proposed legislation, after that period, the administration would either have to seek a warrant from the Fisa court for individual cases, cease the eavesdropping, or explain to Congress why they did not want to ask Fisa for a warrant. Mr De Wine also said the proposal would give the intelligence committee greater oversight over the programme, and would work by examining wiretappings on a "case by case" basis. "Today does represent a very significant day from the standpoint that we are reasserting congressional responsibility and oversight with respect to this programme of unwarranted surveillances," said Olympia Snow, a Republican senator from Maine. "It is no surprise that the Republican-controlled Senate intelligence committee has once again caved in to the wishes of the White House and refused even to open an investigation," said Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader. "We cannot effectively legislate on the NSA spying issue if we do not know the facts, and we will not know them if the Republican-controlled intelligence committee persists in refusing to do its job." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 I really wish some of the Dems would read the Constitution and pay attention to the Separation of Powers. NSA is an instrument through which the President (not congress) protects the Country. All Presidents have used this agency for pretty much the same process since it was established in 1947. All of a sudden in 2006 they (Democrats) feel a need to ride roughshod over the day-to-day operations of the military/NSA. Note: Most of NSAs spying is conducted by the Military. Harry Reid is Not the CINC so he can disagree all hw wants but Bush really has no legal mandate to notify Congress at all, keep them in the loop, or go before them and justify operations. Congress can defund those operations or pass laws restricting them, but the Dems donÂ’t want that they just want to be in the drivers seat. Note to Harry: When you become President you can play the game your way. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-03-08 10:50 |
| #1 I recommend the Lubyanka Special. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-03-08 01:53 |