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Bush vigorously defends domestic spying
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-20 09:01
Accused of acting above the law, US President Bush forcefully defended a
domestic spying program on Monday as an effective tool in disrupting terrorists
and insisted it was not an abuse of Americans' civil liberties.
Bush said it was "a shameful act" for someone to have leaked details to the
media. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said it was "probably the most
classified program that exists in the United States government" 錕斤拷 involving
electronic intercepts of telephone calls and e-mails in the U.S. of people with
known ties to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.
At a news conference, Bush bristled at the suggestion he was assuming
unlimited powers.
"To say 'unchecked power' basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial
position to the president, which I strongly reject," he said angrily in a
finger-pointing answer. "I am doing what you expect me to do, and at the same
time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country."
![US President Bush looks down during a press conference in the East Room of the White House, December 19, 2005. [Reuters]](xin_121202200904052191694.jpg)
US President Bush looks down during a press
conference in the East Room of the White House, December 19, 2005.
[Reuters] | Despite Bush's defense, there was a
growing storm of criticism from Congress and calls for investigations, from
Democrats and Republicans alike. West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the top
Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, released a handwritten letter
expressing concern to Vice President Dick Cheney after being briefed more than
two years ago.
Rockefeller complained then that the information was so restricted he was
"unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse these activities." He registered
concern about the administration's direction on security, technology and
surveillance issues.
Sen. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he would ask
Bush's Supreme Court nominee, Samuel Alito, his views of the president's
authority for spying without a warrant.
"Where does he find in the Constitution the authority to tap the wires and
the phones of American citizens without any court oversight?" asked Sen. Carl
Levin. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Bush's interpretation of the Constitution was
"incorrect and dangerous."
Bush said he had asked, "Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the
answer is, absolutely,"
The spying uproar was the latest controversy about Bush's handling of the war
on terror, after questions about secret prisons in Eastern Europe,
secrecy-cloaked government directives, torture allegations and a death toll of
more than 2,150 Americans in Iraq. As a result, Bush's approval rating has
slumped as has Americans' confidence in his leadership.
Appealing for support, Bush used the word "understand" 25 times in a nearly
hour-long news conference. "I hope the American people understand 錕斤拷 there is
still an enemy that would like to strike the United States of America, and
they're very dangerous," he said. Similarly, he said he hoped that blacks who
doubt his intentions "understand that I care about them."
Bush challenged Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton 錕斤拷 without naming them 錕斤拷 to allow a final vote on legislation renewing
the anti-terror Patriot Act, saying it was inexcusable to let it expire. "I want
senators from New York or Los Angeles or Las Vegas to go home and explain why
these cities are safer" without the extension, he said.
Reid and Clinton both helped block passage of the legislation in the Senate
last week.
Bush noted that U.S. intelligence agencies have been faulted for failing to
"connect the dots" about threats to the nation's security. He said the Patriot
Act and the spying program help take care of that problem.
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