Bush signs bill overhauling eavesdropping rules

[Nefertari]

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
50 minutes ago
 


WASHINGTON - President Bush signed a bill Thursday that overhauls rules about government eavesdropping and grants immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the U.S. spy on Americans in suspected terrorism cases.
He called it "landmark legislation that is vital to the security of our people."

Bush signed the measure in a Rose Garden ceremony a day after the Senate sent it to him, following nearly a year of debate in the Democratic-led Congress over surveillance rules and the warrantless wiretapping program Bush initiated after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was a battle that pitted privacy and civil liberties concerns against the desire to prevent terrorist attacks and Democrats' fears of being portrayed as weak when it comes to protecting the country.

Its passage was a major victory for Bush, an unpopular lame-duck president who nevertheless has been able to prevail over Congress on most issues of national security and intelligence disputes.

Bush said the 9/11 attack "changed our country forever" and taught the intelligence community that it must know who America's enemies are talking to and what they are saying.

"In the aftermath of 9/11," Bush said, "few would have imagined that we would be standing here seven years later without another attack on American soil. The fact that the terrorists have failed to strike our shores again does not mean that our enemies have given up."

Even before Bush signed the legislation, the American Civil Liberties Union said it would challenge the new law in court.

The president said the bill gives the government anti-terror tools it needs without compromising Americans' civil liberties.

Bush was joined at the ceremony by Vice President Dick Cheney, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and more than a dozen members of Congress.

[360 overstand]

they just creating the apparatus to know all things about all peoples so when dollar tanks and its bedlam outside they have all tools in place to suppress it.

all they did is justify all the illegal things theyve been doing since 9/11 and most likely before..just know your enemy and know theyre weapons...laptop webcams..internal mics.. basically counter surviellance techniques

[Djehuty]

they just creating the apparatus to know all things about all peoples so when dollar tanks and its bedlam outside they have all tools in place to suppress it.

all they did is justify all the illegal things theyve been doing since 9/11 and most likely before..just know your enemy and know theyre weapons...laptop webcams..internal mics.. basically counter surviellance techniques

Righteousness and consciousness is the key.

You know, if all citizens became conscious and righteous (not violating a single criminal or civil statute) government would die!

The stolen IRS income tax money would not be enough because it doesn't go on the government but to the Queen of England and the stockholders of the U.S. corporation.