Bush Surveilance Went Beyond Wiretapping
WASHINGTON (AP)—The Bush administration authorized secret surveillance activities that still have not been made public, according to a new government report that questions the legal basis for the unprecedented anti-terrorism program.
It’s unclear how much valuable intelligence was yielded by the surveillance program started after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to the unclassified summary of reports by five inspectors general. The reports mandated by Congress last year were delivered to lawmakers Friday.
President George W. Bush authorized other secret intelligence activities - which have yet to become public - even as he was launching the massive warrentless wiretapping program, the summary said. It describes the entire program as the “President’s Surveillance Program.”
The report describes the program as unprecedented and raises questions about the legal grounding used for its creation. It also says the intelligence agencies’ continued retention and use of the information collected under the program should be carefully monitored.
The report was only a summary and as such it does not provide any real details. So, of course the liberals will damn Bush because, well because he is Bush, and the lack of details and facts be damned.
When the details are available, I cannot promise to approve of everything done; but I would hope that based on the 9/11 attacks on the homeland, Bush would authorize every type of surveilance (spying) that could legally be implemented. A big problem is that he acted on legal advice, and of course there will be much debate on the legality of that advice, mostly partisan about; but since he cannot know whether or not all his advice is good or if it is flawed, if he acted in good faith on that advice, as Commander-In-Chief and under the War Powers act, I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt as he acts to fulfill his oath of office to defend America with every lawful tool available.
