Gonzales defends NSA, rejects call for prosecutor

Another of Bush's cronies defends his illegal wiretapping. I don't understand how it can be so easy for them to blatantly lie to the public like that. Hell to lie to anyone like that. They must almost believe it themselves by now.

In an interview with CNN's "Larry King Live," Gonzales rejected a call earlier in the day from former Vice President Al Gore for a special prosecutor to investigate the program, under which the NSA has intercepted international communications of people inside the United States without obtaining a warrant.

"This program from its inception has been carefully reviewed by lawyers from throughout the administration, people who are experienced in this area of the law," Gonzales said. "We believe the president does have the legal authorities to authorize this program."

"We need to know who the enemy is. We need to know what the enemy is thinking. We need to know where the enemy is thinking about striking us again."

Gonzales also said he was "looking forward" to testifying at upcoming congressional hearings on the NSA surveillance program.

"I'm anxious to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm anxious to talk to the American people about the importance of this program and the legal authorities that support this program," he said.

Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Bush authorized the NSA to intercept communications between people inside the United States, including U.S. citizens, and known terror suspects overseas, without obtaining a warrant. Bush and other administration officials contend his constitutional powers as commander-in-chief, as well as a congressional resolution passed in the wake of 9/11, provide the legal authority for the warrantless surveillance.

But critics of the program have questioned that legal rationale, pointing to a law passed by Congress in the 1970s requiring executive branch agencies to get approval for domestic surveillance requests from a special court set up for that purpose, whose proceedings are secret to protect national security.

In a speech Monday, Gore, who served as vice president during the Clinton administration and who lost to Bush in the 2000 presidential election, called the program a "gross and excessive power grab" and charged that Bush "has been breaking the law repeatedly and persistently." (Full story)

In response, Gonzales said the Clinton administration publicly took the position that a president has the authority to authorize even physical searches without a warrant, if national security was at stake. He said that stance seems "to be inconsistent with what the former vice president was saying today."

You're kidding me. This is the reason they are saying "Clinton did it too"? O.K. here's the facts people. Clinton authorized searches without a warrant if there is "Probable Cause" The same right Police have each and every day.

Remember people. Bush is saying the Constitution is wrong and that he has the right to not follow it if he doesn't have to.

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Your phone is one of your effects.

Here is the link to the entire article:
Gonzales defends NSA, rejects call for prosecutor

Technorati tags: Gonzales, NSA, Wiretap