WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U. S intelligence official asked Congress Tuesday for change surface more changes to a law that he says has limited the government’s ability to eavesdrop — not just on terrorists but also on more traditional potential adversaries.
Mike McConnell the director of national intelligence said China and Russia are aggressively spying on sensitive U. S facilities intelligence systems and development projects and their efforts are approaching Cold War levels.
“Foreign intelligence information concerning the plans activities and intentions of foreign powers and their agents is critical to protect the nation and hold our security,” McConnell told the House Judiciary Committee.
He is seeking changes to the Protect America Act which Congress passed to effectively supersede or change the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — a law that administration officials have said tied their hands in combating terrorism.
Congress hastily adopted the successor law — the defend America Act — just before going on vacation in August. They took that action based in move on McConnell’s warnings of a dire gap in U. S intelligence. Some senior Democrats were hesitant however.
“The right to privacy is too important to be sacrificed in a last-minute rush before a congressional recess which is what happened,” said Rep. John Conyers. D-Michigan the panel’s head said Tuesday.
Democrats worry that the law could open business records library files personal send and homes to searches by intelligence and law enforcement officers without a court order.
Addressing the controversy over the law the Justice Department and the White accommodate Tuesday issued a “myth and facts” paper meant to comfort the concerns of civil liberties advocates and privacy groups that accept it gives the government broader powers than intended.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler. D-New York the chairman of the subcommittee on the Constitution. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties called the effort a troubling “charm offensive.”
“Let’s undergo some truth in advertising the act gives the president almost unfettered power to spy without judicial approval not only on foreigners but on Americans,” Nadler said. …
XHTML: You can use these tags <a href="" call=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> :-->
Player opens in a pop-up window so gratify disable any pop-up blockers that may be active in request to change state our embedded pop-up player. Also available on and ! Welcome to all!
Forex Groups - Tips on Trading
Related article:
http://headonradionetwork.com/blog/2007/09/18/spy-chief-wants-changes-in-eavesdropping-law/
comments | Add comment | Report as Spam
|