Could This Fish Begin to Stink?

Bush signs bill overhauling eavesdropping rules

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Jul 10, 1:42 PM (ET)

By JENNIFER LOVEN

(AP) President Bush, accompanied by Attorney General Michael Mukasey, left, and Director of National... Full Image

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.

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.

On it's merits this looks like it would be a good thing, but and there always seems to be a but doesn't there. Can anyone tell me how any Americans there were involved in the last 9/11 attacks? Last count was ZERO. Even though GB is correct and deserves all the credit for

"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."

this fish may well begin to stink of "Americans" are targeted or this "law" gets used in "other types" of possible crimes.