Originally published February 21 2006
Efforts to initiate an investigation into NSA wiretaps continue
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
An independent panel of investigators is being sought by Democratic House leaders to look into the wiretaps the NSA engaged in as part of the revealed program of domestic spying approved by President Bush.
We believe that the President must have the best possible intelligence to protect the American people, but that intelligence must be produced in a manner consistent with our Constitution and our laws, and in a manner that reflects our values as a nation," the letter says.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Minority Whip Steny Hoyer; Rep. John Conyers, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee; and Rep. Henry Waxman, the ranking member on the House Committee on Government Reform, signed the letter.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended Bush's actions, telling "Fox News Sunday" the president had authorized the National Security Agency "to collect information on a limited number of people with connections to al Qaeda."
On Saturday, Bush acknowledged he authorized the NSA to intercept international communications of people in the United States "with known links" to terror groups, and criticized the media for divulging the program.
While the NSA is barred from domestic spying, it can get warrants issued with the permission of a special judicial body called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Court.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said "Congress was never involved" in Bush's decision.
"I think all you need to know is look at former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Bob Graham -- he was never informed of domestic eavesdropping," the Nevada Democrat said on "Fox News Sunday."
"We have to resolve the issue to show Americans we are nation of law not outcomes," Sen.
"There is a theme here that is a bit disturbing," the Judiciary Committee member said.
"I'd like to inquire why they didn't go to the Federal Intelligence Security Act," [FISA] which sets up a special court to authorize national security wiretaps," the senator said.
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