Bush Chides Congress Over Spy Law Lapse

Bush Chides Congress Over Spy Law Lapse

Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:52 PM



WASHINGTON -- President Bush scolded Congress for allowing a government eavesdropping law to expire at midnight Saturday, saying the failure to act will make it more difficult to track terrorists and "we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America."

Bush used his weekly radio address to escalate his war of words with the Democratic leadership of Congress. The Democrats accuse Bush of fear-mongering and misrepresenting the facts.

The president wanted the House to approve a Senate bill that would have renewed a law that made it easier for the government to spy on foreign phone calls and e-mails that pass through the United States. Bush opposed a temporary extension of the bill, and lawmakers left for a 12-day recess without extending the law.

"Some congressional leaders claim that this will not affect our security," the president said. "They are wrong. Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. At midnight, the attorney general and the director of National Intelligence will be stripped of their power to authorize new surveillance against terrorist threats abroad. This means that as terrorists change their tactics to avoid our surveillance, we may not have the tools we need to continue tracking them—and we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America."