Bush says he authorized use of wiretaps
"the president confirmed media reports that he had authorized the NSA, the government's intensely secret electronic and satellite spy agency, to intercept communications by people living in the United States who are suspected of terrorist activities.
'This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security,' Bush said of the controversial program, launched in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The media reports suggested that the authorization was a significant shift in the NSA's activities, which is normally tasked to spy on communications internationally.
Bush called the media reports improper and suggested they stemmed from illegal leaks of classified information.
'As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk.'"
- posted by geoff @ #