WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- President Bush dismissed congressional criticism Monday and defended his use of non-court approved wiretaps of terror suspects.
The monitoring of international telephone calls from the United States from people "that are known al-Qaida ties and/or affiliates" was legal and necessary to defend the country in a time of war, he said.
Word of the secret program, launched in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States, came in media reports.
Bush said the government still went to court to get approved wiretaps, but some conversations by an adaptable enemy were of short duration and needed to be monitored just as quickly. Monitoring without court orders in some cases "enables us to move faster and quicker," he said. "We've got to be fast on our feet, quick to detect and prevent (an attack)," he said.
He said congressional leaders had been briefed on the monitoring more than 12 times since its inception and the program was constantly being reviewed by various agencies to ensure, among other things, the protection of civil rights.
"I want to assure the American people that I am doing what you expect me to do, which is to safeguard civil liberties and at the same time protect the United States of America."
He argued that to have a special congressional resolution to approve his specific action would have clued terrorists into what the plan was. He said court-ordered monitoring was also being followed.
