Hoekstra says eavesdropping has lost punch

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says President George W. Bush's secret wiretapping may be of questionable value since it has become public.

"It's been across the media for the last 50 days," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Does anyone really believe that after 50 days of having this program on the front page of our newspapers, across talk shows across America, that al Qaida has not changed the way that it communicates?"

Former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., also appeared on the program --saying the president should continue the program, as long as appropriate changes are made to make sure it complies with federal law.