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U.S. intelligence seeks more surveillance

WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- U.S. officials want to eliminate what they say are burdensome court orders that delay the interception of messages between terrorist targets overseas.

U.S. homeland Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell is asking Congress to change current law "immediately" to expedite surveillance, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

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In a July 25 letter made public Friday, McConnell told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence the changes are needed to "protect the nation in this period of heightened threat."

At issue are changes the White House wants in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including the right to intercept without a warrant any communication between one foreign source and another foreign source traveling through a U.S.-located terminal or switch, The Post reported.

Rep. John F. Tierney, D-Mass., who sits on the committee, said the act already allows for foreign-to-foreign communications to be intercepted, The Post reported.

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