WASHINGTON, July 10 (Xinhua) --
U.S. President George W. Bush signed on Thursday a new bill that would provide
legal immunity to telecommunication companies that take part in the government's
surveillance program.
U.S. President George W. Bush signs the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act of 2008 in the Rose
Garden of the White House in Washington, July 10,
2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Before signing the bill in the White House, Bush told
audience that the legislation is a landmark that is "vital to the security of
our people."
The
signing ceremony came only one day after the Senate approved the bill,
concluding months of debate between Democratic-dominated Congress and the
Republican government over surveillance rules and legal community for
telecommunication companies involved in the wiretapping program.
Bush said "In the aftermath of 9/11, few would have
imagined that we would be standing here seven years later without another attack
on American soil. The fact that the terrorists have failed to strike our shores
again does not mean that our enemies have given up."
U.S. President George W. Bush shakes hands with U.S.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WVa) after signing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Amendments Act of 2008 in the Rose Garden of the White House
in Washington, July 10, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Last
August, Congress hastily approved at request of Bush's administration the law,
or an update to the 30-year-old Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to allow
the government temporarily having more power to intercept foreign communications
without a court order even involving Americans.
However, Bush still asked Congress to make the
Protect American Act a permanent and expanded law before it is expired on Jan.
31, but was opposed by many Democrats, who hoped to change the law to provide
additional oversight when the authorities eavesdrops on U.S. citizens
communicating with foreign parties.
Bush and his cabinet have repeatedly demanded the
passage of the bill to allow intelligence officials to have tools they need to
detect terrorist plots and connection.
However, human rights activists criticized the bill
for greenlighting warrantless surveillance of the phone calls and e-mails of
Americans who communicate with them.
Before Bush signed the legislation, the American
Civil Liberties Union said it would challenge the new law in court.
WASHINGTON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush won on Wednesday a bill to provide legal immunity to telecommunication
companies that help in the government surveillance program.
Bush said that he would soon sign the bill into law, a
"vital intelligence bill that will allow our national security professionals to
quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorists outside the United
States, while respecting the liberties of the American people." Full story
