Intelligence Chiefs Urge Easing of Spy Rules

INTELLIGENCE CHIEFS URGE EASING OF SPY RULES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: David Morgan]
Three administration officials, including CIA Director Michael Hayden, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to press lawmakers to ease warrant requirements for the surveillance of al Qaeda suspects. "Why should our laws make it more difficult to target al Qaeda communications that are most important to us -- those entering or leaving this country," Hayden said. The four-star Air Force general set up President George W. Bush's warrantless surveillance program in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks while he was director of the National Security Agency. The program allows the government to eavesdrop on the international phone calls and e-mails of U.S. citizens without obtaining a warrant, if in pursuit of al Qaeda. Hayden said most of the phone calls involve al Qaeda suspects overseas calling people inside the United States. Members of Congress say the program could overstep President Bush's authority as commander in chief and appears to violate the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. FISA requires warrants for individual eavesdropping suspects inside the United States.
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