The NSA's Watchfulness Protects America

[Commentary] Since it was exposed in June by leaker Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency's call-records program has become controversial and many have questioned whether its benefits are worth the costs. My answer: The program -- which collects phone numbers and the duration and times of calls, but not the content of any conversations, names or locations -- is necessary and must be preserved if we are to prevent terrorist attacks. The NSA call-records program is working and contributing to our safety. It is legal and it is subject to strict oversight and thorough judicial review. I believe we should increase the program's transparency and its privacy protections. Toward that end, the Senate Intelligence Committee will soon consider a bill to make improvements to these counterterrorism programs. The proposed legislation will, for example, require court review when the call records are queried, and mandate a series of limitations on how the records can be obtained, stored and used. But we must also learn the lesson of 9/11. If we end this vital program, we only make our nation more vulnerable to another devastating terrorist attack.

[Sen Feinstein is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.]