Bush welcomes new US spy bill

Bush welcomes new US spy bill
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:40
US President George W. Bush
US President George W. Bush says that he will soon sing a controversial spy bill, which has already won the approval of the Senate, into law.

The announcement was made on Wednesday after a fierce standoff over the measure expanding the legal authority for electronic wiretaps.

The revised Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), endorsed by congress, allows the country's national security officials to quickly monitor suspicious activities outside the US, the Herald Sun said on Thursday.

The new law is to respect the liberties of the American people around the world, it said.

"I will soon sign the Bill into law," Bush said shortly after the bill was passed by the Senate.

"This legislation is critical to America's safety; it is long overdue," Bush said, only minutes after returning to the White House from the G8 summit in Japan.

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on calls and email between the United States and abroad.

"This Bill will help our intelligence professionals learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they're saying, and what they're planning," he said.

"It will ensure that those companies whose assistance is necessary to protect the country will, themselves, be protected from lawsuits for past or future cooperation with the Government."