Bush blasts filibuster of Patriot Act

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Originally published 01:38 a.m., December 18, 2005, updated 12:00 a.m., December 18, 2005

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President Bush yesterday accused senators of endangering American lives by filibustering renewal of the USA Patriot Act and railed against the illegal disclosure of a classified eavesdropping operation.

"A minority of senators filibustered to block the renewal of the Patriot Act when it came up for a vote yesterday," Mr. Bush said in a rare live radio address from the Roosevelt Room. "That decision is irresponsible, and it endangers the lives of our citizens.

"The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics, and the Senate must vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act," he added. "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment."

Mr. Bush also expressed outrage that someone leaked to the New York Times information about a National Security Agency (NSA) program to eavesdrop on Americans suspected of communicating with al Qaeda operatives overseas.

"The existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations," he said. "As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk."

The president, who spent Friday refusing to confirm or deny the existence of the eavesdropping program, reversed course yesterday by acknowledging it. But he was unapologetic about the program and vowed to continue eavesdropping.

"The activities I authorized are reviewed approximately every 45 days," Mr. Bush said. "I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups."

By railing against the disclosure of the program, Mr. Bush sought to turn the tables on Democrats and journalists who have long criticized the administration for disclosing a CIA analyst's name.

The president rarely makes news in his Saturday radio addresses, which are typically taped in advance, last only a few minutes and amount to restatements of earlier pronouncements. But yesterday, seeking maximum effect, Mr. Bush stood before TV cameras and delivered the address live, speaking for a full seven minutes.

"It is critical to saving American lives," he said of the eavesdropping program. "The American people expect me to do everything in my power under our laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties. And that is exactly what I will continue to do, so long as I'm the president of the United States."

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