Posted by The Crux |
The best way for the Bush Administration to improve its credibility is to ensure that its public statements are factual. Recent events covered in Newsweek aren't helping :
"Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell is withdrawing an assertion he made to Congress this week that a recently passed electronic-surveillance law helped U.S. authorities foil a major terror plot in Germany.
"The temporary measure, signed into law by President Bush on Aug. 5, gave the U.S. intelligence community broad new powers to eavesdrop on telephone and e-mail communications overseas without seeking warrants...
"On Monday, McConnell—questioned by Sen. Joe Lieberman—claimed the law, intended to remedy what the White House said was an intelligence gap, had helped to "facilitate" the arrest of three suspects believed to be planning massive car bombings against American targets in Germany....
"Four intelligence-community officials... [anonymously] said the new law, dubbed the "Protect America Act,” played little if any role in the unraveling of the German plot. The U.S. military initially provided information that helped the Germans uncover the plot. But that exchange of information took place months before the new “Protect America” law was passed [10 months before]."
Last month, McConnell persuaded Congress to pass the law -- which will expire in five months and will likely compel rigorous debate (Washington Post).
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