February 21, 2007 - AFP.com | Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush, on his return
flight from a tour of Africa, refused Thursday to compromise
with House of Representatives Democrats on extending a wiretap
law he considers crucial in the US "war on terror."
Bush accuses Democrat lawmakers of blocking the Senate-approved
law that expired Saturday, which allows warrantless eavesdropping
of telephone calls and emails with foreign countries on suspicion
of terrorist activities.
The Senate and House of Representatives, where Democrats hold
a majority, have agreed on extending the post-September 11,
2001, measure, but Bush is against a House provision accepted
by the Senate that would leave telecommunications companies
that participate in the program open to lawsuits.
Questioned by reporters on his flight back home, Bush said
he would give no ground. "There's no compromise on whether
or not these phone companies get liability protection," he
said.
"How do you compromise on something like granting liability
for a telecommunications company? You can't," he added.
"If we do not give liability protection to those who
are helping us, they won't help us. And if they don't help
us, there will be no program. And if there's no program, America
is more vulnerable."
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