Bush: Disclosing The NSA Program "A Shameful Act"

Will Bush authorize a leak investigation?

"I presume that process is moving forward [at the DOJ]. My personal opinion is that it was a shameful act for someone to disclose this very important program in a time of war. The fact that we're discussing the program is helping the enemy. I hope the American people understand there is still an enemy that would like to strike the American people."

Bush cites the Bin Laden/sat phone example from '98.

Why did you skip the basic safeguard of asking courts for permission of these intercepts?

"Right after September the 11th, I knew we were fighting a different kind of war. I asked people in my admin. to analyze how best for me and our government to do the job people expect us to do, whcih is detect and prevent a possible attack. We looked at the possible scenarios and the people responsible...came forth with the current program. It helped us to be ...faster and quicker. FISAs is for long-term monitoring. What is needed to protect the American people is to move quickly. Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the answer is: absolutely. The legal authority is derived from the constitution as well as the authorization of force by the United States Congress."