WASHINGTON IN BRIEF
Saturday, February 11, 2006; Page A05
Judge Backs Privacy Advocates' Claim
A federal judge agreed yesterday that privacy advocates' efforts to learn about President Bush's warrantless spying program would be likely to suffer "irreparable harm" if the government did not quickly respond to their request for secret legal opinions supporting the eavesdropping.
U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. said he needed time to consider, however, just how quickly the government should have to turn over all relevant information that could be released to the public.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center and the American Civil Liberties Union filed Freedom of Information Act lawsuits in December seeking the information after news accounts revealed that Bush had secretly authorized monitoring international telephone calls and e-mail of some people in the United States shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Justice Department lawyers said that much of the information the groups seek must be carefully reviewed for both national security concerns and executive privilege, and that only the government can decide a reasonable time frame for completing that review. David Sobel, a lawyer representing the groups, argued that the government should not be allowed to stifle public debate by either limiting access to government information or indefinitely stalling on the release of any information.
Glitch Allows Eavesdropping on Bush
Before beginning a question-and-answer session with House Republicans at their retreat in Cambridge, Md., President Bush wanted to ensure that reporters did not get wind of any of the discussion -- even if he had his doubts.
"First of all, I expect this conversation we're about to have to stay in the room," he told the House Republican Caucus, gathered at a resort on the Eastern Shore. "I know that it's impossible in Washington."
Little did the president know that his comments were being broadcast to reporters in a nearby room via a microphone that was inadvertently left open. Before beginning his 100-minute session with lawmakers, Bush had delivered six minutes of remarks before playfully inviting reporters to leave.
"I support the free press -- let's just get them out of the room," Bush joked as reporters were ushered out.
The open mike, which was soon discovered, provided no scoops: Bush defended his warrantless eavesdropping program exactly as he has in numerous public appearances, calling it an essential method of protecting the nation against potential terrorists.
Land Sales to Fund Schools Detailed
The Bush administration detailed its proposal to sell more than 300,000 acres of national forests and other public land to help pay for rural schools in 41 states. The sale of land, ranging from less than an acre to more than 1,000 acres, could generate more than $1 billion and would be the largest sale of forest land in decades.
Western lawmakers immediately objected, saying the short-term gains would be offset by the permanent loss of public lands. Congress would have to approve the sales, and it has rejected similar proposals in recent years.
U.S. Forest Service officials say the sales are needed to raise $800 million over five years to pay for schools and roads in rural counties hurt by logging cutbacks on federal land. The Bureau of Land Management has said it also plans to sell federal lands to raise an estimated $250 million over five years.
-- From Staff Reports and News Services