The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday that would renew portions of the USA Patriot Act in an effort to address administration concerns about protecting terrorism investigations.
Bush Remarks on FISA President Bush threatens a veto of the House version of an update to the FISA bill in a White House news conference, March 13, 2008.
Opinion
Scare Tactics and Our Surveillance Bill Instead of working witih Congress to achieve the best policies to keep our country safe, President Bush has sorted to scare tactics and political games.
Q&A Transcript
Justice Department: Stevens Investigation, Gonzales Troubles Washington Post Justice Department Reporter Dan Eggen discussed the July 2007 FBI raid of Sen. Ted Stevens' home and the Senate's pursuit (and Vice President Cheney's defense) of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Video
Bush on Domestic Spying In a White House news conference January 26, 2006, President Bush defends the NSA domestic surveillance program.
Although the size of the National Security Agency's operations is classified, intelligence experts estimate that 38,000 people work for the agency.
ORIGIN President Harry S. Truman signed a memorandum establishing the NSA in 1952. The new agency brought together all U.S. military and non-military cryptology activity.
MISSION Obtaining intelligence through surveillance of adversaries' communications. Securing sensitive U.S. government and military communications.
HEADQUARTERS Located at Fort Meade, the NSA has its own off-ramp from the Baltimore-Washington Parkway marked "NSA employees only."
LEADERSHIP NSA directors historically have been lieutenant generals or vice admirals. The current director, Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, was appointed in 2005. The NSA director reports to the director of national intelligence.
Transcript
Opinion: Former Congressman on Wiretapping Former Congressman Bob Barr (R-Ga.), chairman of Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances (PRCB), discusses wiretapping and surveillance issues legislation and the controversy over executive powers.