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Easing his opposition to any public probe into a controversial domestic spying program, US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that open hearings on the issue will be OK if they do not leak national secrets.

 

Bush, who were initially opposed to having the program investigated in any public form, made it clear in a speech delivered in Louisville, Kentucky, that he will let go open hearings on the issue that are scheduled to begin in coming weeks.

 

"There will be a lot of hearings, but that's good for democracy," he said.

 

"Just so long as the hearings, as they explore whether or not I had the prerogative to make the decision I make, doesn't tell the enemy what we're doing," said Bush.

 

However, he once again defended the program, saying he understands concerns about the program, but monitoring the phone calls of affiliates of the terrorist network al Qaeda is necessary to protect the US.

 

Bush also reiterated that he has the legal authority to authorize such a program without obtaining court warrants.

 

Last month, US media revealed that after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001, the president secretly authorized a program that overrode requirements which the government should seek court warrants before listening in on overseas telephone conversations or reading US citizens' e-mails.

 

Critics have accused the Bush administration of breaking the law in pursuing the domestic spying program, but the president has repeatedly defended it, saying that it is necessary to protect Americans and it is lawful to do so.

 

The US Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled hearings on the issue for early February.

 

The Senate Intelligence Committee also plans to hold hearings that will be closed to the public.

 

In Wednesday's speech, Bush also defended his Iraq policy, saying although Iraqi insurgents are trying to drive the US out through violence and bloodshed, "they are not going to shake my will."

 

On the issue of the timetable of troop withdrawal, he said, "I don't want them (US troops) to come home without achieving the victory."

 

In a question and answer session, Bush took questions from the audience about Iraq, education, immigration, the economy, health care and other subjects.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)