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)
