Bush signs Patriot Act renewal

President George W. Bush signs the renewal of the USA Patriot Act. Picture / Reuters

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush signed a renewal of the USA Patriot Act yesterday, hailing it as vital to the war on terrorism, but a key congressional critic said it lacked adequate safeguards for civil liberties.

Passage had been blocked for months by a battle with Congress over how to balance Americans' right to privacy with a need to foil security threats in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that gave rise to the original Patriot Act.

The White House won approval from lawmakers after agreeing to revisions along with a companion bill that sponsors said would better protect civil liberties under the act.

The fight came down to the wire, with the bill reaching Bush's desk as 16 major provisions of the old law were due to expire yesterday.

The White House signing ceremony came against the backdrop of a move to end a political firestorm over Bush's support for a state-owned Arab company taking over US port operations.

Dubai Ports World pledged yesterday to transfer operation of six US port terminals to a US entity, a move the White House said should settle the controversy surrounding the deal.

Critics had pointed to the contrast between Bush's hawkish stance in his push for the Patriot Act's extension and what they saw as a lax view of security risks in the ports deal.

Enacted shortly after the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the Patriot Act expanded powers to obtain private records, conduct wiretaps and searches and share information. Critics said it went too far in infringing on basic rights.

Saying that "America remains a nation at war," Bush called renewal of the act essential. "It will improve our nation's security while we safeguard the civil liberties of our people," he said.

Bush's signature made 14 of the Patriot Act's provisions permanent and extended two others by four years. He said renewal allowed law enforcement to continue "pursuing terrorists with the same tools they use against other criminals."

'DEEPLY FLAWED'

Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who led opposition to renewal, called the bill "deeply flawed."

"Today marks, sadly, a missed opportunity to protect both the national security needs of this country and the rights and freedoms of its citizens," he said in a statement.

Feingold vowed to continue efforts to enact more safeguards on civil liberties.

Addressing Republicans in Georgia later yesterday, Bush defended his administration's controversial program of domestic spying, saying it had been limited in scope and aimed at eavesdropping on al Qaeda operatives.

Bush, whose approval ratings have been hovering near the lows for his presidency, pressed national security as a key theme for his party in this election year, saying that "our biggest job" was to protect Americans against threats.

Republicans seeking to polish their national security credentials before November's midterm congressional elections said renewal of the Patriot Act was needed to help law enforcement agencies protect America from further attacks.

Legislation had been held up by Democrats and a few Republicans who demanded greater assurances on rights. A compromise won final congressional approval on Tuesday.

One change clarifies that libraries will not be subjected to federal subpoenas issued without the approval of a judge. Another removes a proposed requirement that recipients of such subpoenas provide the FBI with the names of their lawyers.

A third allows individuals to challenge gag orders when they have been subpoenaed to produce personal information. They would have to wait a year to do so. 

- REUTERS