The Protect America Act

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the Protect America Act of 2007, which is the modernized version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The paper looks at how the Act modernizes the FISA and then examines the rationale behind it. The paper explains how this law addresses the missing and significant gaps in the securing of intelligence surveillance information about targets in foreign lands.

Outline:
How the Act Modernizes the FISA
Rationale Behind the Modernization of FISA
Changing the Concept of Electronic Surveillance
Extending the Wiretap Law
Across-the-Board Exemption
Spur of the Moment and Secret Order
President Bush's Urges
Implications of the Act
How It All Happened
"Reasonably Believed"
For National Security and "Other" Purposes
A Lowering of Standards
How the Act Would Work to Close the Dangerous Surveillance Gap

From the Paper:

"The Protect America Act of 2007 is the modernized version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or FISA (Department of Justice 2007, GovTrack.us 2007). Sponsored by Senator Mitch McConnell on August 1 this year, it was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. The Act consists of permanent amendments to the FISA in order to keep the United States safe. It is designed to provide the intelligence community with necessary inputs about terrorists, America's enemies."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bush, George W. The Protect America Act of 2007. National Security Agency, September 19, 2007. Retrieved on October 23, 2007 from http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/docs/bush-disc-paa07.pdf
• ------------------. Fact Sheet: the Protect America Act of 2007. The White House News: the White House, August 5, 2007. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070806-5.html
• Cable News Network. Bill Would Require Details of All Eavesdropping Since 2001. CNN Politics. CNN: Time Warner Company, October 9, 2007
• ------------------------. Bush: Surveillance Bill Must Not Hamper Fight Against Terrorism. CNN Politics. CNN: Time Warner Company, October 10, 2007
• Department of Justice. Why FISA Modernization Amendments Must be Made Permanent. Life and Liberty, 2007. Retrieved on October 23, 2007 from http://www.lifeliberty.gov

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