terror suspects - it might curtail their civil liberties

theaustralian.news.com.au
Editorial: Spying can save lives - January 04, 2006
"The terror threat justifies electronic surveillance
The challenge for Mr Bush is less to justify electronic intelligence efforts than to convince the voters these are not measures that will stay in place permanently, to be routinely used against ordinary Americans. However, he has no case to answer on their need now. Whether electronic spying has stopped any terror attacks in the US over the past four years is unknown. But it would be a crazy-brave politician who demanded curtailing electronic intelligence against terror suspects because it might curtail their civil liberties."