Al Gore: Bush must be probed

2006-01-17 09:17

Washington - Former vice-president Al Gore called for an independent investigation of President George W Bush's domestic spying programme, contending the president "repeatedly and insistently" broke the law by eavesdropping on Americans without court approval.

The man who lost the 2000 presidential election to Bush was interrupted repeatedly by applause on Monday as he called the anti-terrorism programme "a threat to the very structure of our government".

Gore charged that the administration acted without congressional authority and made a "direct assault" on a special federal court that authorised requests to eavesdrop on Americans.

One judge on the court resigned last month, voicing concerns about the National Security Agency's surveillance of emails and phone calls.

Tracey Schmitt of the Republican National Committee said: "Al Gore's incessant need to insert himself in the headline of the day is almost as glaring as his lack of understanding of the threats facing America.

"While the president works to protect Americans from terrorists, Democrats deliver no solutions of their own, only diatribes laden with inaccuracies and anger."

Gore's speech was sponsored by the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and The Liberty Coalition, two organisations that had expressed concern about the policy.

The former vice-president said attorney-general Alberto Gonzales should name a special counsel to investigate the programme, citing the attorney general's "obvious conflict of interest" as a member of the Bush cabinet as well as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

Gonzales had agreed to testify publicly at a senate hearing on the programme. He defended the surveillance on cable new talk shows on Monday night.

Gonzales said: "This programme has been reviewed carefully by lawyers at the department of justice and other agencies.

"We firmly believe that this programme is perfectly lawful. The president has the legal authority to authorise these kinds of programmes."

Gonzales said Gore's comments were inconsistent with Clinton administration policy.

Gonzales said: "It's my understanding that during the Clinton administration there was activity regarding physical searches without warrants.

"I can also say it's my understanding that the deputy attorney-general testified before the congress that the president does have the inherent authority under the constitution to engage in physical searches without a warrant.

"And so, those would certainly seem to be inconsistent with what the former vice-president was saying today."

Gore said his concerns were especially important on the holiday honouring Martin Luther King Jr because the slain civil rights leader was among thousands of Americans whose private communications were intercepted by the government.

- AP