2006 Complete Guide to the USA Patriot Act, Surveillance Tools Against Terrorism, and Domestic Spying (CD-ROM)

This comprehensive CD-ROM provides a thorough overview of the controversial USA Patriot Act which provides new tools to American law enforcement in the fight against terrorism. (The full name of the act is Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.) It also covers Bush Administration anti-terrorism surveillance programs, called “domestic spying” by some critics. Contents include: * Recent Congressional action to revise the Patriot Act and extend its provisions; controversy over protection of civil liberties and the rights of individuals balanced against the need to protect against terrorism. * Congressional reports on the Patriot Act * The complete copy of the USA Patriot Act, Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations, Technology in Internet Surveillance, Homeland Security Information Sharing * Documents and resources on the National Security Agency (NSA) spying controversy about anti-terrorism wiretapping and surveillance by the Bush administration. There is extensive coverage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and its use. The Bush Administration has issued these responses to the NSA story: "Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda members or affiliated terrorists during a time of war. The American people expect their leaders to stay a step ahead of the enemy, and the National Security Agency authorization is a critical tool in the War on Terror that saves lives and protects civil liberties at the same time." - Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary. The White House notes that NSA authorization is solely for intercepting communications of suspected al Qaeda members or related terrorist groups. “The PATRIOT Act is essential to protecting the American people against the terrorists. The Act tore down the wall between law enforcement and intelligence officials so that they can share information and work together to help prevent attacks. ... The PATRIOT Act has helped us to disrupt terrorist plots and break up cells here in the United States. I will work closely with the House and Senate to make sure that we are not without this crucial law for even a day. ” Statement Of President George W. Bush On The Importance Of The USA Patriot Act In Combating Terrorism December 22, 2005 " The number one tool in defending this country is intelligence. Gathering it, investigating it, and sharing it. If we don't have the full ability to use the tools of gathering, sharing, and using intelligence, we are putting very important weapons in the war on terror down on the ground and walking away from them. And I don't think that's anything we can afford to do. ... Our line of defense is a line with intelligence and investigation. And the PATRIOT Act givs us the ability to do that in a way that respects the Constitution, respects civil liberties, but gets the job done." Statement Of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff On The Reauthorization Of The USA Patriot Act December 21, 2005