House approves foreign wiretap bill

"The bill updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. It gives the government leeway to intercept, without warrants, communications between foreigners that are routed through equipment in United States, provided that 'foreign intelligence information' is at stake. Bush describes the effort as an anti-terrorist program, but the bill is not limited to terror suspects and could have wider applications, some lawmakers said. The government long has had substantial powers to intercept purely foreign communications that don't touch U.S. soil. If a U.S. resident becomes the chief target of surveillance, the government would have to obtain a warrant from the special FISA court."

The Senate approved this Friday, so the bill now goes to President Bush. I think this is a remarkably sound move that is long overdue. It also reveals that what we witnessed last year on this was largely Democrat hay-making in order to win congressional seats.