Bush signs eavesdropping extension

Visiting Las Vegas on Thursday, President Bush signed an extension of the law that allows the federal government to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens, but he admonished Congress to pass the permanent bill that he wants.

"I will sign the extension, but I expect members of Congress of both political parties to get this work done so our professionals can protect the American people," Bush said in a Thursday morning speech to the Nevada Policy Research Institute.

After the speech, in which Bush called for unflinching resolve in the worldwide fight against terrorism, he signed the 15-day extension of the Protect America Act, which was set to expire today.

"One ... tool in this different kind of war is to fully understand the intentions, the motives, the plans of people who use suicide and bombs to kill the innocent," Bush said.

"If these terrorists and extremists are making phone calls into our country, we need to know why they're calling, what they're thinking and what they're planning."

Bush called it unfortunate that the bill had a sunset date, saying, "It's an interesting train of logic, isn't it? The tool (to fight terrorism) was necessary six months ago, and yet it was set to expire as if the threat to our country was set to expire."

The Democratic Congress has been unable to come up with a bill that satisfies Bush to permanently codify conditions for monitoring Americans' calls and e-mails.

A sticking point is whether to add a provision giving telephone companies immunity from lawsuits for having in the past allowed the government to wiretap their customers without demanding a warrant.

Bush wants that provision added, but many Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., oppose the idea.

Bush said Thursday he wanted a "good piece of legislation that ... provides liability protection to carriers who it is assumed helped us in protecting the American people."

The 15-day extension signed Thursday was passed by the House and Senate in an apparent compromise, after Bush threatened to veto a proposed 30-day extension.

Bush spoke at Emerald at Queensridge, an event facility on Rampart Boulevard near Alta Drive, before an audience of about 250 invited guests of the conservative think tank, including Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Bush then attended a fundraiser at the home of Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon Adelson that raised more than $500,000 for the Nevada Republican Party's 2008 election efforts.

In addition to funding general party activities like voter registration, a large chunk of the Victory 2008 fund is likely to go to supporting Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., in a tough re-election battle.

Porter wasn't present for Bush's Las Vegas stops. Although the House recessed two days ago, a Porter spokesman said the congressman's schedule was full Wednesday and Thursday with official and campaign meetings in Washington.

Porter was scheduled to return to his suburban Las Vegas district this morning, the spokesman said.

About 100 people attended the fundraiser in the exclusive Tournament Hills subdivision in Summerlin, where Adelson, who gives millions to conservative causes, also entertained Vice President Dick Cheney in September.

Bush stayed at Adelson's Strip hotel, The Venetian, Wednesday night. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, accompanied the president all day, riding with him in the motorcade until he reboarded Air Force One around 12:45 p.m.

On the issue of the wiretapping bill, a spokesman for Reid said the Senate leader considers it a priority "to ensure that Congress passes this legislation in a way that provides authorities with the tools they need without compromising American civil liberties."

Reid was gratified that Bush signed the extension, but Reid continues to oppose telecom immunity, the spokesman, Jon Summers, said.

Bush also discussed the war in Iraq in his speech, saying the troop surge is succeeding and "as a result of our successes, some of our troops are coming home."

Bush noted that more military brigades are scheduled to return home permanently, but he seemed to warn against the idea that withdrawal from Iraq was occurring.

"Any further troop reductions will be based upon commanders and conditions," the president said. "Iraq is important for our security. I will be making decisions based upon success in Iraq."

He added, "The temptation, of course, is for people to say, well, make sure you do the politically right thing. That's not my nature."

At that, the audience first rumbled with knowing laughter, then stood and applauded.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2919.