Blow for national security, or a success for privacy?

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I am finding the recent reports that Bush authorized wiretaps against US citizens extremely troubling. From all that I have read, this action was clearly illegal. The president knew what the law was and knowingly and secretly violated it. They could have obtained warrants for those they wanted to monitor but chose not to take that route.

I'm truly at a loss for words. The only thing that is positive is that it has served as a wake-up call as to how dangerous some of the provisions of the Patriot Act actually are. I'm happy to see that its fate is now in question as people are quite uneasy about extending it in light of this wiretapping story.

Still, I think the president must be held accountable for his actions. I doubt that will happen but it damn well should.