Re "Trust, but verify," editorial, Feb. 4
The editorial regarding intelligence gathering misstates the impact of foreign surveillance on U.S. persons. To say that surveillance of a foreign terrorist allows intelligence officials to also track the activities of U.S. citizens is misleading. The law has never required a court order for surveillance of a foreign terrorist, even if the terrorist calls someone in the United States. When a terrorist overseas does contact an American, our intelligence laws provide minimization procedures to limit surveillance. If suspicions are raised about an American's contact with a foreign terrorist, the law requires the government to obtain a court order for further surveillance.
