Atlanta Journal Constitution
by Bob Barr

12/21/05

When President Bush explained, over the course of three days, his administration's secret interception of communications involving American citizens without court approval, he repeatedly cited three authorities for such action. One of these was Article II of our Constitution, which provides authority for the president to serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Not relying on my memory -- which has proved faulty from time to time (rarely, of course) -- I reread Article II to determine if in fact there was language in it that I had missed previously, that when the president serves as commander in chief, he can order federal agencies to violate the law. Of course, I found no such authority, because none exists...

http://www.bobbarr.org/default.asp?pt=newsdescr&RI=698


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp