Rove blasts warrantless wiretapping decision Thursday, August 24, 2006; Posted: 11:54 a.m. EDT (15:54 GMT)
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- Presidential adviser Karl Rove criticized a federal judge's order for an immediate end to the government's warrantless surveillance program, saying Wednesday such a program might have prevented the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Rove said the government should be free to listen if al Qaeda is calling someone within the U.S.
"Imagine if we could have done that before 9/11. It might have been a different outcome," he said.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit last week became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency's program, ruling it unconstitutional. (Full story)
Rove's comments came as he headlined a fundraiser for Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who is running for governor. About 50 protesters stood outside the country club where the fundraiser was held, some with signs that said "Impeach Bush."