Eavesdrop debate will cost U.S. lives: spy chief

By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A debate in the U.S. Congress over eavesdropping on terrorism suspects will cost American lives by exposing intelligence techniques, the Bush administration's spy chief said on Thursday.

At a congressional hearing, National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell faced sharp questioning from Democratic lawmakers skeptical of his earlier comments and who deeply mistrust the Bush administration over its handling of surveillance programs after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

McConnell said the eavesdropping debate was important to ensure authorities had proper tools to fight suspected terrorists -- and he cited a case under previous law in which authorities were delayed in wiretapping Iraqi militants suspected of kidnapping American troops.

But he also asserted that the open debate would help U.S. enemies, and that he had earlier cautioned Congress about this.

"What this dialogue and debate has allowed those who wish us harm to do, is to understand significantly more about how we were targeting their communications," McConnell told the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

Asked U.S lives had been lost, he said, "They will (be)."

Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo of California told McConnell, "I really think that's a stretch."

"It puts a dent in the credibility. And I think that there are some members of Congress that are really affected by this," Eshoo said.

She also criticized McConnell for disclosing in a newspaper interview last month classified information about private-sector help for the surveillance -- a step McConnell defended as within his authority.

Democrats, who control Congress, last month helped pass temporary legislation expanding federal authority to eavesdrop on foreign conversations. But many are wary of granting permanent authority the Bush administration wants without more protections against broad eavesdropping on Americans' international calls.

They say U.S. President George W. Bush abused his trust by creating and not properly informing Congress about a program of warrantless eavesdropping on international communications by people in the United States with suspected foreign enemies.

The new legislation aims to ensure that authorities can tap the phone calls of foreign targets without a warrant, but must obtain a warrant when targeting Americans for eavesdropping on international calls.

12 HOUR DELAY

Democrats have criticized McConnell over previous statements to Congress, including one that suggested the legislation passed last month helped expose a suspected German bomb plot.

McConnell later issued a clarification that he was referring to the surveillance program in general.