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FISA bill a victory for watchdog journalism

By Mark Obbie

In his story today on the deal struck in Congress to change the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Times' Eric Lichtblau calls it "the most significant revision of surveillance law in 30 years" and "a major victory for the White House after months of dispute." I'd call it a major victory for open government and watchdog journalism, with stories by Lichtblau and James Risen -- highly criticized by the administration and its supporters -- dragging the debate into public view. Apart from columns and editorials, Lichtblau reported and wrote most of the news stories in The Times' archive of its coverage of FISA, dating back to his and Risen's original story in December 2005. Regardless of the outcome -- regardless of how Congress chose to use its lawmaking power in setting policy -- Lichtblau should take pride in having used his skills as a reporter and weathered significant threats and criticism to fulfill the basic functions of a checks-and-balances government.

Full post as published by Lawbeat on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).