THE NOMINEE TO BECOME HEAD OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) ON THURSDAY DEFENDED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S SURVEILLANCE OF TELEPHONE CALLS IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYING THE PROGRAMME WAS LEGAL, DPA REPORTED. GENERAL MICHAEL HAYDEN TOLD THE SENATE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING HIS CONFIRMATION THAT THE SURVEILLANCE OF CALLS WAS AIMED AT PROTECTING AMERICANS BUT THAT GUARDING THE PRIVACY OF US CITIZENS WAS ALWAYS A CONCERN. "WE ALWAYS BALANCE PRIVACY AND SECURITY, AND WE DO IT WITHIN THE LAW," HAYDEN SAID. "CLEARLY THE PRIVACY OF AMERICAN CITIZENS IS A CONCERN, CONSTANTLY," HE SAID. "AND IT'S A CONCERN IN THIS PROGRAMME, IT'S A CONCERN IN EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE." HAYDEN FORMERLY HEADED THE EAVESDROPPING NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY (NSA), WHICH WAS AUTHORIZED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH TO COLLECT RECORDS OF TELEPHONE NUMBERS SUSPECTED OF TERRORIST LINKS MADE OR RECEIVED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. THE NSA SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME WAS FIRST MADE PUBLIC IN A NEW YORK TIMES STORY IN DECEMBER, AND OUTRAGE OVER THE POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF PRIVACY LAWS HEIGHTENED AFTER A USA TODAY REPORT EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT SAID MILLIONS OF US TELEPHONE NUMBERS WERE COLLECTED BY THE AGENCY. --More
