"Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2005 -- United States President George W. Bush uses his weekly radio address from the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Saturday, December 17, 2005 to confirm that he secretly signed an order authorizing the National Security Agency (NSA) to eavesdrop on the international communications of Americans and other domestic residents with known links to al Qaeda. He defended his decision, calling the program a ""vital tool in our war against terrorists"" and ""critical to saving American lives."" He said the program is reviewed every 45 days by the attorney general and White House counsel and that he has to reauthorize it. He has reauthorized it 30 times so far, he said, and ""I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a threat"" from al Qaeda. Without naming any, he also criticized news organizations for divulging the program, saying the disclosure ""damaged our national security.""   The confirmation came as part of an unusually long, live radio address broadcast from the Roosevelt Room. The address lasted nearly 10 minutes and started out with a warning to the United States Senate to end the filibuster against the USA Patriot Act and approve it. He accused Senate Democrats, who are blocking reauthorization of the law, of putting Americans in danger.  ""That decision is irresponsible and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics."" Noting that the act expires in two weeks, he said, ""The terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks.""<br /> Credit: Martin H. Simon - Pool via CNP"
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