1.  Describe the top-secret program that the New York Times reported on in the past week.  How did the NY Times get this information?

2.  For what reason did the New York Times print this information?  Do you think that the Times was right to do so?  Explain your answer.

3.  Define classified.  Why do you think this program was so highly classified?  Who knew about the program?  Why do you think one of these people leaked this classified information to the Times?

4.  How has this program protected the American people?

5.  Democrats in Congress criticized President Bush.  Sen. Levin of Michigan asked "Where does he find in the Constitution the authority to tap the wires and the phones of American citizens without any court oversight?" 
President Bush defended this by explaining that the phone calls and emails monitored were those of suspected terrorist agents within the U.S., "people with known links to al Qaeda" and that he has "the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country." 
Do Democrat Congressmen have legitimate concerns?  Explain your answer.

6.  President Bush also said "My personal opinion is it was a shameful act for someone to disclose this very important program in a time of war...there is still an enemy that would like to strike the U.S., and they're very dangerous.  And the discussion about how we try to find them will enable them to adjust."  Do you agree or disagree with the President's opinion?  Why?