“The law allows our intelligence and law enforcement officials to continue to share information. It allows them to continue to use tools against terrorists that they used against – that they use against drug dealers and other criminals. It will improve our nation’s security while we safeguard the civil liberties of our people. The legislation strengthens the Justice Department so it can better detect and disrupt terrorist threats. And the bill gives law enforcement new tools to combat threats to our citizens from international terrorists to local drug dealers.”

George Bush, 2006, on re-authorizing the PATRIOT act