Same song, next verse with federal bank record collection

We heard it with the warrantless wiretapping-- as if it had never occurred to terrorists that someone might try to intercept their communications. And the White House insistence that it was perfectly legal and limited solely to terrorist suspects was also false. But once they've settled on a defense, they really like to stick with it. So when it was revealed that bank records were also being collected, what do we get?

Mr Cheney said: "These are good, solid sound programmes. They are conducted in accordance with the laws of the land."

He added: "What I find most disturbing is the fact that some in the media take it upon themselves to disclose vital national security programmes, thereby making it more difficult for us to prevent future attacks against the American people."

The programme had earlier also been defended by Treasury Secretary John Snow.

He called it an "effective weapon in the larger war on terror."

The treasury says the programme is strictly confined to the records of suspected foreign terrorists.