Surveillance efforts will not cease when the law lapses. Administration intelligence officials said agencies would be able to continue eavesdropping on targets that have already been approved for a year after the initial authorization. But they said any new targets would have to go through the more burdensome standards in place before last August, which would require that they establish probable cause that an international target is connected to a terrorist group.

Ah, the good ole days when you had to show probable cause before wiretapping. I for one don't feel any less safe that this provision has expired, and in fact feel *in*spired to donate to my local ACLU.

-janelane