1.  Why is the White House concerned with the New York Times' report on a classified surveillance program, according to spokeswoman Dana Perino?

2.  What is the aim of the program? (para. 1)

3.  Describe the program (how does it work?).

4.  How did this program help to capture an al Qaeda terrorist in 2003, according to the Times report?  Do you think this program could have been used to capture other terrorists (before the Times article)?  Do you think this program can still be used to capture other terrorists?  Explain your answers.

5.  What was the White House's reason for requesting that the newspaper not publish the story?  How did the Times' editor Bill Keller respond to this request?  With whom do you agree?  Why?

6.  What other classified surveillance program did the Times report on in December 2005?

7.  If a classified surveillance program is believed to help stop and/or catch terrorists, should it be exposed as a "matter of public interest?"  Explain your answer.

8.  To express your displeasure with or support for the Times' report disclosing the classified surveillance program, write to Bill Keller, Executive Editor at:
billkeller@nytimes.com, or
Address: 229 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036-3959
Phone: (212) 556-1234
Fax: (212) 556-3622