CIA head insists on spying on Americans

The head of the Central Intelligence Agency has insisted that the United States should continue snooping on telephone conversations of millions of Americans in order to stop terrorist attacks.

In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, John Brennan also warned that stopping the National Security Agency’s spying programs could increase attacks in the country.

"Because if you look at the horrific terrorist attacks and violence being perpetrated around the globe, we need to keep our country safe, and our oceans are not keeping us safe the way they did century ago," Brennan said.

He also noted that terror networks like ISIL are following the developments very carefully and they are "looking for the seams to operate."

“The tools that the government has used over the last dozen year to keep this country safe are integral to making sure were able to stop terrorist attacks,” he said.

The US Senate should act on USA Patriot Act that allows the NSA to collect any telephone and business records relevant to a counterterrorism investigation. The Patriot Act came following the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

The Patriot Act is set to expire at midnight Sunday and the Senate is scheduled to hold a rare session on Sunday to discuss it.

In his weekly address on Saturday, US President Barack Obama called on Congress to pass a compromise bill that only limits some spying programs.

“This is a matter of national security,” Obama said. “We shouldn’t surrender the tools that help keep us safe. It would be irresponsible. It would be reckless.”

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