Once Fragile Patriot Act Likely to Gain Power.

A series of intense bombing attacks in Iraq and Israel will add momentum to enforcing the U.S. Patriot Act which was enacted after the September 11th terror attacks, some experts believe.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday that the attacks on the U.N. office in Baghdad once again proved to us the existence of international terrorists and he emphasize that the Patriot Act is an effective tool in foreseeing and preventing terrorist attacks from the enemy.

Ashcroft began Monday a nationwide tour of more than a dozen cities to give a speech to promote counter terror activities, as well as the Patriotic Act. He will mainly visit states that President George W. Bush has been particularly focusing on for next year`s presidential election.

The Patriot Act is a product of the Bush administration which pushed hard for its passage by the Congress in October 2001, right after the September 11th terror attacks. The Patriot Act empowers intelligence agencies to have unprecedented rights, such as wiretapping, shadowing, and account tracing.

Although it was enacted in 2001, it hasn`t been effectively carried out. Even the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a majority of seats, passed a resolution that makes essential articles related to the surveillance right of the Patriot Act removed with an overwhelming majority of votes last month

152 cities, including Philadelphia and Detroit also passed a resolution that rejects the Patriot Act. They fear that the Patriot Act could bring a Big-Brother-like national surveillance system.

Jin Lee leej@donga.com