Illegal wiretaps started before 9/11

Another argument falls apart as the Bush Administration tries to defend its abuse of power.

Truthout is reporting that illegal wiretaps were approved prior to the attacks of September 11, 2001.

A couple points:

1. The president has argued the untethered wiretap authority is needed in the post 9/11 world. Even if one accepts that (which I happen not to), how does that justify wiretaps before the attacks?
   
2. The wiretapping was being used beginning in early 2001. With this new power, they still weren't able to prevent the attacks themselves.

The president is breaking the law by not abiding by congressional statutes mandating NSA obtain a warrant from FISA either before or within 72 hours after wiretapping. In the process, he's also trashing the separation of powers in the constitution itself by thumbing his nose at Congress and the courts at the same time.