[rdb3]

If the Federal government wants to wiretap a US citizen who has not made phone calls to or from terrorists and does not have any "serious indicator of belonging to Al Qaeda", on the basis that the tap 'has to do with national security' based on reasonable cause determined solely by the President, are they required to seek and obtain a warrant?

The one thing you left out here as it currently stands, is that these warrantless taps are on international communications. That's a key point. Your scenario leaves out that Al Qaeda, or any other Islamist terrorist group, could very well be operating within the States.

Anything within the United States and/or its territories still requires a warrant, even on those Islamist groups.

This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

[lugsoul]

None of the legal rationales asserted by the Administration require this distinction.

And, as far as what is being monitored, we only know what we are told...