Reply #87: No you misquoted it.

[ddeclue]

You want to break it down into a simpler form well here you go buddy:

There is only ONE correct way to read the sentence below. Did you ever have to diagram a sentence in English composition in school?

Removing the two clauses that say:

1) Notwithstanding any other law - this means that this section supercedes any other part of the US Code.

2) through the Attorney General - describes the method by which the President may authorize the wire taps.

That leaves:

the President may authorize electronic surveillance without a court order under this subchapter to acquire foreign intelligence information for a period not to exceed fifteen calendar days FOLLOWING A DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE CONGRESS.

The subject is : The President
The verbs are :may authorize
The object is : electronic surveillance

There is a conditional clause attached to the verb:

without a court order - meaning that the President does not require a search warrant.. but...

there is a clause attached to this clause

under this subchapter - meaning that this warrantless search only applies to cases covered by this subchapter of the United States Code

there is another limiting clause:
to acquire foreign intelligence information - meaning he can't use it to listen in on the Kerry campaign.

and there is one final limiting clause:
for a period not to exceed fifteen calendar days FOLLOWING A DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE CONGRESS.

meaning that this warrantless search provision is limited to a fifteen day window AFTER Congress makes a declaration of War.

If Congress makes no declaration, then the warrantless search window never opens.

Wasn't that fun?

Doug D.
Orlando, FL