Posted on 12/17/2005 8:29:40 AM PST by blogblogginaway
RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
The Roosevelt Room
10:06 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.
As President, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and I have no greater responsibility than to protect our people, our freedom, and our way of life. On September the 11th, 2001, our freedom and way of life came under attack by brutal enemies who killed nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. We're fighting these enemies across the world. Yet in this first war of the 21st century, one of the most critical battlefronts is the home front. And since September the 11th, we've been on the offensive against the terrorists plotting within our borders.
One of the first actions we took to protect America after our nation was attacked was to ask Congress to pass the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act tore down the legal and bureaucratic wall that kept law enforcement and intelligence authorities from sharing vital information about terrorist threats. And the Patriot Act allowed federal investigators to pursue terrorists with tools they already used against other criminals. Congress passed this law with a large, bipartisan majority, including a vote of 98-1 in the United States Senate.
Since then, America's law enforcement personnel have used this critical law to prosecute terrorist operatives and supporters, and to break up terrorist cells in New York, Oregon, Virginia, California, Texas and Ohio. The Patriot Act has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: it has protected American liberty and saved American lives.
Yet key provisions of this law are set to expire in two weeks. The terrorist treat to our country will not expire in two weeks. The terrorists want to attack America again, and inflict even greater damage than they did on September the 11th. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that law enforcement and intelligence officials have the tools they need to protect the American people.
The House of Representatives passed reauthorization of the Patriot Act. Yet a minority of senators filibustered to block the renewal of the Patriot Act when it came up for a vote yesterday. That decision is irresponsible, and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics, and the Senate must vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act. In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment.
To fight the war on terror, I am using authority vested in me by Congress, including the Joint Authorization for Use of Military Force, which passed overwhelmingly in the first week after September the 11th. I'm also using constitutional authority vested in me as Commander-in-Chief.
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. Before we intercept these communications, the government must have information that establishes a clear link to these terrorist networks.
This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends and allies. Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country.
As the 9/11 Commission pointed out, it was clear that terrorists inside the United States were communicating with terrorists abroad before the September the 11th attacks, and the commission criticized our nation's inability to uncover links between terrorists here at home and terrorists abroad. Two of the terrorist hijackers who flew a jet into the Pentagon, Nawaf al Hamzi and Khalid al Mihdhar, communicated while they were in the United States to other members of al Qaeda who were overseas. But we didn't know they were here, until it was too late.
The authorization I gave the National Security Agency after September the 11th helped address that problem in a way that is fully consistent with my constitutional responsibilities and authorities. The activities I have authorized make it more likely that killers like these 9/11 hijackers will be identified and located in time. And the activities conducted under this authorization have helped detect and prevent possible terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad.
The activities I authorized are reviewed approximately every 45 days. Each review is based on a fresh intelligence assessment of terrorist threats to the continuity of our government and the threat of catastrophic damage to our homeland. During each assessment, previous activities under the authorization are reviewed. The review includes approval by our nation's top legal officials, including the Attorney General and the Counsel to the President. I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups.
The NSA's activities under this authorization are thoroughly reviewed by the Justice Department and NSA's top legal officials, including NSA's general counsel and inspector general. Leaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it. Intelligence officials involved in this activity also receive extensive training to ensure they perform their duties consistent with the letter and intent of the authorization.
This authorization is a vital tool in our war against the terrorists. It is critical to saving American lives. The American people expect me to do everything in my power under our laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties. And that is exactly what I will continue to do, so long as I'm the President of the United States.
Thank you.
END 10:13 A.M. EST
"............Yet, Chuck Baldwin reported on Dec. 13th that Internet news site Capitol Hill Blue founder Doug Thompson wrote in his column on December 9 that in a private meeting with congressional leaders.........."
Sniff..You are quoting Doug Thompson?
I don't understand why everyone in this forum assumes that all leaks come from the CIA. IMO, Congresscritters, and their respective staff members are the far more likely source of this leak; then again, there are dozens of other agencies that might be responsible. Investigating leakers in this country is the duty not of the CIA, but the FBI.
It's about damn time!
I agree, but Bill Clinton is not the standard for presidential activity (that's for sure!), the Constitution is.
OK, so maybe the article I quoted isn't accurate. I have no proof it is; you have no proof it isn't.
In my mind, the real question is: do provisions of the Patriot Act infringe on the Constitution? I think a strong case can be made that some provision do.
will watch. these leaky senators need to be brought up on treason charges. they are entrusted with NSA material and the first thing they do is leak it for political gain. The laws are in place for such acctions. all the President has to do is enforce them. first Senator that is led away in hand cuffs will do a world of good
Sniff, NO. I am quoting Chuck Baldwin who is quoting Doug Thompson.
So what?
Your reply is so good it needs to be repeated:
"The leaks aren't in the NSA or CIA. I want to know which members of congress were notified. If you know which Democrats were briefed, you will have a short list of names to identify the leaker."
"There should be a special prosicutor named. Drag in the reporters and throw them in jail if they don't reveal their sources."
"Plame them to death."
You need to know ABOUT him and his past, chevy. Read up before you take anything he writes as fact.
No, it doesn't. It is not more intrusive than those powers that have been used in the war on drugs and against the mafia. Every action possible under the Patriot Act must be approved by a court first.
Of course, you should know that, but refuse to acknowledge that previously, our intelligence services and our law enforcement officials were hamstrung by rules that prevented them from working together. Rules put together by many of the anti-American people living in your home city.
We can only hope so... perhaps this President will finally instruct the Attorney General to prosecute sedition and treason... but I wouldn't hold my breath on it.
I'm "assuming" because last night I heard someone who seemed to have a lot of good points say he thought it came from the CIA, and that it's part of a concerted effort to bring down the President. We'll see--it will probably come out, or someone on FR will drag it out. I can agree that there are a number of senators and representatives that would happily do the same.
And it must be time for Rumsfeld/Bush to replace the NSA Director also. Criminal charges should be filed against the NYT for disclosing classified information in their paper, "so called". Anyone responsible for printing this story should be in prison for violating the security laws of this country, and IMHO, for assisting in committing treason. The leakers must also pay the price for unauthorized disclosure. THIS IS A REAL CRIME UNLIKE THE REVEALING OF VALERIE FLAME'S NAME.
Are you saying that courts always make decisions based on the Constitution? C'mon now!
Your points are well made.
With respect to "Mapes", I hear you. I don't know Doug Thompson from a hill of beans (Capitol Hill?), so maybe he made the whole thing up just to rile conservatives; who knows?
The issue, ultimately, is the Constitution. And I am not convinced that the assaults on the First Amendment permitted by the Patriot Act are in fact, Constitutional.
I agree. Educate me please.
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