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
"I know it's not biblical, but I am really starting to hate the democrats and the leftists. (I have despised them all along but this feeling is much stronger.)"
When we become aware of an individual or a group of people who put our families and way of life in jeopardy for their darkside agendas, it is very hard not to hate them.
9/11 woke up a lot of Americans who just want to get along with everyone. Unfortunately, some have been lulled back to their narcoleptic state.
I think this individual is making a very silly and untenable argument. I do not think the definition quoted is a violation of the Constitution. If you think otherwise, feel free to explain.
I am right there with you.
I really feel they are a threat to our way of life. A serious threat.
Ah, so that's why we still have an unsecured southern border, and 11~15M ILLEGAL and UNKNOWN aliens in the country you want to give amnesty to.
I get it...
Thanks! that is much better stated and put. I am convinced it is constitutionsl, you are not convinced... I can live with disagreeing! LOL!
I don't think us here at Freep would be suportive of the Patriot Act if we found it being abused...so far, we have not seen this, and it has been useful. One of the beautiful things about the act is that it is not a permanent thing... it is a temporary thing that needs to be reviewed and re-instituted. I think this is the best way to use it a a great tool in the fight against terror attacts, but at the same time, protect US citizens against it being abused....
My only point was that we have to keep our powder dry before we assume that agency "x" or "y" was the source of a given leak. Whoever is pointing the finger at CIA may him/her self be the victim of a "red herring" passed off by the actual leaker. Remember the old adage: "Assume" makes an "ass" of u and me.
Do your own homework......try the FR search engine, google, and freepers who have more spare time than I do right now. I do know that he not to be trusted.
If you read down a little further, you will see where Rev. Mahoney was arrested in the name of "national security" for peaceably holding a sign saying "God Bless America".
It seems that the type of government abuse of citizens which Rev. Mahoney experienced is permitted by the Patriot Act, which is what caused him to make his argument.
Put it this way: Would you trust President Rodham with the Patriot Act? :-)
Put it this way: Would you trust President Rodham with the Patriot Act? :-)
It is okay to hate evil
Ok, I will. I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that because of Baldwin's piece that Thompson may have been accurate in his reporting. Baldwin goes out of his way in the piece to suggest that Thompson may not be all that forthcoming, yet that his reporting of the incident may still have some merit.
LOL! I don't trust her with IRS!
That is why I posted that part of the beauty of this act is that it is TEMPORARY and needs to be reviewed and re-instituted. see my post #125
hey! Be nice! (lol)
I'm with you. I'm glad that the senate filibustered. Some of the patriot act, namely a certain 16 provisions, need to expire, though I imagine they'll get either a three month or one year extension, instead of the permanent extension the president wants.
Look how the patriot act supporters use fear to try and pass it. It's flat-out disgusting. Live free or die!
LOL! I said "evil", not "eevil", a horse of a differnt color.
Should have gotten a declaration of war from Congress--wouldn't be having these problems now.
LOL!! :-)
Is torture illegal in this instance?
What is the Sunday night address all about? First I heard of it.
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