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
"but the namecalling is ridiculous and will serve NO GOOD OUTCOME..."
I agree! Can't we have a nice debate without any namecalling?
LOL! I never thought I would see the day that YOU were called a troll! LOL!
bttt
You were correct.
Nope, not because "we" do not agree, but because there is not much difference between your comments about President Bush and someone dropping by FR from the DUmp. I am sure there is a reason for it, though. If I disagree with the President on something, fine, I disagree. But to start in on him as what I read on here is pretty ridiculous, IMO.
LOL. No, but then I wouldn't trust here without it either.
Well, I understand what you are saying. But understand that I did not make it up. If Doug Thompson did make it up then, yes, you are correct. If he has a track record of making things up, then yes, you are correct.
Is that 9 PM Eastern?
okay
#1 conservative is not the same as Republican...
#2 our system was set up to prosecute crimes, and the punishment phase was to discourage crime...
these days, we need to PREVENT terror..terror is not the same as crime. Terrorists have no fear of consequences. Not to mention that our punishment phase has become a laughing stock..I mean if the lady in Texas had drowned someone else's kids, she would be on death row.....our forefathers would have Padilla hanged, etc...
I understand the need for people to question the Patriot Act on the basis of abuse and constititonality.... the DU'ers oppose the act on the basis of crippling the President and aiding the terrorists. This is the difference between a troll and a conservative that believes in the constitution. I believe in the constitution, but I also believe in the Patriot Act. I do not see them in contradiction of each other. I do see where it can be abused, but there are safeguards IN THE ACT to avoid abuse.
Educating people on the FACTS of the act is the key here, not inferring that those questioning the act as trolls.
This is FR not DU. There are certainly trolls here at times, but NapkinUser is not a troll. Honest debate is warranted with NapkinUser, not knee-jerk reaction, and name-calling.
Remember- I agree with you on the Patriot Act, just not your discourse with one of our own...
I know you probably don't care what I think- but that is the beaty of FR.....and AMERICA..lol
Try going to RushLimbaugh.com and read yesterday's Limbaugh clarifying and explaining the 16 parts of the ACT which will cease to exist after Dec.31 if the Senate does not renew them.
Yes, you SHOULD Be afraid. Very Afraid. If they emasculate this ACT, which has served us well, terrorists will have free reign to plan and execute another 9/ll.
thanks! I thought he would be! Whew! lol!
So McCain politicized the Defense bill ... and President Bush caved and signed it.
"Is that 9 PM Eastern?"
Nah, Pacific Time. It will be midnight on the east coast.
Nitwit!
Leaders who look short-term and want to be loved and have a "legacy" (like G.H.W.Bush and especially Bill Clinton) are not effective leaders at all. Those who see the big picture and persevere against all the odds (and they are MANY these days) end up with the rare distinction of greatness...Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, George W. Bush and of course a few others. None are recognized that way at the time, and President Bush sees that and deals with the barrage of criticism, trying to accomplish many far-reaching goals in a brief time. I have so much respect for him, and of course I do not expect to agree with him all the time...How unrealistic is that?!!
Whoever leaked this to the NYT needs to be prosecuted.
Amen! Even if it's a US Senator!
Especially if it's a United States Senator!
Sometimes one has to play hardball. Veto the bill, let Congress be on the hook for the troops not being funded. See how long that would be.
Sometimes you have to play hardball.
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