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
"Honest debate is warranted with NapkinUser, not knee-jerk reaction, and name-calling."
Fine. Explain this then:
"Then why, Mr. President, do you do everything in your power to keep the borders wide open?"
If that's your view of "honest debate", then have a nice day.
Oh, and try not to read what is not written and presuppose my view of our border situation. The issue here is the comment made stating "Then why, Mr. President, do you do everything in your power to keep the borders wide open?"
And really no need to reply, I have lost interest in the posters and their comments (and defense of it) by people trashing President Bush.
I thnk you are right. I think Pres. Bush sees the "big picture" and does NOT have his own interest at heart, and is not scambling for power as those who are opposing him. If they had their way, what would the world be like in 10 year? In 25 years?
What's your problem? I AGREED with you! If Thompson isn't a reliable source then you're right!
FYI, I didn't repeat the accusation "over and over". I posted it once (which the moderator has since removed for whatever reason) and I have backtracked since then.
I didn't know that Thompson isn't reliable. MY MISTAKE. Shame on me. I got it through Baldwin, whom I DO consider to be reliable (you may not; you're entitled to your opinion). If you read Baldwin's article, he states the following in it:
"Did President Bush really say the things Doug Thompson quotes him as saying? I sincerely hope not. And if he did not, Mr. Thompson certainly owes his readers and the President an apology. However, if it proves to be true, will conservative Christians admit that everything they were led to believe about G.W. Bush was a lie, because indeed it would be?!"
Again, the main thrust here (as I see it) is the Constitutionality of the Patriot Act, and President Bush's dedication to upholding the Constitution. As an example, by signing McCain-Feingold, President Bush has already shown that he doesn't take the First Amendment as seriously as many conservatives would like him to, so why would I believe that his protestations regarding the non-renewal of the Patriot Act would cause him to choose the Constitution over the Patriot Act?
So slam me for not being a GOP/Bush Kool-Aid drinker, but I DID vote for him over Kerry, and I do vote Republican most of the time. That doesn't mean I have to be a lemming.
LOL! No need to respond? You like the hit and run? You think I trash BUSH!?!? or protect those that do?!?
sheeshk!
I admire and support Bush. I would vote for him again and again and again.
This does not mean I agree with ALL he does. Bush's stand on the border embarrasses me. His position and his determination and strength on the WOT INSPIRES ME.
How long have you been involved in politics? I have run campaigns for people I believe in. Walked neighborhoods in 100 degree heat for them. etc. This does not mean I agree with them on ALL issues.
I hate Bush's stand on the border. I guess I am a wuss though, because as I whine about the lack of action to solve the problem, I avoid calling Bush out on it. I am uncomfrotable confronting my own inner struggle with Bush on this issue, but at least NapkinUser is true to his inner voice and speaks out instead of avoiding it due to allegience to a man over his allegience to his country.
In this regard- you and I BOTH could take some lessons on integrity from NapkinUser.
but- "no need to respond"- I am sure you are too busy trying to make sure we don't threaten your little paradeigm of perfection.
I prefer to be respectful of others, but you remind me of a State Senator I know that is so busy drummin an agenda, he burns bridges with people whom could help help him, and ends up accomplishing nothing but alienating people who actually agree with him...it's a maturity thing, maybe one day you will gain it...
"Integrity" makes a lying accusation in a broad, unsubstantiated swipe (hit and run) of "Then why, Mr. President, do you do everything in your power to keep the borders wide open?"
If this is YOUR definition of "integrity", then I understand more than I need to. This is probably a basic difference between us.
So long.
Great post #204. Wish I was as articulate as you.
Ping.
His calling out the congressmen who were briefed and have spread the word violating national security needs to be headlined in every paper and on every news show. (yes I know I'm having a fantasy moment.)
Unfortunately the folks doing the leaking are allied with Al-quaeda against us.
Arlen Specter is my Senator, and I have plenty of distaste for him. And disgust!
can someone tell me why the reporter that wrote the article isn't being led away in handcuffs by the FBI yet?
good question for the Attorney General (and the rest of the Executive Branch).
wow, thank you. very humbling and kind of you to say...
I have to admit that I admire the character you have displayed on this thread- your willingnes to concede a point, yet your strength to defend your position. You are quite articulate, and seem to display great integrity as well.
I am glad we have gotten the chance to exchange ideas and opinions...
It was probably leaked by a senator.
GWB is really on his game ~ it time to put the liberal, jerk-weed, moonbat's away!
This leak occurred over one year ago. So, even if it was CIA and not NSA (and I'm more apt to thinking it came from Rockefeller's office), Porter Goss had only been on the job for less than five months. Goss has done a great job of cleaning up at Langley, but that does not happen overnight.
Thanks for the ping. This is an excellent message by the President to the American people. The Democrat filibuster of the Patriot Act served to weaken our ability to defend ourselves against terrorist attacks. The NSA leak to the New York Slimes served the same purpose. Not said, but clearly implied: These two actions were done by enemies of the American people.
I'm saying he's a DOCUMENTED liar.
And anybody who doesn't know that is a fool; and anybody who QUOTES him, as you've been doing, is on the wrong site.
Oh yeah, you're right...I wasn't thinking clearly. That was silly. Sorry 'bout that.
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