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
In the meantime what happens while you're contacting, then persuading a judge to consider your request and the window of opportunity closes....the terrorists have planned an attack and you don't know about it?
Is it all possible to start a recall election movement to get these jokers, knaves and buffoons out of office before this nation is totally screwed? Shadow President McCain would like to BELIEVE he is calling the tune to the dance but is oblivious to the fact he is dancing at the whim of his media puppetmasters. I guess it's time to consider feeding the Tree of Liberty with the nutrients it properly deserves.
I voted for feingold. He got a searing Email and phone call from me. I regret voting for him. Maybe its high time to bring back the sedition Act
Have you done anything else in your brief stay on FR? I mean said anything worth reading?
Goss is cleaning house and this is an example. Let alone this was leaked a year ago and most likely by Kerry.
Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops
.
"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."
I just watched the clip on CNN.com, it was awesome. Then I read the transcipt you posted, and CNN didn't have the video of the first part where he was taking the senate to task for filibustering the patriot act. Good grief are they in a fantasy world.
Re your post No. 32. My husband agrees with you. He says 9/11/01 really did not wake up enough Americans to the danger and the WOT. This is very sad. What will it take to wake up Americans to the very real danger we live with?
What more are you willing to give up? Guns? Remember all those "terrorists want guns" garbage that the Brady campaign to end gun violence fed us? Are you going to be in favor of banning the ownership of all guns?
How about flight training? Are you willing to only have a pilot permitted by the federal and state governments? After all, a private plane owner is a potential terrorist, right?
The notion of 'we'll only violate the rights of terrorists' is absurd. If we knew who they were, there wouldn't be a problem, right?
So why do you keep responding, sister?
The only difference between me and you is that you're a "Bushbot" and I'm not ... and the amount of time we've been on FR.
So what?
BTW ... tell your son "thanks" for me. I would have gone in his place if I had the choice.
The New York Times had not responded to Bush's allegations...
Executive Editor Bill Keller said the newspaper postponed publication of the article for a year at the White House's request, while editors pondered the national security issues surrounding the release of the information.
But after considering the legal and civil liberties aspects, and determining that the story could be written without jeopardizing intelligence operations, the paper ran the story, Keller said, emphasizing that information about many NSA eavesdropping operations is public record.
Now the NYT has assumed the mantel of determining what will / will not jeopardize intelligence operations.
Whew... I'm sure our folks - doing the actual fighting in this little thing we call the Global War On Terror - feel so much more assured knowing that the NYT has determined this will have know impact on their operations. /sarcasm
The @ssholes who signed their non-disclosure agreements and then turned around and leaked the information they with which they were trusted to the press need to be prosecuted for treason and and executed as traitors.
I don't know. I just can't help myself, I guess.
I just keep seeing your mindless posts against President Bush, and I feel the need to counter them.
I just don't like seeing false accusations leveled at this strong man and good man, leveled by people who have absolutely nothing at stake, and show no courage whatsoever in making the charges from their keyboards in cozy rooms at home.
Why don't you just try stating your opinion without the silly personal attacks against the President, and I'll leave you alone. Legitimate disagreement is one thing.......absurd conclusions based on your disagreement are quite another.
(And the "Bushbot" line makes you look ridiculous).
I fully support Bush in doing this. What worries me is a future Rat administration having the powers to spy on citizens. Would you have trusted Clinton with the power to use NSA to eavesdrops on American citizens? I sure as hell wouldn't have.
That is where you are absolutely WRONG.
All Americans have everything at stake.
If we thought America was perfect and we didn't have to worry about or discuss anything then why are we here on FR?
Bush may be a decent and honorable man, but he cannot possibly keep America safe without showing some leadership at home. His "leadership" of the controlling (Republican) party or lack thereof is what I question and criticize.
You've made your point, and I've made mine.
Now drop it.
I agree. IMO, this has Kerry's fingerprints all over this. Maybe Rockefeller, but this fits the traitorous Kerry.
BTTT.
The President should consider broadcasting this repeatedly during the week at different times of day until the message is received by most Americans.
From all I've read he has every legal option to do what he's doing and the leakers should be tracked down with the same vigor as terrorists.
That's where I'd put my money - someone in Congress. I'd start with Rockefeller. Someone better be hanged for spreading this around. If the Rats think this is a game they just won the noose.
You can't just dismantle and start over like that -- though I do agree with your underlying point. At the same time, I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that there are other, still-secret organizations that operate independent of the CIA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.