Posted on 02/07/2006 9:38:50 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON (AP) -
Vice President Dick Cheney shrugged off congressional criticism of the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program Tuesday, suggesting some in the know who previously raised no objections were changing their tune.
He also expressed little interest in working with Congress to settle legal disputes.
"We believe that we have all the legal authority we need," Cheney said in an interview on PBS' "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer."
Asked about calls from the day before from both Democratic and some Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to work with Congress to sort out differences, Cheney said, "Well, I don't think it would necessarily be in the interests of the country especially if we get into a situation where the legislative process leads to the disclosure of sensitive operational matters with respect to this program."
Cheney said that the electronic surveillance program without warrants - which the administration claims is a crucial element of its efforts to track down al-Qaida members and disrupt their plans - has been going on for four years. During that period, the administration has held secret briefings on the program with a select group of eight congressional leaders.
"I presided over most of those briefings," he said. "There was no great concern expressed that somehow we needed to come get additional legislative authority."
"Well, I think a lot of people decided after it became public that they wanted to take a different position than they had in private," Cheney said. "We've had some members head for the hill, so to speak, and forget perhaps that they were in the briefings and fully informed of the program."
He defended the select briefings. "You can't take 535 members of Congress and tell them everything and protect the nation's secrets."
On other subjects, Cheney:
- Said "no options are off the table," including military ones, in dealing with Iran's defiance of international efforts to get it to abandon its nuclear program. "The new president has made some pretty outrageous statements," he said, referring to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Denounced spreading violence among militant Muslims against European targets over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, saying "violence is not justified in terms of what's happened there."
- Declined to characterize as an intelligence failure that the landslide victory of the Militant Islamic Hamas party in Palestinian elections came as such a surprise to the administration. "Did you guys ever miscall an election here in the United States?" he asked.
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I am delighted that the administration has found its voice on this issue. The Dems talk impeachment but they are the ones looking unfit for office. The public is realizing that W is doing his job, defending the country.
"domestic eavesdropping program"
Just can't budge the presstitutes off a meme once they've settled on it.
This issue is starting to wear on some liberals I know. I ask them how they compare laws with Constitutional duties and they just get this vacuous look and walk away mumbling to themselves.
He also expressed little interest in working with Congress to settle legal disputes.
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waste of time
been there, done that.. ;-)
LOL!
I love Cheney....wish he would change his mind about running!
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self- preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property, and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means." --Thomas Jefferson to John Colvin, 1810
If my first thought of every day was "St. Joeseph's" I'd think twice too....
bttt
Note all...
Got to get my rest before seeing the Doctor tomorrow....
Me too... Take care.
>>I love Cheney....wish he would change his mind about running!
I'm sorry, but this man has earned the right to fish for trout and eat Chugwater chili for the rest of his given years.
I wonder if he anticipated a time when the laws would be actively used as a weapon of the enemy and the constitution as their shield?
Good night, pleasant dreams, good luck with the doctoer, tomorrow!
Me too. Apparently he thought it was quite possible at the very least if not probable.
He doesn't need to, he will be appointed President-For-Life by the BFEE when * finally leaves the White House. And I KNOW this is true because I read it in the DUmmie FUnnies!
I am in the midst of battling one now.....their head is ready to explode....I love it!
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