October 27, 2001
Authorities Gain Tools to Fight Terrorism
By ADAM CLYMER
ASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — President Bush signed into law today antiterrorism measures that he said would "help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle, to disrupt and to punish terrorists before they strike."
In a White House ceremony, Mr. Bush praised several provisions of the bill, including its efforts to attack money-laundering and to allow information sharing between law enforcement and intelligence authorities. He also cited new powers for roving wiretaps across the country and for the surveillance of computers and electronic mail.
Mr. Bush said the legislation would strengthen the fight against terrorism "while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans." He said the overwhelming bipartisan support for the bill stemmed from its respect "for the civil liberties guaranteed by our Constitution."
But the American Civil Liberties Union said it would monitor the law's implementation to make sure that "we can be both safe and free," as Anthony D. Romero, the organization's executive director, put it. The group warned that the sweeping new powers could be misused.
One of the measure's most widely questioned provisions allows immigrants suspected of terrorist activities to be detained for seven days without charges, and in some cases held for an additional six months.
Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a statement saying he had directed all 94 United States attorney's offices and 56 Federal Bureau of Investigation field offices to start using the new law immediately.
"The new provisions have two overarching principles: airtight surveillance of terrorists and speed in tracking down and intercepting terrorists," Mr. Ashcroft said.
With these weapons, he said, "the war on terrorism is escalated to a degree commensurate with the threat posed by terrorism."
Specifically, Susan Dryden, a spokeswoman for the department, said, "We have begun sharing information on all aspects of the investigation of the 9/11 events, including material that we were previously limited in sharing, such as grand jury information."
At the Treasury Department, Jimmy Gurule, the under secretary for enforcement, said its law enforcement officials had begun sharing information with their counterparts in intelligence agencies. Mr. Gurule said the department had also begun requesting financial records that until today could have been kept secret.
Vice President Dick Cheney appeared alongside Mr. Bush, a rare joint appearance. Also attending were several cabinet secretaries, members of Congress and law enforcement officers. Mr. Bush singled out the latter group for praise, saying: "We have seen the horrors terrorists can inflict. We may never know what horrors our country was spared by the diligent and determined work of our police forces, the F.B.I., A.T.F. agents, federal marshals, customs officers, Secret Service, intelligence professionals and local law enforcement officers, under the most trying conditions."
Mr. Bush said the new law would help them because, "we're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even available when our existing laws were written."
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