Posted on 12/17/2005 1:00:51 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President is in Washington preparing for his address to the nation tomorrow evening.
Remember the following the next time some congress-critter or senator whines about not being briefed by the White House about something:
At yesterday's press briefing, Press Secretary Scott McClellan said that General Casey and Iraqi Ambassador Khalilzad briefed members of Congress on the elections and the political progress, as well as on the security progress in Iraq. Ambassador Khalilzad talked about how we would work with the new Iraqi government and assist them as they work to put a permanent government in place.General Casey gave an update on the security situation, and another sign of progress was that the violence was down yesterday. McClellan said we know that the terrorists and Saddam loyalists want to continue to carry out their attacks. And we expect that violence will continue. That's why we've got to continue to work to train and equip the Iraqi security forces going forward. We are making important progress. There are still challenges ahead. At this point, though, we congratulate the Iraqi people for a great day yesterday.
And now for a little fun -- it is Christmas time, after all...
President Bush discloses iPod playlistPresident George Bush yesterday discussed the contents of his iPod in greater detail with Sky News, noting various artists as he toyed with Apple's "high tech stuff." The Commander In-Chief perused his selections, listing among the The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, The Archies, Aretha Franklin, and "Dan" McLean as favored artists, among others on his playlist. One bystander quickly corrected the president, reminding him that Don, not Dan, was the artist who sang "American Pie." Bush remarked that "Bono came in and dropped his new iPod on me," comparing his older device to the lead singer of U2's iPod nano. "This is a clunker compared to the newer version," Bush said. The President failed to mention whether Bono's singing with U2 is among his selections. The music-fan-in-chief also took time to mention that his iPod "can shuffle the shuffle."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: This is the entire transcript of today's Presidential Radio Address, without question the most important such address since World War II. I have emphasized portions with bold type.
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 threat 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.
Those are wonderful pictures of Ashford. I would love to visit. It looks like a very old town. What is the population?
I loved Woolworths. They closed them down in the States. Walmart took over everywhere!
Indeed we are a window on the world with people from all over the world lurking and posting.
How great that you can walk to work and the shops ... you are so lucky. The area looks so peaceful and sane. So you've never had an auto in your family? The Christmas decorations are lovely .. and I sure wish we still had Woolworth's here. I can't believe they're still around somewhere. Used to like their counter for lunch and all the packed aisles of stuff .. including the chirping of the parakeets for sale, the smell of moth balls. Brings back memories of many years ago here in the States when there were Woolworth's all over the place.
Maybe they will. But what bothers me a lot is that the GOP is going way off track, and might nominate someone who is worse.
I think it would be easier to get the GOP back on track than it would be to get the Dems corralled, but it might take a wake-up call.
Not sure what the population is I will have to do some digging on that we have recently built a lot of housing estates so it has rapidly increased in the last 10 - 15 years but not sure what the population was before that.
Some of it is old well over 100 - 150 years, my house is 100 years old. The street lamps are retro but are in keeping with some of the buildings especially in what is called Middle Row which probably some are nearer 200 years old.
Unfortunately we have lost a lot of shops from the town centre to out of town retail parks which is a shame for me as a non driver but fortunately we have a friend who would take me if I needed to go to one of those shops. On the whole I find most things either in the town centre, ASDA (Walmart) or the designer outlet.
Regarding cars, yes our family has always had one in fact at one time mum and dad had one each. I did start to learn to drive but I do not get on well so after spending about 500.00 dollars and really getting nowhere decided it was not for me. Dad still has a car but at present does not feel like driving hopefully we will again in the spring.
Our house and car I think it was January this year
It seems like a lovely place to live. So quiet and lots of little shops to browse in.
Our President sure showed 'em today! I can't wait 'til tomorrow's speech!
"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, Mr. President, for continuing to protect the American people from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC!!!
POWERLINE'S REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS TODAY:
President Bush gave a fantastic speech today, in which he labeled Senate Democrats "irresponsible" for filibustering the Patriot Act. He also vigorously, and effectively, defended the NSA intercept program that has come under attack since it was leaked to the New York Times. His argument was crushingly effective. I was heartened to see that Bush noted both the legality of the NSA program and the illegality of the leaks that exposed the program to the terrorists. The next step is to appoint a prosecutor to investigate who leaked this important classified information, and begin criminal proceedings against those responsible.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/
MARK LEVIN'S RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS:
NSA HYSTERICS [Mark R. Levin]
I notice the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers are using carefully cherry-picked "experts" from the ranks of the ACLU and the former Clinton administration to provide comment on the president authorizing the NSA to do what the NSA does, i.e., spy, among other things. Many of these "experts" -- joined by a few uninformed, media-obsessed politicians like Arlen Specter and Russ Feingold -- have claimed shock at the eavesdropping and have either suggested or pronounced the president's acts illegal or even unconstitutional.
Now, what exactly do we know from these hysterical reports? Not very much. As I wrote yesterday, the FISA permits the government to monitor foreign communications, even if they are with U.S. citizens. A FISA warrant is only needed if the subject communications are wholly contained in the United States and involve a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power. Today's Los Angeles Times writes that the program "was designed to enable the NSA to monitor communications between Americans in the U.S. and people overseas suspected of having ties to terrorist networks." Fine. That's not illegal or even unusual. And these "experts" know it. But the truth is that we have no idea of the contents of the president's executive order and, therefore, we have no idea what conduct we're supposed to be offended about. Perhaps the executive order expanded the authority of the NSA or expedited the processing of wiretaps. We just don't know. Unfortunately, the administration's hands are tied for while revealing the executive order's contents to the public might well demonstrate the appropriateness and legality of its conduct, thereby deflating the effort to create a scandal, it may well be too damaging to ongoing operations.
But clearly many members of Congress who have not spoken on the record do know about the program. As the president said today, Congress has been consulted, and often. It's remarkable that the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the Associated Press failed to uncover this fact. Indeed, they did the opposite. In addition to cherry-picking experts from the ACLU and the Clinton administration, the media are cherry-picking from their favorite politicians to give the opposite impression, i.e., that Congress was in the dark. And who better to react hysterically to hysterical reporting than Arlen Specter. The fact that Specter may not have been consulted, as he doesn't serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is of no consequence, except to Specter. He might want to ask his colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee what they know before stomping all over their congressional-oversight turf. But for a brief mention of Jay Rockefeller's knowledge of the program in yesterday's New York Times, we've hear nothing about of from the relevant committee members. Indeed, their silence, if anything, suggests to me their likely awareness of the program, consistent with the president's statement that Congress was aware.
What is clear is that this is not some Watergate-type rogue operation, as seemingly hoped by some. In addition to repeated congressional notification, the program has been heavily lawyered by multiple agencies, including the Department of Justice and NSA and White House, and is regularly reviewed. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Secretary of State Condi Rice have both insisted that program is legal. The fact that some might disagree with whatever legal advice and conclusions the president has received does not make them right or the program illegal. But at this point, we, the public, don't really know what these news stories are really about, do we?
Posted at 03:21 PM
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
ANOTHER MUST READ FROM VICTOR DAVIS HANSON:
Lancing the Boil: We quietly keep on killing terrorists, promoting elections in Iraq, pressuring Arab autocracies to democratize, and growing the economy.
You can read the entire commentary at
http://nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson200512160710.asp
HEADS UP:
C-Span plans to re-broadcast a speech by MARK STEYN (previously recorded on 12/2/05) at 9:30 PM EDT
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/schedule.csp
I LOVE it .. thank you!! And .. wow . . I even get a new remote .. whoeeey!!
Oh, thank you for that headsup about the Steyn show, DrDEb....I had forgotten!
You're welcome! . . . I'm so glad Steyn's on our side!!
Thanks!
Merry Christmas
Mike
Thanks for the headsup, Mark Steyn is a great writer and speaker
Mike, I hope you are feeling better tonight..
Give them hell, Mr. President.
Yes, much better Thank You!
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