U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Monday strongly defended the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program as an indispensable "early warning system" against attacks, denying accusations the White House had broken the law."The terrorist surveillance program is necessary. It is lawful and it respects the civil liberties we all cherish," Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee as Republican and Democratic members questioned the legality of the electronic eavesdropping.
"To end the program now would be to afford our enemy dangerous and potentially deadly new room for operation within our own borders," said Gonzales, who as White House counsel gave legal backing for the program of surveillance without court warrants.
I hope Majority Leader Frist schedules a vote on a "sense of the Senate" resolution calling for the end of the NSA program.
I hope Majority Leader Frist schedules a vote on a "sense of the Senate" resolution calling for the end of the NSA program.
That would be perfect and Frist should do it....let's get them on record...
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The closing paragraph.....
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The AUMF is not a blank check for the president to cash at the expense of the rights of citizens. The NSA's terrorist surveillance program is narrowly focused on the international communications of persons believed to be members or agents of al Qaeda or affiliated terrorist organizations. The terrorist surveillance program protects both the security of the nation and the rights and liberties we cherish. As the president said in his State of the Union speech, "the terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks. It remains essential to the security of America." When I testify before Congress today, I will tell them not only that the president had the authority to use this effective antiterror tool, but that it would have been irresponsible for him not to employ this weapon to prevent another attack on our country.
Mr. Gonzales is the U.S. attorney general.
Call their bluff and get them on record