Posted on 09/24/2001 3:36:54 PM PDT by annie oakley
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration's anti-terrorism package wouldn't have prevented the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Attorney General John Ashcroft told a House committee Monday as lawmakers said they needed more time to consider measures. The House Judiciary Committee had planned to vote Tuesday on the legislation, one day after Ashcroft came up to Capitol Hill to call for the package's speedy approval.
"The American people do not have the luxury of unlimited time in erecting the necessary defenses to future terrorist acts," the attorney general said.
But House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said the committee would now take up the bill late next week to give the panel time to work out concerns raised by some lawmakers, including some questions about the constitutionality of some of the provisions.
"We are very close to reaching a bill that has bipartisan support and that would pass the House of Representatives," Sensenbrenner said.
Ashcroft, a former senator, wants Congress to expand the FBI's wiretapping authority, impose stronger penalties on those who harbor or finance terrorists and increase punishments of terrorists.
"Every day that passes with outdated statutes and the old rules of engagement is a day that terrorists have a competitive advantage," Ashcroft said. "Until Congress makes these changes, we are fighting an uphill battle."
He said the new powers would not necessarily have prevented the Sept. 11 attacks that killed more than 6,000 people in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
"I cannot say to you if we had enacted these in August, we would have curtailed the activities in September nor can I assure this committee that we won't have terrorist acts in the future," he said. "But the mere fact that we can't do everything shouldn't keep us from doing what we can do."
Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee said the issues were too important to rush the legislation.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the panel's senior Democrat, said the two parties had agreed on 16 items in Ashcroft's package, but that some others "give us constitutional trouble."
Ashcroft's proposal also would allow immigrants suspected of terrorism to be held indefinitely - something Conyers said the courts already have viewed as unconstitutional.
Concerns also were raised about the proposed use in U.S. courts of electronic surveillance gathered by foreign governments with methods that violate the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
"While some would say that's unconstitutional on its face, let me be more polite: We're deeply troubled," Conyers said.
Ashcroft said he was sure his bill would pass constitutional muster. "We are conducting this effort with a total commitment to protect the rights and privacy of all Americans and the constitutional protections we hold dear," he said.
The attorney general is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee, which already has said it will move much slower on the package. The Senate panel's chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is proposing his own anti-terrorism language.
CLEAN SHIP BY RIDDING AMERICA OF ANTI-AMERICANS and SOCIALISTS.
THE BRADY BUNCH, CLINTON, GORE, SCHUMER, FINESTEIN, HANDGUN CONTROL INC. AS THEY ARE THE ENEMY WITHIN OUR BORDERS.
THE AMERICAN CITIZEN IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE ALWAYS.
THROW THE RASCELS OUT!!!!!
HERE IS THE REAL STORY
(THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISARMING US)
http://www.saveourguns.com/peapodschumer.jpg
HERE IS THE REAL STORY ON ARMING PILOTS.
FIVE THOUSAND LOST LIVES FOR THE WANT OF TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS.
Israel Airlines bolts the Cockpit door and all Pilots and copilots carry Firearms.
(TELL THE AIRLINE PRESIDENTS AND CEO'S)
New Release
Ponder for a moment.
We trust a pilot with a 30 million-dollar plane knowledgeable of complex airplane functions, but government policy will not allow them to operate a simple firearm.
I’LL FLY AGAIN WHEN PILOTS ARE ARMED.
Israel Airlines bolts the Cockpit door and all Pilots and copilots carry Firearms.
Scanning the websites this week the following thread from Pilots, Law Enforcement, and American Citizens discuss ways to take positive action against air terrorism.
We trust a fancy security question (Thanks to Jim Kallstom, former FBI, did you pack your bags?) but not millions of active and retired law enforcement officers to Citizen Carry on an airplane.
May I rant for a second! Get these liberal, antigun activists out of our government decision making process. Consider, Israel Airlines policy is to bolt the door, arms it pilots, and has armed travelers in the cabin.
We allow lowly-paid gate-guards to gate dis-arm us, creating a "killing zone of disarmed citizens", as passingers "do battle" in the sky with terrorists, using passion for weapons because misguided government policy has left us defenseless.
The government can not protect you when the terrorist is eyeball to eyeball with you. Now they have ban my pocketknife used to clean my nails. What next, bottles, because they can be smashed for a weapon??
Most all of the former military pilots strapped firearms to their legs when on active duty. Today they are considered not capable, wear the wrong uniform, or untrust worthy.
This BS about putting a 9mm hole in the skin of an airplane will bring it down is more rhetoric and fiction than fact. Just ask the thousand of airmen who returned from flights over Germany in WWII. How about the 747 over Hawaii with a 20-foot hole in the side. Still got a problem with possible decompression? Consider the alternative!
I’ll trust anyday my life to any active or retired law enforcement officer to CITIZEN CARRY on any airline.
I’ll trust anyday my life to any pilot or copilot active or retired to carry on any airline.
I’ll trust any American citizen willing to CITIZEN CARRY after extensive training to carry on any airline. It is a huge responsibility, however, the current "Killing Zones" set up by faulty thinking is killing our husbands, wives, children, and our nation.
I am sure thousands perhaps millions of American’s would trust their life to armed pilots, copilots, air crew members, retired, policemen, FBI, CIA, ATF, or American Citizens willing to train, quality, and stay current with cabin safety issues keeping America airlines safe.
I personally trust all of the above personnel, rather than phony security questions, low-pay air guards, unlocked backdoor food and cleaning functions or gates at airports, or government officials with big titles.
WHO DO YOU TRUST THE GOVERNMENT? OR DO YOU TRUST HONEST AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND BREATH FAMILY SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING?
What do you want in your cockpit, a pilot and copilot with a firearm, or a terrorist? 2,180 dollars (four colt pistols)would have prevented all four terrorist acts and saved five thousand lives.
Government will spend billions of dollars with highly visible, and breach-able security that irritates American citizens during check-in when other more effective obvious solutions exist. Just ask Israel.
Thousands of American veterans, retired LEO's and American Citzens want to sign up today to fight terrorism. Don't tell them they are unqualified. If you do tell them they are unqualifed, they may have a word or two for you.
Visit keepandbeararms.com to carry the fight.
Paul Williams Ninth generation American Patriot
WWW.KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM
Advising Director
end Five thousand American Citizens lost their life for the want of two thousand one hundred eight dollars.
(TELL THE AIRLINE PRESIDENTS AND CEO'S)
Other websites with Pilot talk
( Federal Observer help pilots reclaim cockpits )
http://www.federalobserver.com/index.php?section=Arm+Pilots+NOW%21
(Five thousand lose live for want of a shoelace)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba6ac034145.htm
http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/sep/18/arfs091801.htm
( Kamikaze Pilots on U.S. Soil)
http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/sep/14/arfl091401.htm
http://www.sierratimes.com/archive/files/sep/18/arnj091801.htm
http://www.saveourguns.com/selfdefense.htm
http://www.2asisters.org/safety/index.htm
<a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24549”>( Captains to FAA Focus on cockpits Pilots argue for bullet-proof doors, cameras, guns)</a><P> http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24549 <P> end <P>
What am I missing here??? If the "courts" already have viewed holding suspected terrorists indefininitely..how then can it be in this proposal???? Is Johnny Cochran Conyers leaving out some facts????
Concerns also were raised about the proposed use in U.S. courts of electronic surveillance gathered by foreign governments with methods that violate the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
So they are saying foreign countries...who do not adopt and formalize OUR constitution to their government cannot assist us in monitoring, and tracking likely terrorists???
"While some would say that's unconstitutional on its face, let me be more polite: We're deeply troubled," Conyers said.
It's nice to see Conyers acknowledging publically what we already know him to be.
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