Along those lines... Patriot II Dead
Ashcroft Defends Patriot Act
By Richard B. Schmitt, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft launched a defense of the USA Patriot Act, the terror-fighting law approved after the Sept. 11 attacks, responding to a stepped-up attack on the law in the courts and Congress by civil liberties groups.
In a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, Ashcroft said that by enacting the act by an overwhelming margin in October 2001, Congress had made only incremental changes in federal law. But he said the act has nonetheless been crucial in helping the department root out terrorists and prevent additional attacks.
The attorney general cited aspects of the law that make it easier for prosecutors and the intelligence community to share information and conduct cooperative investigations. Other provisions facilitate the ability of the government to obtain wiretaps in terror investigations.
"Two years later, the evidence is clear: If we knew then what we know now, we would have passed the Patriot Act six months before September 11th rather than six weeks after the attacks," Ashcroft said.
He said the act righted "fatal flaws" in the government's law enforcement and intelligence apparatus that the 19 hijackers exploited to "murderous effect."
He cited an FBI sting in Newark, N.J., last week that resulted in the arrest of a British arms dealer trying to sell shoulder-mounted missiles as evidence that Justice Department anti-terror efforts are working.
But he said there is more work to be done. Alluding to Tuesday's truck bomb explosion at the U.N. compound in Baghdad that killed at least 15 people, Ashcroft said, "This morning's attack confirms that the worldwide terrorist threat is real."
The Justice Department's war on terror is itself under attack, however. Last month, the House voted to gut a portion of the act that makes it possible for investigators to conduct unannounced searches of terror suspects. At least two lawsuits have been filed seeking to have portions of the law declared unconstitutional.
Ashcroft plans to give similar speeches in more than a dozen cities over the next month or so, primarily to law enforcement personnel, including stops in Philadelphia and Cleveland on Wednesday, and Detroit and Des Moines on Thursday. Federal prosecutors in a number of cities are also holding town hall-style meetings to explain the workings of the Patriot Act, in conjunction with the campaign.
Ashcroft announced that the department has also set up a Web site that touts the benefits of the act: lifeandliberty.gov.
Just a few months ago, civil liberties' groups feared that the department was on the verge of pushing an aggressive new expansion of Patriot Act powers through Congress. But a spokesman said Ashcroft would not be discussing any new legislative proposals during his tour.
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