Kerry Outlines Steps to Fight Terror
Mon Dec 1,11:05 AM ET Add Politics - AP to My Yahoo!
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) said Monday he will end the "era of John Ashcroft (news - web sites)" if elected president, stepping up efforts to protect civil liberties while strengthening the war on terrorism.
"In my first 100 days, I will restore our commitment to civil rights and individual rights," Kerry said in remarks to be delivered at Iowa State University. That will begin with the appointment of "an attorney general who knows he can fight the war on terrorism without attacking America's freedoms. ... an attorney general whose name is not John Ashcroft."
Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, said he would call for an end to the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens and provide those who are detained their basic civil rights. He also would strengthen terrorism laws such as those that call for more sharing of information with local law enforcement and ensure that anti-terror laws are used to combat terrorism rather than ordinary criminal cases.
Kerry cited the report by the Justice Department (news - web sites)'s inspector general, who said 762 Arab and Muslim non-citizens have been detained for months despite a lack of evidence.
"It's clear that there's a broad-based fear that the ideologues of this administration will stop at nothing to get dissenters out of the way," Kerry said. He said conservative commentators and Republican-backed ads are trying to stifle dissent.
He called for tougher enforcement of anti-terror laws that he says would enhance the war on terrorism. Some portions of the Patriot Act can help, he said, such as tougher penalties for terrorist activities and extending the statute of limitations for investigations of terrorism. He also called for tougher laws to end money laundering, and better sharing of information between the intelligence community and local law enforcement.
* Kerry wote a book called "The New War" and warned of 9-11 style attacks BEFOR 9-11. He served as the Senate #1 guy on counter-terror and knows his stuff. |
