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Politics : Attack Iraq? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: AK2004 who wrote (2263)	10/8/2002 10:55:20 PM
From: lorne	Respond to of 8683

Police chiefs are told U.S. is thwarting possible terrorists BY BILL BRYAN 10/07/2002 08:38 PM MINNEAPOLIS — The United States has been successful in "disrupting and punishing" possible terrorist-related activity throughout the country since 9-11, Attorney General John Ashcroft told a receptive gathering of the nation's top police officials meeting in Minneapolis on Monday. Ashcroft blasted unnamed opponents who have been critical of the government's methods. "We are conducting the largest investigation in history," Ashcroft said as the featured speaker of the annual conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "Our hard work is showing results." He said 131 individuals have been charged, with 94 already found guilty, in the continuing investigation. He mentioned specific cases in Denver; Seattle; Washington; Buffalo, N.Y; Portland, Ore.; and Maryland. Ashcroft also said that stepped-up security at the country's borders has led to the arrest of more than 500 undocumented aliens, and more than 430 have been deported. Ashcroft said the moves to protect America "are rooted firmly in the Constitution ... nevertheless, our actions have been met in some quarters with disdain and ridicule. "The critics call for a reversal of the gains we have made over the last year. They would have us return to a reticent law enforcement culture of inhibition which existed prior to Sept. 11, 2001 — a culture that gave terrorists a technological advantage over law enforcement; a culture that stifled cooperation between the intelligence and law enforcement communities; a culture that so sharply focused on investigations of past crimes that it limited the prevention of future terrorism." Ashcroft stressed state and federal law enforcement must work together in anti-terrorism strategies. He said the Justice Department was working with Congress to develop legislation to remove some legal impediments to federal-local information sharing, and to create a single secure Web- based system to enable law enforcement to post and retrieve information from coast to coast. "We must use all lawful means to prevent terrorism. And we must act with excellence," Ashcroft said. "There are no second chances in the campaign to prevent another Sept. 11." Bob Carden, chief of police in Marysville, Wash., said: "It was a great speech. He talked cooperation. He talked about important issues that face us today." Another chief, John A. Mickelson of Cottage Grove, Minn., said, "It was nothing I hadn't heard before, but it was nice to hear it in person." stltoday.com