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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenya AA who wrote (7518)	2/12/2003 10:06:35 AM
From: Mao II	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

Patriot Act: The Sequel Wednesday, February 12, 2003; Page A28 THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S draft of a second round of law enforcement and domestic security authorities -- a kind of sequel to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 -- offers an unintended glimpse of additional powers that the Bush administration is coveting. The draft, labeled "CONFIDENTIAL -- NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION" and dated Jan. 9, was obtained last week by the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington-based nonprofit. Department officials quickly stressed that it is not a final version. But the document's proposals may become the next battleground in the struggle to preserve American liberties while enabling the domestic war on terrorism. The proposals range from constructive to dangerous. A government DNA database for terrorists and suspected terrorists could be useful, though it would need refinement to protect suspects who are proved innocent. Another useful proposal would allow the special appeals court that reviews government surveillance requests in national security cases to appoint lawyers to argue against the government. Under current law, it hears only from one side. The draft would create a federal crime for terrorist hoaxes, which now must be prosecuted under provisions designed for other purposes. But the draft contains many troubling provisions. It would further expand intelligence surveillance powers into the traditional realm of law enforcement. Like a Senate bill soon to be taken up by the Judiciary Committee, it would allow foreigners suspected of terrorism to be watched as intelligence targets -- rather than subjects of law enforcement -- even if they could not be linked to any foreign group or state. But it would go much further. It would allow intelligence surveillance in certain circumstances even when the government could not produce any evidence of a crime. It also would allow certain snooping with no court authorization, not only -- as now -- when Congress declared war but when it authorized force or when the country was attacked. The result of such changes would be to magnify the government's discretion to pick the legal regime under which it investigates and prosecutes national security cases and to give it more power unilaterally to exempt people from the protections of the justice system and place them in a kind of alternative legal world. Congress should be pushing in the opposite direction. Before the department asks Congress for more powers, it needs to disclose how it is using the ones it already has. Yet the Justice Department has balked at reasonable oversight and public information requests. In fact, the draft legislation would allow the department to withhold information concerning the identity of Sept. 11 detainees -- a matter now before the courts. At the very least, Congress should insist on a full understanding of what the department is doing before granting the executive branch still more authority. washingtonpost.com © 2003 The Washington Post Company

To: Kenya AA who wrote (7518)	2/12/2003 10:39:31 AM
From: Mao II	Respond to of 25898

He may be at war with everyone else, but he still luvs Kenny Boy: President Bush Honors Kenneth Lay in Church/Bank Service First Church/Bank of Glengarry, Glenn Ross Landover, Maryland 10:35 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Thank you. Now I understand -- now I understand why an old bank -- (laughter and applause) -- can become a center of love and compassion and fire. (Applause.) I am honored, Laura and I are honored that you would invite us and our friends, the Governor and the First Lady and the Lieutenant Governor and his lovely wife, to come and celebrate a great American. We're honored to be in the midst of a social entrepreneur -- (applause) -- whose guidebook for entrepreneurship to help others is the Bible. (Applause.) I want to thank the members of the church/bank, the leaders of the church/bank and those who are in charge of the ministries of the church/bank for sharing with us the good works of this church/bank It is fitting that we honor Kenneth Lay in a combination church and bank. Because, Gerald, I believe, like you, that the power of his words, the clarity of his vision, the courage of his leadership occurred because he put his faith in the Almighty Dollar. (Applause.) It is fitting that we honor the life of a great American in a church/bank who derived his inspiration from the church and put his profit in a bank. It is fitting that we honor this great American in a church/bank because, out of the church/bank comes the notion of equality and justice and profit that has made our country grreat. (Applause.) And even though progress has been made, Pastor-President -- even though progress has been made, there is more to do. There are still people in our society who have not bought into our free-capitalistic-spiritual vision. There is still prejudice holding people back. There is still a school system that doesn't elevate every child so they can learn through an intersection of church, state, and sound banking principles. (Applause.) There is still a need for us to hear the words of Kenneth Lay, to make sure the hope of America extends its reach into every neighborhood across this land So it's fitting we're here in a church/bank that has got ministries aimed at healing those who hurt, and fighting addiction and promoting love and families. It is fitting we meet here in a church/bank because in this society, we must understand government could help, government could write checks -- but it should not put money in people's pockets or dollars and cents in people's lives. The people must do that by themselves, the people must affirm their own actions, no matter what they have faced in their history. (Applause.) And so as we remember the dream of Kenneth Lay and remember his clear vision for a society that's equal and a society full of justice, this society must remember the power of faith in our almighty dollar. This government of yours must welcome faith in the almighty dollar, not discriminate faith in the almighty dollar, as we deal with the future of this great country. (Applause.) And so, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for having Laura and me. Thank you for allowing us to worship the dollar with you. Thank you for opening up your pocketbooks to my glorious word. May God bless you all. May God bless the legacy of Kenneth Lay. And may God bless all Americans on this special day. Thank you, Pastor-President. (Applause.) per the White House, Jan. 20, 2003.