Gonzales blasts surveillance critics

Ron Burgundy · 11-18-2006, 05:00 PM

AP - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales contended Saturday that some critics of the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program were defining freedom in a way that poses a "grave threat" to U.S. security.

Gonzales was the second administration official in two days to attack a federal judge's ruling last August that the program was unconstitutional. Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday called the ruling "an indefensible act of judicial overreaching."

Gonzales told about 400 cadets from the Air Force Academy's political science and law classes that some see the program as on the verge of stifling freedom rather that protecting the country.

"But this view is shortsighted," he said. "Its definition of freedom — one utterly divorced from civic responsibility — is superficial and is itself a grave threat to the liberty and security of the American people."

Gonzales and Cheney's attacks on the court order came as the administration was urging the lame-duck Congress to approve legislation authorizing the warrantless surveillance. The bill's chances are in doubt, however, because of Democratic opposition in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to end debate and vote.

At a news conference, Gonzales would not speculate how the administration would react if Congress did not authorize warrantless surveillance.

"We're optimistic because of the importance of this program, the success of the program, the stated commitment of the Democratic leadership to work with us in protection of America, and that we're going to have a good discussion and dialogue about the program," he said.

"We believe the president has the authority under the authorization of military force and inherent authority of the constitution to engage in this sort of program, but we want to supplement that authority," he said.

The administration has maintained that its warrantless surveillance program focuses on international calls involving suspected terrorists, and dismisses charges that it is illegal because it bypasses federal law requiring a judge-issued warrant for such eavesdropping.

"It's absolutely essential that we maintain the tool," he told reporters. "It's been very, very important in protecting America, and we look forward to working with Congress to find a way that we can supplement the president's authority, and continue to maintain this as a valuable tool for the American people."

In August, the program was struck down by U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit, who said it violated the rights to free speech and privacy and the constitutional separation of powers. She was the first judge to rule on the legality of the program, which is operated by the National Security Agency.

The government has appealed. Bush and other administration officials argue that the program is legal under the president's constitutional powers and has saved lives by helping to disrupt terrorist plots.

Speaking to the cadets, Gonzales dismissed as "myth" the charge that civil liberties were being sacrificed in the fight against terrorism. He defended the Patriot Act and the handling of detainees at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"To achieve victory at the cost of eroding civil liberties would not really be a victory. We cannot change the core identity of our nation and claim success," said Gonzales, an Air Force veteran who attended the Air Force Academy from 1975 to 1977.

motivez · 11-18-2006, 05:07 PM

"To achieve victory at the cost of eroding civil liberties would not really be a victory. We cannot change the core identity of our nation and claim success," said Gonzales

I completely agree with that statement. It's a real shame he doesn't really believe it and has helped institute policies that run counter to that statement.

SICKGUY · 11-18-2006, 05:29 PM

from here on out, anything either cheney or gonzales says is total bullshit.

how come the only mexican dude with any real power in our government is a douchebag?

7th Ninjai · 11-18-2006, 08:54 PM

I read that article earlier today and was disgusted. He's worse than Ashcroft.

RMNIXON · 11-19-2006, 02:30 AM

People are upset about Iraq. The left Democrat misread is that this translates into popular mistrust of the Patriot Act, NSA program, treatment of terror suspect prisoners, ect...how far over the cliff they will go will be revealed next year when they take power of the Congress.

R-Type · 11-19-2006, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

People are upset about Iraq. The left Democrat misread is that this translates into popular mistrust of the Patriot Act, NSA program, treatment of terror suspect prisoners, ect...how far over the cliff they will go will be revealed next year when they take power of the Congress.

I wouldn't make that a purely liberal call, necessarily. Just from my own perspective, I know two conservatives who distrust PATRIOT because they detest authoritarian policy, so I am sure there are other conservatives who feel the same way. I find your 'over the cliff' analogy interesting because that's the charge the democrats have been laying at the feet of ashcroft/gonzalez and the rest of the administration over their unfriendly policies towards civil liberties like due process and habeus corpus.

Vietvet · 11-19-2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by 7th Ninjai

I read that article earlier today and was disgusted. He's worse than Ashcroft.

You're right, he's nothing but a Bush ass-kisser. Bush got him where he is, and Gonzales would sell his granny down the river if Bush said it was good for the country. We need to stop this warrantless wire-tapping BULLSHIT in it's tracks. And contrary to what some folks on this thread are posting, this is not about Liberal vs Conservative. Ask any Libertarian what they think about it. It's a violation of personal privacy and treads upon the very freedom that our country is supposedly trying to advance in the world. Some conservatives are also against it. I don't understand why these types of debates always have to come down to what side of the fence one is on politically. Here's what this is all about: TOTALITARISM. They are continuing to try to use fear as a weapon in order to increase the power of the executive branch. I would hope that the election will steel the will of Congress against these violations of our freedoms. Instead of tapping the phones of whomever they choose (regardless of what they say), they need to be securing our ports and borders. That's what REALLY matters, not spying on American citizens.

AVengeance · 11-21-2006, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I completely agree with that statement. It's a real shame he doesn't really believe it and has helped institute policies that run counter to that statement.

It's called doublespeak/doublethink. They're really good at that. The elite are so fucked in the head, they can not only SAY, but actually BELIEVE, two completely opposite points of view.

TheScatman · 11-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I completely agree with that statement. It's a real shame he doesn't really believe it and has helped institute policies that run counter to that statement.

more empty words from Washington...

TheScatman · 11-21-2006, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by AVengeance

It's called doublespeak/doublethink. They're really good at that. The elite are so fucked in the head, they can not only SAY, but actually BELIEVE, two completely opposite points of view.

Exactly...like for example on basically every Republican's (candidate or in office) website you will see they believe in "limited government" but will time and time again expand the federal government beyond its constitutional scope.

TheScatman · 11-21-2006, 06:15 PM

"It's absolutely essential that we maintain the tool," he told reporters. "It's been very, very important in protecting America, and we look forward to working with Congress to find a way that we can supplement the president's authority, and continue to maintain this as a valuable tool for the American people."

but how many attacks has it stopped? How many are they even wiretapping. I am shocked that this administration has gotten away with hiding so much...it really is reminiscient of the USSER, where everyone must obey the state and give up privacy for the good of the nation.

America is an individualist nation, its disturbing how collectivist the language has been

thomez · 11-22-2006, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Vietvet

You're right, he's nothing but a Bush ass-kisser. Bush got him where he is, and Gonzales would sell his granny down the river if Bush said it was good for the country.

I would say Gonzalez is worse than Bush, he simply has no respect for the written law and advises Bush to act the way he does. He did the same thing in Texas. The simply guy has no business in government.

So where you think that Bush is leading Gonzalez astray, I would say that it's the opposite. Gonzalez has helped lead Bush astray.