Mylezylez
03-11-2003, 07:46 AM
The following is a partial transcript of Ashcroft testifying that there is no Patriot Act II.
<<<
ASHCROFT: Senator, with your permission, I'd like to respond to
the suggestion that there is a PATRIOT Act II. When individuals
indicate to you that if there is a proposal, we'll confer with you, I
believe they are right. There is not a proposed Terrorist Act II from
the Justice Department. No final discussion has been made with the
attorney general about proposals. No final discussion has been made
with the administration about proposals.
Now, let me just say that we constantly are thinking of things
that ought to be considered. And we believe that it's in the interest
of the country that we think expansively and that we have a thorough
and clear debate about them considering the pluses and the minuses.
And we don't believe that it's appropriate to never mention anything
unless it's already been decided that it's totally OK. You can't do
that; consideration requires that.
So if someone leaks the fact that there are items under
consideration, that does not mean -- or that there is a matter of
discussion -- that doesn't mean anything out of the ordinary. I hope
that characterizes the fact that we are constantly considering how to
improve.
I want to assure you that there has been no bill, no proposal
decided on. I am keenly aware that the administration cannot pass
legislation. Only members of the Congress can pass legislation. It
would be the hght of absurdity for me to have a secret matter that I
hope to make a law without telling Congress. I mean, I simply don't
understand that.
So we will confer. But I will prefer, if I can, to weed out
things that I believe are inappropriate before I come to the Congress
with an idea.
FNGOLD: General, I really urge you to do that.
And let me just say that you know my view that the last time we
had a USA PATRIOT Act that the kind of discussion and airing of the
issues certainly did not happen. It's a debate about whether it could
have happened. I appreciate your commitment to it happening in this
case. And the fact is, there are some specific proposals or possible
proposals out there. I don't think it's too early for people, like
you and me and others, to start discussion whether they're a good
idea.
And I'm wondering if you could respond to my specific question,
in the seconds I have, which is can you cite an example of a terrorist
plot that went undetected because local police had thr hands tied by
consent decree of placing limits on thr domestic spying
capabilities?
ASHCROFT: I cannot.
FNGOLD: Thank you, General.
And of course, I look forward to discussing these provisions and,
perhaps, we could follow up with a conversation about the items that
we saw, at l in this draft, whatever this draft is. There's
enough items there that people are raising concerns about that the
conversations and consultations should begin now, in my view.
ASHCROFT: Well, I don't believe that I should start to consult
and defend things which I believe are indefensible or not a part of
something that I would seek to propose. I guess that's my view.
Until I have something that I think is appropriate, I don't know
that I should engage in some discussion about something that we don't
believe is appropriate. We could agree on a lot of these things that,
hey, those don't belong in our discussion.
>>>
________
Vapir no2 (http://vapirno2.net)
<<<
ASHCROFT: Senator, with your permission, I'd like to respond to
the suggestion that there is a PATRIOT Act II. When individuals
indicate to you that if there is a proposal, we'll confer with you, I
believe they are right. There is not a proposed Terrorist Act II from
the Justice Department. No final discussion has been made with the
attorney general about proposals. No final discussion has been made
with the administration about proposals.
Now, let me just say that we constantly are thinking of things
that ought to be considered. And we believe that it's in the interest
of the country that we think expansively and that we have a thorough
and clear debate about them considering the pluses and the minuses.
And we don't believe that it's appropriate to never mention anything
unless it's already been decided that it's totally OK. You can't do
that; consideration requires that.
So if someone leaks the fact that there are items under
consideration, that does not mean -- or that there is a matter of
discussion -- that doesn't mean anything out of the ordinary. I hope
that characterizes the fact that we are constantly considering how to
improve.
I want to assure you that there has been no bill, no proposal
decided on. I am keenly aware that the administration cannot pass
legislation. Only members of the Congress can pass legislation. It
would be the hght of absurdity for me to have a secret matter that I
hope to make a law without telling Congress. I mean, I simply don't
understand that.
So we will confer. But I will prefer, if I can, to weed out
things that I believe are inappropriate before I come to the Congress
with an idea.
FNGOLD: General, I really urge you to do that.
And let me just say that you know my view that the last time we
had a USA PATRIOT Act that the kind of discussion and airing of the
issues certainly did not happen. It's a debate about whether it could
have happened. I appreciate your commitment to it happening in this
case. And the fact is, there are some specific proposals or possible
proposals out there. I don't think it's too early for people, like
you and me and others, to start discussion whether they're a good
idea.
And I'm wondering if you could respond to my specific question,
in the seconds I have, which is can you cite an example of a terrorist
plot that went undetected because local police had thr hands tied by
consent decree of placing limits on thr domestic spying
capabilities?
ASHCROFT: I cannot.
FNGOLD: Thank you, General.
And of course, I look forward to discussing these provisions and,
perhaps, we could follow up with a conversation about the items that
we saw, at l in this draft, whatever this draft is. There's
enough items there that people are raising concerns about that the
conversations and consultations should begin now, in my view.
ASHCROFT: Well, I don't believe that I should start to consult
and defend things which I believe are indefensible or not a part of
something that I would seek to propose. I guess that's my view.
Until I have something that I think is appropriate, I don't know
that I should engage in some discussion about something that we don't
believe is appropriate. We could agree on a lot of these things that,
hey, those don't belong in our discussion.
>>>
________
Vapir no2 (http://vapirno2.net)