December 20, 2005
Someday, perhaps someone will leak information from our government that is helpful to our country. That was not the case when insiders, probably at the CIA, leaked to The New York Times that President Bush had ordered eavesdropping on people suspected of having links to terrorists abroad. Their cell calls and other communications were monitored.
Most normal people in the midst of a war with enemies who want to kill us would think listening-in to the plotters to find out what they intend to do is a good idea. But not to the leakers and not The New York Times, which sat on the story for a year before publishing it on the day the Patriot Act failed to win enough votes for an extension beyond December 31st. No coincidence there, I’d wager.
So-called civil libertarians are upset because President Bush is living up to his oath to protect the country from all enemies, foreign and domestic. But he is right to monitor these calls. Those Members of Congress who are upset and who voted against extension of the Patriot Act should be asked if they will take the blame should we be attacked again and it is found we let our guard down. I doubt they will.
