Last night the “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act” (FISA) expired because the Democrats who control the U.S. House of Representatives took a 12-day recess and refused to renew it before they adjourned. President Bush was willing to delay his trip to Africa to get the law renewed because he knew the importance of the law in preventing another 9/11 attack. The Democrats in essence said “no big deal and went on vacation. Today on Fox News Sunday Mike Wallace asked the Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell a career military man, the following question:
WALLACE: So just to summarize this, how — would you say that the country is in great — greater danger now of terrorist attack because this law has expired?
MCCONNELL: Increased danger, and it will increase more and more as time goes on. And the key is the — if you think about the private sector global communications, many people think the government operates that.
Ninety-eight percent of it is owned and operated by the private sector. We cannot do this mission without help and support from the private sector. And the private sector, although willingly helped us in the past, are now saying, "You can't protect me. Why should I help you?"
Chris, could I just read something I think is very important for the American people to know? This issue of liability protection — what I'm going to quote from is the Senate report when they debated the Senate bill for improving this law, if I could.
This is with regard to private sector immunity. "Indeed, the intelligence community cannot obtain the intelligence it needs without the assistance of these companies. Given the scope of the civil damage suits and the current spotlight associated with providing any assistance to the intelligence community, the community was concerned without retroactive immunity the private sector might be unwilling to cooperate with a lawful request from the government in the future without unnecessary court involvement and protracted litigation."
That's the issue. We go back into protracted litigation and debate, as opposed to being dynamic
God help us if there is another attack because we let FISA expire.Given a choice between the Trial Lawyers and their country the Democrats picked the Trial Lawyers who give them so much money!
Yesterday John McCain said it was "shameful" the U.S. House of Representatives ended a legislative session before reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which recently passed the U.S. Senate, and said the legislation was needed to combat terrorism.
