2008 Woodie Awards
Ashcroft addresses terrorism in Springfield
Brendan Block
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Forum
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With the better communications and sharing of information, many attacks have been foiled in the United States, and with the sharing of international intelligence, terrorist attacks in London and Germany have been exposed and prevented.
At the same time Ashcroft, called by President Bush "a man of great integrity, judgment and a man who knows the law," has suffered criticism for the violation of liberties, foremost the violation of privacy. Ashcroft defended himself saying that Americans should remember that privacy is not anonymity. The unfounded exaggeration of the right to privacy is like the popular saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," he said. Obviously the government must have some right to know what happens and what might happen for a strong public defense.
Ashcroft further bolstered his argument by referring to credit information available to businesses that makes our economy so robust. This concept of buying goods on credit and the ability to check people for credit is a vital aspect that has created more trade and propelled us to prosperity.
On the flip side, many advocates of personal freedoms have denounced many of the acts of Homeland Security detaining suspected terrorists and not giving some of them a trial. Ashcroft said that freedom must trump security, but in the same way, the laws must be enacted to safeguard our country through measures like the Patriot Act to give us that freedom.
The former Attorney General sees security as a means of achieving more freedom, but the validity of his argument rests on the success of the security procedures.
Not surprisingly, an audience member posed a question to Ashcroft essentially asking that since there is a greater sharing of information, why have we not found bin Laden yet? The former Attorney General responded that he does not know, that he honestly expected to find the evil perpetrator by now.
Due to the fragmented nature of terrorism, bin Laden has been able to hide, and nations that are friendly to him have not given any of his whereabouts. Also bolstering Ashcroft's point is although we have not found bin Laden, he has become disengaged with terrorism and rendered pretty impotent.
The American political world is now in crisis, with both the House and Senate's approval ratings at less than half the President's lackluster approval rating.
We need to remember the resolve of the police officers and firefighters who responded to 9/11, never forgetting to honor and support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Six years after 9/11, Americans find themselves at another crossroads and must display the perseverance that the American people have always possessed to win the war in Iraq and defeat terrorism.
At the same time Ashcroft, called by President Bush "a man of great integrity, judgment and a man who knows the law," has suffered criticism for the violation of liberties, foremost the violation of privacy. Ashcroft defended himself saying that Americans should remember that privacy is not anonymity. The unfounded exaggeration of the right to privacy is like the popular saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," he said. Obviously the government must have some right to know what happens and what might happen for a strong public defense.
Ashcroft further bolstered his argument by referring to credit information available to businesses that makes our economy so robust. This concept of buying goods on credit and the ability to check people for credit is a vital aspect that has created more trade and propelled us to prosperity.
On the flip side, many advocates of personal freedoms have denounced many of the acts of Homeland Security detaining suspected terrorists and not giving some of them a trial. Ashcroft said that freedom must trump security, but in the same way, the laws must be enacted to safeguard our country through measures like the Patriot Act to give us that freedom.
The former Attorney General sees security as a means of achieving more freedom, but the validity of his argument rests on the success of the security procedures.
Not surprisingly, an audience member posed a question to Ashcroft essentially asking that since there is a greater sharing of information, why have we not found bin Laden yet? The former Attorney General responded that he does not know, that he honestly expected to find the evil perpetrator by now.
Due to the fragmented nature of terrorism, bin Laden has been able to hide, and nations that are friendly to him have not given any of his whereabouts. Also bolstering Ashcroft's point is although we have not found bin Laden, he has become disengaged with terrorism and rendered pretty impotent.
The American political world is now in crisis, with both the House and Senate's approval ratings at less than half the President's lackluster approval rating.
We need to remember the resolve of the police officers and firefighters who responded to 9/11, never forgetting to honor and support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Six years after 9/11, Americans find themselves at another crossroads and must display the perseverance that the American people have always possessed to win the war in Iraq and defeat terrorism.
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