Vandenberg For Congress

Terrorism

Behind all of George W. Bush's blustery talk about hunting down “terrorist-killers” and “evil-doers,” a decidedly different reality emerges: his administration has made the United States more vulnerable to terrorism. By diverting intelligence and military resources that were originally tracking al-Qaeda to Iraq—where al-Qaeda was not operating prior to the U.S. invasion in March 2003—the Bush Administration compromised America's ability to protect from a terrorist attack.

Moreover, the Bush Administration and Congress have either neglected or underfunded domestic efforts to prevent a terrorist attack. Federal airport screeners have been inadequately trained, maritime facilities remain largely unprotected and public safety departments across the nation have not received the Federal resources they were promised.

In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress, acting at the behest of the Bush Administration, approved the USA Patriot Act—one of the most insidious pieces of legislation in American history. Under the guise of combating terrorism, Congress gave law enforcement the unprecedented authority to conduct searches without warrants, monitor private communications and detain individuals for indefinite periods on the basis of dubious evidence. In effect, Congress traded the freedoms that the founders of this nation had originally drafted in the Constitution for the illusion of making America safer.

Now, published reports are indicating that the Department of Homeland Security is making contingency plans to cancel and reschedule elections in the event of a terrorist attack. Indeed, the notion of George W. Bush taking the unprecedented step of calling off the November election should be something that concerns all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

The Bush Administration and the Republican controlled Congress have a shameful record on terrorism. They have failed to properly ensure that the domestic security of this nation is funded in a manner that gives first responders the resources they need to protect the United States. And they have only exacerbated their failure by surrendering the freedoms of all Americans for virtually nothing. Louis Vandenberg believes that combating terrorism does not have to include sacrificing unalienable rights and that the most effective way to prevent another terrorist attack on American soil is to give the first responders the resources they need.

VANDENBERG FOR CONGRESS Louis Vandenberg - Democrat California's 44th Congressional District Encompassing western Riverside County and southern Orange County "Restoring Balance to American Politics”

Terrorism Behind all of George W. Bush's blustery talk about hunting down “terrorist-killers” and “evil-doers,” a decidedly different reality emerges: his administration has made the United States more vulnerable to terrorism. By diverting intelligence and military resources that were originally tracking al-Qaeda to Iraq—where al-Qaeda was not operating prior to the U.S. invasion in March 2003—the Bush Administration compromised America's ability to protect from a terrorist attack. Moreover, the Bush Administration and Congress have either neglected or underfunded domestic efforts to prevent a terrorist attack. Federal airport screeners have been inadequately trained, maritime facilities remain largely unprotected and public safety departments across the nation have not received the Federal resources they were promised. In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress, acting at the behest of the Bush Administration, approved the USA Patriot Act—one of the most insidious pieces of legislation in American history. Under the guise of combating terrorism, Congress gave law enforcement the unprecedented authority to conduct searches without warrants, monitor private communications and detain individuals for indefinite periods on the basis of dubious evidence. In effect, Congress traded the freedoms that the founders of this nation had originally drafted in the Constitution for the illusion of making America safer. Now, published reports are indicating that the Department of Homeland Security is making contingency plans to cancel and reschedule elections in the event of a terrorist attack. Indeed, the notion of George W. Bush taking the unprecedented step of calling off the November election should be something that concerns all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. The Bush Administration and the Republican controlled Congress have a shameful record on terrorism. They have failed to properly ensure that the domestic security of this nation is funded in a manner that gives first responders the resources they need to protect the United States. And they have only exacerbated their failure by surrendering the freedoms of all Americans for virtually nothing. Louis Vandenberg believes that combating terrorism does not have to include sacrificing unalienable rights and that the most effective way to prevent another terrorist attack on American soil is to give the first responders the resources they need.