September 6, 2006

President Bush Reveals Secret CIA Prisons; Liberals Outraged

Bear in mind that if liberals in the U.S. and Europe are outraged about the Bush administration's conduct in the war against radical Islam, it usually means the administration is doing exactly the right thing.

Bush and Co. are anything but perfect when it comes to fighting radical Islamist terrorism--witness their inexplicable decision to allow Iranian terror master Mohammed Khatami to engage in a speaking tour of the U.S. But judging by some of the President's recent comments, they at least grasp the existential threat we're facing. Here's more, from Yahoo:

President Bush on Wednesday acknowledged previously secret CIA prisons around the world and said 14 high-value terrorism suspects — including the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks — have been transferred from the system to Guantanamo Bay for trials.

He said a small number of detainees have been kept in CIA custody including people responsible for the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000 in Yemen and the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in addition to the 2001 attacks.

"It has been necessary to move these individuals to an environment where they can be held secretly, questioned by experts and, when appropriate, prosecuted for terrorist acts," Bush said in a White House speech. Families of some people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks made up part of the audience.

Bush said of the suspects: "These are dangerous men, with unparalleled knowledge about terrorist networks and their plans of new attacks. The security of our nation and the lives of our citizens depend on our ability to learn what these terrorists know."

The announcement from Bush was the first time the administration had acknowledged the existence of CIA prisons, which have been a source of friction between Washington and some allies in Europe. The administration has come under criticism for its treatment of terrorism detainees. European Union lawmakers said the CIA was conducting clandestine flights in Europe to take terror suspects to countries where they could face torture.

"Today the administration finally recognized that the protections of the Geneva Convention should be applied to prisoners in order to restore our moral authority and best protect American troops," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. "Today's shift in policy follows the sad legacy of five years during which this administration abused our Constitution, violated our laws and most importantly failed to make America safe."

I still can't comprehend why Kerry and other Leftists are so concerned about securing brutal, stateless terrorists Geneva convention rights. Oh, I guess they think that will "make us safer" and "enhance our standing in the world." I feel so much better now that France and the Saudis will think better of us.

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