
Roberts suggests National Security Agency helped avert attack
Sen. Pat Roberts appeared on CNN’s “Late Edition” using reports of a foiled terrorist attack after 9/11 as evidence that National Security Agency surveillance efforts – criticized by some as civil liberties violations – are needed and successful.Some highlights:_BLITZER: A report that there were cyanide gas attacks planned for the New York subway system that were inexplicably called off. What can you tell our viewers about this?__SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: Well, not very much, except to say the Intelligence Committee is briefed on these kinds of threats. I would simply say that we’ve had a briefing.__It points up, once again, the value of the terrorist surveillance program, the NSA program that’s been in the news so much. We are able to detect and deter and stop such attacks. And we were very fortunate that that did not happen.__BLITZER: But can you confirm that there was such a plot in the works?__ROBERTS: I can’t either confirm or deny, but I can just simply repeat that we are briefed on these kind of threats. And, as I say again, I’m very happy we have the capability to do what we do to stop these attacks. And that goes back to the statement you’ve heard a lot that, you know, thank goodness we’ve not had an attack of that nature since 9/11. But that’s not by accident._Roberts took another opportunity, later in the program, to promote the NSA, after telling Blitzer that 31 “collaborating terrorist organizations” and terrorist “sleeper cells” in the United States would see an Iraq pullout as a sign of weakness._BLITZER: Let me just pick up on one point. Are you saying that there are al Qaida or al Qaida-related sleeper cells in the United States right now?__ROBERTS: Well, let’s just say the NSA program that we have that is monitoring the calls coming from a terrorist camp from al Qaida to the United States, they’re not calling the United States simply to be calling the United States. And I’ll just leave it at that._Other links today:Sam Brownback links(AP) GOP Contenders Court Activists in Iowa: Four Republicans considering running for president in 2008 courted activists Saturday and predicted GOP success in the November elections despite the party’s sagging support in polls. … Also at the Iowa Republican convention, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said, “The Democrats want this election to be a referendum election. But the best thing we can do for the Iowa Republican Party is show that this is not a referendum. It’s a choice.” … Brownback, a favorite of those social conservatives, touched on issues such as restricting abortion to taking a tough stand on the war in Iraq. Republicans should be afraid of backing the war, the senator said, despite polls showing dwindling support. “I think we should talk about the war,” said Brownback. “I think it’s time to have another debate, another national debate about the war.” Correction, at 10:40 a.m.: This from Sen. Brownback’s office: _Although the Associated Press self-corrected the story within 8 minutes, several outlets ran the original version or paraphrased the incorrect version. The first version stated, “Republicans should be afraid of backing the war, the senator said:,” while the correct and corrected version said, “Republicans should not be afraid of backing the war, the senator said…” To clarify the story, Brownback said, “I have consistently supported the global war on terror. I encourage all Americans to support the troops and to support efforts to defeat the terrorists abroad before they can attack us at home again. This is a war we must win.”_(LA Times) Presidential Ambitions Distract Senate: Likely GOP contenders have carved out different niches in Congress’ immigration debate, foiling leaders’ hopes of closing ranks on the issue. Two potential candidates, McCain and Brownback, have championed a broad immigration bill that the majority of Senate Republicans oppose because it would provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. That makes it harder for Congress to pass the simpler immigration bill favored by most Republicans, one that would only crack down on illegal immigrants by improving border security and law enforcement.