Secure America Act is Needed to Thwart Terrorist Attacks!

Jeff Mazzella, President, The Center for Individual Freedom: Pelosi and the Democratic leadership blocked a vote on the Protect America Act knowing full well that since 9/11, our intelligence agencies have used these tools to thwart major plots to commit unspeakable atrocities:

• In mid-2002, U.S. agents uncovered a plot to hit targets on the East Coast. The plotters intended to use hijacked airplanes. By the way, one of the plotters of this caper was also involved in planning 9/11.
• In May of 2002, our intelligence network busted a plot to bomb U.S. apartment buildings.

One of the plotters, Jose Padilla, planned to explode a "dirty bomb" inside the U.S. A dirty bomb is filled with conventional explosives and radioactive materials.

• Padilla was recently found guilty of Conspiracy to Murder, Kidnap, and Maim Persons in a Foreign Country and Conspiracy to Provide Material Support for Terrorists.
• Intelligence agencies -- with the help of telephone companies -- intercepted 70 calls by Padilla and his cohorts to their handlers. Enough said!

In 2006, U.S. and international authorities foiled a plot hatched by eight terrorists to blow up a commuter train tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan. According to CNN:

• "[L]aw enforcement sources said the suspects wanted to cross the Canadian border into the United States."
• "Once in New York City, they would board trains with backpacks full of explosives, which they planned to detonate when the trains passed through a tunnel under the Hudson River."

In addition to these plots to attack us on our home soil, the U.S. helped to uncover and thwart a number of major plots throughout the world. For example:

• A 2003 plot to attack London's Heathrow Airport, using hijacked airliners.
• At least two plots in 2004 to blow up targets in Britain -- strategies designed specifically to kill civilians.
• At least two plots to attack ships in the Arabian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz.

Much of that information was obtained through the surveillance capabilities of our nation's intelligence community. And what U.S. and British intelligence agencies did, PELOSI IS NOW PREVENTING -- simply by walking away from HER responsibility. Let's make sure she stops playing petty politics and brings the Protect America Act to the floor first thing when Congress comes back into session! Contact your representatives!

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Tags: Center for Individual Freedom, FISA, Jeff Mazzella, Nancy Pelosi, Protect America Act, US House To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!