Political Quotes

“that is a very serious question because if those lawsuits should continue, either directly against carriers alleged to have participated or substitution or indemnification, No. 1, the identities of the providers could be revealed which would compromise our intelligence sources and methods. No. 2, the providers would be far less willing to cooperate with legitimate requests for assistance in the future, thus crippling our intelligence collection. Why is this? Quite frankly, because this would have a huge damage to their business reputations. They have already been accused falsely of all sorts of things that have raised questions that are reflected in damage to the value of the shareholders of the company and potentially bring great risk to the employees of those corporations and their facilities. These lawsuits would occur not only in the United States but even more likely they would occur overseas, and there could be real personal danger if the companies are confirmed as assisting the Government's fight against terrorism. Their facilities, their personnel could be at risk of terrorist targeting or other vigilante actions.”