John Ensign: “I had the benefit last week of attending two different hearings on the attempted terrorist attack that took place on…”

“I had the benefit last week of attending two different hearings on the attempted terrorist attack that took place on Christmas Day. One thing became clear: There is a definite disconnect in this administration about how to handle terrorists once they are captured. Over this last weekend, Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the foiled Christmas Day bomber terror attack. I fear al-Qaida will have another opportunity to attack the United States because of the fumbling of intelligence information that could have been gathered on the Christmas Day bomber before his attempted attack and subsequently from this terrorist after he was captured. But this administration clearly dropped the ball. We know the Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair; FBI Director Mueller; National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter; and the Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, were not consulted about the decision to read Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights and try him in civilian courts. It is unfathomable that these individuals were not even consulted before this hugely important decision was made.”