Political Quotes

“I acknowledged in the Christmas Day Bomber case, in the Times Square attempted bombing, that they were put in Federal court. I am okay with that. I do believe in the ``all of the above'' approach. Our Federal courts can handle cases involving transnational terrorists and al-Qaida members and so can military commissions. The idea of reading somebody their Miranda rights may be the best interrogation technique. I know that we were able to get some good information after reading Miranda rights. I guess the point I am trying to make is I acknowledge that the people doing the interrogation are better suited to make that decision than I am. I just don't want the Congress by legislation to say for the first time in the history of the country in this war--unlike any other war you no longer have it available to you, the U.S. Government, the ability to hold somebody as an enemy combatant if you believe that is the best way to gather intelligence. I am not saying the other system cannot be used. Let's leave it up to the professionals. But the Senate is suggesting through the legislation being proposed that the idea of holding an American citizen who is suspected of collaborating with al-Qaida that they can no longer be held as an enemy combatant is not only changing the law, it is taking off the table a tool that I think we need now more than ever. I don't want us to lose sight of the fact of what we are doing here and what it would mean to our country and our ability to defend us.…”