The Raw Story | Intel chair to Bush on FISA: I will not back down to you
I, for one, do not intend to back down – not to the terrorists and not to anyone, including a President, who wants Americans to cower in fear.

We are a strong nation. We cannot allow ourselves to be scared into suspending the Constitution. If we do that, we might as well call the terrorists and tell them that they have won.

Sincerely,

Silvestre Reyes
Member of Congress
Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

The Raw Story | Intel chair to Bush on FISA: I will not back down to you

This is America. This is Democracy in action. This is why Americans are the most fortunate people on the face of the planet. This is how we, as a nation, will turn the tide and regain the trust and admiration of the rest of the world. I cannot wait until next January. Finally, this fool in the Oval Office will be behind us.

One of the beautiful things about art … particularly novels, plays and film/tv … is that creators often explore “what if” scenarios and and provide us the opportunity to do the same. In the 1998, a film called “The Seige” explored an attack on America by Islamic terrorists and the response of the law enforcement, the military and intelligence communities. Long before 911 and Gitmo, the following scene illuminates the slippery slope of “torture as the lesser of two evils.”

Enjoy the performances. And think about the message.