Statement by Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik

ARLINGTON, VA - Former New York City Police Commissioner Kerik made the following statement on the importance of the Patriot Act during a Bush Cheney '04 conference call previewing the release of a new campaign ad:

"We don't have to replace the Patriot Act, we have to make sure we have it. Nobody knows and understands this more importantly than I do. I was here on September 11 in New York City. I fought the war against the Cali Cartel. I know how important it is to fight terrorism, both here and abroad.

"And if you take the Patriot Act away, if you replace it, if you attempt to change it, it's going to remove a lot of the necessary tools that we need to do our job in law enforcement, and I just think it's absurd, particularly if you go back and you look at John Kerry's statements, back in October of '01, when he said he was pleased with the Patriot Act, when he said we needed the ability to fight crime with the Patriot Act. He was pleased with the Patriot Act, which includes a sunset provision on wiretapping and electronic surveillance. These are things that he's talking against today.

"I think he has to make up his mind. Does he want the Patriot Act or not? I think we need it, I think it's essential, and I think President Bush, by putting it into action---it's really given us essential tools we need to do the job. But if you look at what's happened since September 11 and the creation of the Patriot Act, this resulted in about 170 people being arrested or captured in the United States, different people, different cells. This battle has to continue. It has to continue here in the United States and abroad, and we're not going to be able to do it without the Patriot Act."

1 posted on 05/25/2004 2:07:31 PM PDT by RWR8189

Said statement to be completely and utterly dismissed and ignored by the so-called mainstream press.

2 posted on 05/25/2004 2:13:02 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American Way! Toby Keith)

Said statement to be completely and utterly dismissed and ignored by the so-called mainstream press.

Unfortunately, it'll be completely and utterly dismissed by many here as well.

3 posted on 05/25/2004 3:23:37 PM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)

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