Posted on 08/03/2004 6:13:46 AM PDT by dukeman
VENICE -- U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris said Monday that the United States has "literally defeated 100 (potential) terrorist attacks on this country" in the past three years, some of which could have been as deadly as the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center.
Speaking Monday night in Venice at a rally in support of President Bush, Harris said the United States is winning the war against terrorism.
"His remarkable leadership … has made our country safe," Harris told an overflow crowd of more than 600 at the Holiday Inn. The event was sponsored by the Republican Club of South Sarasota County.
In an interview after the speech, Harris said she learned from classified information about the 100 potential attacks that have been thwarted since 9/11.
"Actually, it's been more than 100," she said. "It's classified … obviously not classified to me … but things I can't go into detail about."
Harris, a first-term Republican congresswoman from Longboat Key, said terrorism remains the No. 1 challenge facing the nation.
"And the first line of defense is you," she told the audience.
Harris told the audience that while she was in the Midwest recently, the mayor of Carmel, Ind., recounted how a man of Middle Eastern heritage had been arrested. She said hundreds of pounds of explosives were found in his home.
"He had plans to blow up the area's entire power grid," she said.
Pressed after the speech for details about the arrest, Harris said it had not been made public and she asked a reporter not to name the city she mentioned to the audience.
"I probably said too much," Harris said.
Contacted Monday night, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said a man was arrested two years ago and was sent to the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
He said he knew of no explosives or threats to blow up the power grid, however.
Carmel Police Chief Michael Fogarty said he had "no knowledge" of an arrest. "I don't know where that information came from," he said. "I certainly haven't heard anything about it."
Harris also told the audience that the war in Iraq has been a success. Since the United States toppled Saddam Hussein, 1,700 schools have opened where "students learn the truth, not lies," she said.
She blamed television reporters for presenting a slanted view of the war, saying they have been ordered by their networks not "to report good news … just stories about deaths and injuries."
Harris said she did not know how long U.S. troops would be stationed in Iraq, but that the more important issue was keeping terrorists out of this country.
"I don't want to have to live like our very good friends in Israel," she said. "Parents and grandparents who have to worry every day when they put their children on the school bus whether that bus will be blown up."
Harris was returning to Washington, D.C., today for hearings on the 9/11 Commission's report. She said she has read the report and found it "very balanced."
But the lawmaker said she is reluctant to fully endorse the commission's recommendations until she is satisfied that some of the changes, notably creating an intelligence czar who would report directly to the president, will not lead to a "bureaucratic morass."
In her speech, Harris also praised Bush's handling of the economy, saying the "recession inherited from the Clinton administration," the decline of technology stocks and other problems each in themselves "would have been enough to decimate the economy."
Instead, Harris said, the president's tax cuts fostered an economic recovery.
"Our economy is booming," she said.
Harris was clearly the star attraction at the event Monday night. While local candidates such as Venice Mayor Dean Calamaras and Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill mingled with the audience, shaking hands, Harris, wearing a pink suit and a pearl necklace, attracted a long line of autograph seekers before the speech.
"It's always like this," said Sydney Spence, a campaign aide. "It's like being with a rock star."
Edna Hussman of Venice said she came to the event primarily to see Harris.
"She's an attraction," said Hussman, a retiree who has lived in Venice 21 years. "I like her integrity, her honesty. She's classy, but she doesn't make you feel she's looking down on you." [And she hardly ever says "Shove it!"]
Harris is unopposed in this month's primary. Four Democrats are vying to oppose her in the November election.
BTTT
The Bush administration would do well to detail some of the attacks that have been thwarted. People have forgotten all about 9/11 and need a reminder that the jihadists are still working to hurt us. The Bush admin. should also explain that of course the jihadists can't hurt us militarily, but economically, they can destroy our economy. The jihadists understand that but the average voter doesn't seem to.
Aarggh! You CANNOT reveal classified information like this!
Yeah, I think she got a little too eager in front of a friendly crowd. To the woodshed?
The thwarted threats we don't hear about greatly outnumber the ones we do.
I know it is a fine line to walk, but I agree with a previous poster. the Bush admin. should be talking more about terrorist strikes they have thwarted. I have no doubt there have been many. I don't think the masses realize this. If they did, I think they would be far less likely to vote for the Frenchurian candidate.
She didn't really tell us anything harmful, though. The attacks were already stopped. She didn't give names or locations or dates.
I volunteer!!
All of the arrests made of alQaeda members in the past month or so, should be headlines on every front page of every newspaper in the country, and top story on TV news.
Instead, CNN (and others) want(s) to have democrats voice their distrust for raising the threat level.
It's infuriating !
The Bush Administration will look pretty dumb if they lose the Florida Senate race this year. Harris was doing a lot better in the polling than any of the current candidates.
:-)
Agreed. It's unhelpful to constantly warn of the "inevitable" attack, while failing to note any of the successes.
Harris, of course, is running for her House seat again and not the Senate. I'm not sure what's going to happen with the Senate seat vacated by Bob Graham, but Harris may have some stiff competition for her spot. Two years ago she beat a Hillary-buddy named Jan Schneider, 55% to 45%. That was actually a pretty strong Dem showing in this part of Florida. This time a fairly prominent, local female banker is challenging Schneider in the Dem primary for the chance to go up against Harris. In the Dem world, beating Harris in the general election would be like our capturing Osama bin Laden. The hate is actually that great.
Not really.Some things are better left unsaid.By detailing the potential plots,it would create worry and angst.I've got a friend in DC in some capacity that I'd rather not say, and this number is about right in terms of what we've uncovered.I'd rather not know.....
Harris was gonna run for the Senate though, and was persuaded not to by the White House. At the time Harris has a comfortable lead over all GOPers and Democrats for the Senate race, now the leading GOPer is trailing a relatively unknown Democrat. Harris was targeted big time by the Dems last election, and with the redistricting her district was not as Republican as had been in the past. The Dems thought they had a good chance at beating Harris, but she won by a comfortable margin. There is no reason not to believe that Harris will win again by a similar margin.
until we have kerry as president, because the public thinks that there is no threat....
I agree that SOME successes should be shared. If for nothing else than to force the conniving Dems to eat major crow.
However, most if not all the successes probably resulted in additional intel and revealing the plot would jeopardize ongoing investigations.
Another example of Bush doing what's right for the country rather than for his own political benefit.
BTW, you've got one of the best screen names in the history of FR!
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