STATEMENT
OF
JOHN ASHCROFT
ATTORNEY GENERAL
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONCERNING
THE USA PATRIOT ACT
PRESENTED ON
JUNE 5, 2003
PREPARED TESTIMONY OF
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
Twenty months ago President Bush pledged that the terrorists would not escape the patient justice of the United States. We launched a war against terrorism on two fronts.
Overseas, we are destroying terrorist bases and their infrastructure, while removing their sponsors and financiers. Here at home, the Justice Department is using every Constitutional means to identify, disrupt and dismantle terrorists, their supporters and financial networks, and to protect Americans from further acts of terrorism.
Just as the terrorists made their choices, so did we. We chose to defend freedom.
In Afghanistan, we destroyed the Taliban regime, terrorist operatives, and their training camps. Over half of al Qaeda’s senior operatives have been captured or killed.
Some of those captured were operatives, such as operations planner, Khalid Shaik Mohammed. Others, like military commander Mohammed Atef, are silenced forever.
Overall, more than 3,000 foot soldiers of terror are locked up.
In the battle of Iraq, we eliminated a key sponsor of terror.
We are also targeting terrorists here at home, while developing detailed intelligence on terrorist threats:
Hundreds of suspected terrorists have been identified and tracked throughout the U.S., with more than 18,000 subpoenas and search warrants issued;
Our human sources of intelligence have doubled, as has the number of anti-terrorism investigations.
In 2002, we targeted more than 1,000 terrorists, spies and foreign powers, who threaten our country’s security. We requested 170 emergency FISAs. This is more than three-times the total number of emergency FISAs obtained in the 23 years prior to September 11th.
We are arresting and detaining potential terrorist threats:
More than 20 members of alleged terrorist cells in Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle and Portland were arrested, along with more than 100 other individuals who were convicted or pled guilty to terrorist related crimes;
The U.S. has deported 515 individuals linked to the September 11 investigation.
We are shutting down the terrorist financial infrastructure:
As a result of 70 investigations into terror’s money trail, more than $125 million in assets and over 600 accounts were frozen around the world.
We are protecting our borders:
Hundreds of terrorists and criminals stopped through the National Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERs) including 11 suspected terrorists, with at least one known member of al Qaeda;
Since January 1st 2002, our integrated INS/FBI fingerprint checks at the border (IDENT/IAFIS), have led to the arrest of more than 5,000 fugitives, wanted for crimes committed in the United States.
We are building a long-term counter-terrorism capacity with:
Over 1,000 new and redirected FBI agents dedicated to counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence;
250 new Assistant U.S. Attorneys; and
32 new Joint Terrorism Task Forces.
No major terror attack has occurred on American soil since September 11th.
Despite these impressive successes, however, we must remain vigilant. The capabilities of our terrorist foes are diminished, but not destroyed.
The bombings in Bali, in Morocco and in Saudi Arabia tell us the war is far from over. We must be mindful that another terror attack could happen here in the United States.
Our enemies have made their intentions clear. They will marshal every resource to make it happen.
As we consider the Constitutional methods we will use to fight the enemies of freedom, we must remember that terrorism threatens our future.
We must not forget that our enemies are ruthless fanatics, who seek to murder innocent men, women and children to achieve their twisted goals.
We must not forget that in the struggle between the forces of freedom and the ideology of hate, our challenge in this ongoing war against terrorism is to adapt, and anticipate, outthink and outmaneuver our adversaries.
The Justice Department has been called to defend America and its citizens from those who would do it harm. It is a responsibility we willingly accept. I thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to meet this responsibility.
Thank you. I would now be happy to answer your questions.