Don't Play Politics with National Security

Floor Speech

DON'T PLAY POLITICS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY -- (House of Representatives - April 28, 2009)

(Mr. FLEMING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, it has been almost 8 years since the tragedy of 9/11, and America has not experienced another catastrophic terrorist attack on our home soil, not due to blind luck but due to hard work. Homeland Security during this period thwarted attacks through enhanced interrogation of suspected terrorists. This is a fact. For this, we should thank them, not mire them in millions of legal fees.

But in recent days, more sympathy has been shown to current and potential attackers than to the men and women hired to prevent their deadly acts from coming to fruition. Memos detailing American interrogation methods were selectively released by the administration for political reasons, when other memos showing their life-saving results have not.

Most Americans believe releasing this important information has endangered many innocent Americans in the future and subjects us to future terrorist attacks. Shouldn't we remember it was the self-paralysis of our intelligence systems that led to 9/11 in the first place? Why should we go back?

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