U.S. spying on al-Qaida not the real issue (AJC editorial - Bookman)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/bookman/stories/020906.html

Published on: 02/09/06

At a hearing Monday, members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, trying to probe the limits of the vast new executive powers claimed by President Bush.

But the senators failed. At every turn, Gonzales refused to acknowledge any limits whatsoever to executive power in a time of war. The proceedings made it clear that the issues at stake in this constitutional crisis go far beyond the specific question of warrantless spying on U.S. citizens who might be communicating with possible terror suspects overseas. They strike at the very heart of civil liberty and of the traditional checks and balances in our government.

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"Do you believe it's lawful for the Congress to tell the military that, 'You cannot physically abuse a prisoner of war?' " Graham asked.

"I'm not prepared to say that, senator," Gonzales replied.
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