Seriously ROFL at this post CrackerJax...
Let's take it piece by piece, shall we?
Congress passed the Patriot Act - Yeah, you're right about that one, but I'm sure even YOU will admit each member of congress who signed off on the bill felt an enormous amount of pressure to pass the act, especially since it was proposed in October 01, the very next month after the attacks, and with Bush himself saying stupid shit like "if you're not with us, you're with the terrorists" - I can assure you, the ones that weren't scared shitless HAD to sign it or face massive criticism from every other member of congress who did, possibly losing their seat the next election.
Before the law passed, the investigation was hamstrung by a legal "wall" that prevented law enforcement and intelligence officials from sharing information.
I'm curious to know what could prevent a cooperating agency from sharing information.. but maybe that's just me?
We had to set up two investigations, and agents from one side could not talk with the other.
What the fuck is this fool talking about?! As if there's rules for communicating between agencies to protect people and convict criminals, I mean seriously man!
Following 9/11, President Bush and Congress recognized that prosecutors and law enforcement didn't have the counterterrorism tools needed to keep the country safe. Congress passed the Patriot Act, and it has been critical in helping us dismantle terrorist cells, disrupt terrorist plots and capture terrorists before they have been able to strike.
Total bullshit. What terrorist cells has the Patriot Act dismantled?
Disrupt terrorist plots and capture terrorists before they strike huh? Capture but not convict seems to be the trademark of the Patriot Act.
One of the most important things the act did was to break down that wall. In my case, our two teams were able to share information and discover that the suspects had attended an al-Qaeda training camp.
Again with this shit. There's no rules outlining what agencies can share what information with any other agency. Show me the fucking rule CrackerJax.
Not to mention this asshat Michael Battle is describing policies that were already in order well before the Patriot Act ever got signed. He's not describing the Patriot Act at all. He's describing pre-existing laws that have nothing to do with the Patriot Act.
They had studied firearms, explosives and tactical training, and learned how to detonate hand grenades, Molotov cocktails and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Then, they came back to America and were living among us.
Holy shit, guess that makes me and dozens of people I know domestic terrorists!
This is only one of many examples of how this law has helped us detect and bring to justice those who would abuse the freedoms that make our nation great.
Oh boy this one's got some weight!
CrackerJax, this is an open challenge to you personally. With so many examples, as Mr. Battle puts it, I don't think it should be too hard to find me 5 names the Patriot Act is directly responsible for capturing
AND convicting, right?
Go!
It also strengthened and updated our criminal laws to address new technology. We can now use against terrorists the tools we were already using in drug and violent-crime cases.
Oh you mean all the illegal domestic spying that Verizon did for the government, then they had to give them immunity from prosecution because they knew they were breaking the fuckin' law. You mean that new technology??
Judges and Congress have carefully reviewed our use of these tools, and to date there are no verified civil liberties violations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/graphics/gonzales_20070710.html
http://www.aclu.org/natsec/emergpowers/14444leg20021206.html
Section 806 of the Act could result in the civil seizure of their assets without a prior hearing, and without them ever being convicted of a crime.
Michael Battle is director of the Justice Department's Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.
ROFL! Really doesn't surprise me that an asshat from the Justice Dept. is defending the Justice Dept.'s actions...