ACLU Criticizes The Terrorist Watch List
// July 16th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // WAR ON TERROR
Earlier this week the ACLU criticized Federal officials and the Bush administration on their handling of the Terror Watch List. They claim the list has reached over 1 million names, although the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) says the ACLU is confusing the number of records (1 million) with the number of individuals on the list (400,000). Of course you won’t hear the ACLU acknowledge their mistake.
The TSC was created by a Homeland Security Presidential Directive in September 2003. Its purpose was to combine existing terrorist watch lists and help screen individuals who apply for visas, attempt to enter the U.S. or get stopped by law enforcement for traffic violations. Before the TSC the Feds relied on dozens of separate watch lists maintained by various agencies. The integration of the lists allows for better security.
The ACLU claims that the list is too big, mismanaged and is unfair. Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program, goes as far as to say, “I doubt this thing would even be effective at catching a real terrorist.”
The ACLU is calling for controls on the watch list including due process and a right to access and challenge data upon which the list is based.
There you have it, another attack on our nations security by the American Left. I have a suggestion for the TSC. Perhaps you should add all the members of the ACLU to the list. It appears that they have it in for America.
