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The Ledger Online - September 5, 2003
Ashcroft cites use of Patriot Act
against South Florida professor
By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer
TAMPA, Fla. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Friday the Patriot Act has helped bring cases against suspected terrorists that couldn't have been brought before, including the one accusing a former University of South Florida professor of financing terrorist attacks.
Ashcroft appeared in Tampa as part of a monthlong tour of more than a dozen cities to counter growing criticism of the Patriot Act. His audience was about 200 law enforcement officers and assistant U.S. attorneys.
"Our final tribute to the dead of Sept. 11 must be to fulfill our responsibility to defend the living, to finish the work," Ashcroft said. "Our greatest memorial to those who have passed must be to protect the lives and liberties of those yet to come."
The nation will mark the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on Thursday.
Ashcroft cited the indictment Sami Al-Arian and seven others in his 30-minute speech, saying the Patriot Act helped law enforcement and intelligence agents "connect the dots" to build cases.
Al-Arian was arrested in February on a 50-count indictment that charges him with being the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the United States and using a university think tank and Palestinian charity as fronts to raise money for terrorist attacks. Al-Arian is fighting the charges and said he has been targeted because he has been an outspoken figure in U.S. Arab communities.
He also cited the indictment of seven people in Portland, Ore., who are charged with conspiring to aid the Taliban and al-Qaida, and the arrest of arms dealer Hermant Lakhani on an alleged missile-smuggling plot.
The Patriot Act expanded law enforcement's ability to track and collect evidence against suspected terrorists, allowing agents to do such things as search homes without immediately notifying the occupant they've been there to "roving wiretaps" which investigators to listen in on any telephone a suspect uses instead of securing a warrant for each phone.
A small group of about five protesters braved rains from approaching Tropical Storm Henri to dispute the attorney general's assertions, calling the Patriot Act a dangerous weakening of controls on law enforcement and a threat to civil liberties.
Ashcroft denied that law enforcement are misusing their expanded powers and said the judicial system has the power to keep use of the Patriot Act in check.
"A roving wire tap does not mean we go around taping phones," Ashcroft said. "It means if a terrorist uses different phones, we can follow the terrorist and not have to go back to the court each time he changes phones."
Ashcroft's audience was expectedly receptive to the attorney general's message, although some of those in attendance said the daily application of the Patriot Act still has yet to be realized.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chief Deputy David Gee said among the most important changes since the Patriot Act has been the ability for law enforcement agencies to share information with each other. He said the cooperation has helped put local law enforcement on alert to look for possible terrorist activities in their routine work.
He cited the arrest last month of two men on charges they were selling stolen baby formula from a small food store which is owned by Al-Arian. The sheriff's office is now looking at the connection between the men and Al-Arian and what became of the $4,000 to $5,000 a week profit from the sales of the stolen formula.
"That may have nothing to do with anything, but you are encouraged to know that people are picking up on things," Gee said.
Gee said that it's up to law enforcement executives to make sure that the powers under the Patriot Act, like all other police powers, are not abused.
"If they can be used for the right purposes, if they are used judiciously as the courts have directed, it's a good law," he said.
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