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Very hush-hush Plenty of "Q"s, Not Many "A"sBy Rick Horowitz
Q. What are you doing? A. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the nation's security and protect our citizens from harm. Q. What steps are those? A. All necessary steps. Q. Can you be more specific? A. No. Q. Don't the American people deserve to know what actions you're taking in their name? A. The American people deserve to be protected from harm. The steps we're taking are intended to achieve that goal. Q. And those steps are...? A. Necessary. And appropriate. Q. In whose judgment? A. In the judgment of the people who are expected to make judgments. In the judgment of the people who know things. Q. What kinds of things? A. Important things. This is an important moment in our nation's history, and the people who know important things about this important moment in our nation's history get to make the important judgments. Q. And other people? A. Other people don't know the important things we know. Q. What about the detentions? There are reports of dozens and dozens of people still being detained, without charges and without access to lawyers. A. That is correct. Q. So you admit that you're still detaining dozens and dozens of people? A. We admit that there are reports. Q. And are these reports accurate? A. We don't comment on reports. Q. What about the secret deportation hearings? A. We don't comment on secrets. Q. But doesn't your silence simply lead to rumors and wild speculation? A. We don't comment on rumors and wild speculation. When you're fighting a war against terrorism, you have to stay focused on the facts. Q. And which facts are you focused on right now? A. No comment. Q. Are you concerned that certain judges have started raising objections to some of the actions you've taken in your war against terrorism? A. If the judges had the same information we have, they'd know that each of the actions we've taken has been necessary. And appropriate. Q. So why don't you share your information with them? A. Then they'd have the same information we have. Q. Does it strike you as incongruous that, in the name of defending the rights and freedoms that America stands for, you've taken actions that restrict those rights and limit those freedoms? A. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the nation's security and protect our citizens from harm. Q. But doesn't it strike you as incongruous? A. We don't comment on incongruities. Posted 8/27/02. Rick
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Rick Horowitz
