U.S. Senate takes the higher ground in terrorism fight

Excerpts from a San Jose Mercury News Editorial:

The Sept. 11 attacks have forced our country to confront serious issues about liberty and defense as it continues to battle the evil forces of terrorism. Fortunately, we have the U.S. Senate to help keep our moral compass.

The Senate's action last week to force President Bush to back down and agree to a ban on the torture of terrorist suspects in U.S. custody was a clear sign that we will stake out a higher ground when it comes to prisoner treatment -- whether Bush likes it or not. The next day, the Senate voted to delay passage of the Patriot Act until measures to protect civil liberties are strengthened -- again, despite the president's wishes.

Americans take seriously and support the fight against terrorism and the defense of this country. But they won't follow blindly. The Senate is right not to allow the president to step on fundamental principles of our republic with his usual swagger. And it must continue to provide the necessary counterbalance to some of the administration's misguided anti-terrorism plans.

…on Friday, came a Senate showdown on extension of the Patriot Act's most controversial provisions. The 16 provisions, which were passed shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, are set to expire Dec. 31. Supporters urged renewal of what they called essential tools to fight terrorism. But opponents objected to measures that have allowed unchecked government wiretaps and access to such things as library records without adequate court oversight.

In a second blow to Bush in as many days, a bipartisan Senate refused to extend the provisions after a vigorous debate about balancing personal liberties and national security. Instead, leaders like Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, are pushing to extend the current law for a limited time so they can continue to push for more civil liberties safeguards.

Although the president has said he will not compromise, he's not in much of a position to make demands after last week's votes. He would do better to learn from those in the Senate who believe the war on terror is not an excuse to trample on the fundamental principles of our democracy.

Read the full editorial here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/13435708.htm