The Genesis of a Controversy

Alberto Gonzales was not sworn in before he testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Here’s why I wish he had been.

He stated that the program of spying on Americans in the United States was only employed when subjects communicated across national borders with “Al-Qaida and affiliate terrorist organizations.” Chairman Arlen Specter questioned him carefully about this, and General Gonzales re-iterated the statement at least three times.

This is a significant change from what King George W said during the State of the Union address. Dubya said that he has “authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al-Qaida operatives and affiliates to and from America.”

It’s subtle difference, to be sure. But, as we read in the Good Book: "The serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made." Genesis 3:1. Look here to see why this difference is so important.

One of the two Texans got it wrong. I am betting that it is Gonzales. I predict that we will hear a lot more about this.

“… and tell ’em Big Mitch sent ya!”