[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14947]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              DON'T GIVE TERRORISTS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, ``You have the right to remain 
silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of 
law. You have the right to an attorney present during questioning. If 
you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.''
  American citizens are read these rights when they are taken into 
police custody. But the Obama administration has decided to give these 
rights to suspected terrorists overseas.
  Why would the Obama administration give terrorists the same rights as 
American citizens? Members of al Qaeda and the other terrorist groups 
should be treated as what they are, America's enemies engaged in a war 
against the United States.
  Giving terrorists constitutional rights is like giving a burglar the 
key to your house.

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