[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 451-452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THE NIGERIAN TERRORIST

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I will speak briefly on the statement of 
my friend, the senior Senator from Kentucky, about the Nigerian 
terrorist.
  The one thing we need not do is politicize the fight against 
terrorism. John Brennan did testify yesterday in our classified 
briefing. It was classified. The things that took place there should be 
classified. People should not be talking about it. The reason that is 
the case is that we want people who come to classified briefings to be 
able to speak freely.
  We have had a long history in our country of people who commit crimes 
on our territory in the United States being tried in the United States, 
including Richard Reid, the shoe bomber. It isn't as if this is the 
first time something like this happened. Even though they are 
proceeding under civil courts, they can always drop back and fall into 
the category of war criminals if, in fact, that choice is made. Just 
because they are going forward in this manner today doesn't mean they 
cannot drop back in some other manner at a subsequent time.

[[Page 452]]

  Even though I don't like to discuss what went on in a closed 
briefing, in a classified setting, I was there from the very beginning 
to the very end of Mr. Brennan's presentation. I never heard him refuse 
to answer. In fact, he answered the question that was asked in a number 
of different ways by my friend, the Republican leader, and another 
Republican Senator. So if there are any questions about anything that 
Mr. Brennan had to say, I hope that those questions will be asked 
directly to him. We have had some open hearings.
  My point is that there is a war on terror taking place now. I tried 
to be as supportive of President Bush during his years as President 
when this was going on after 9/11. I hope my Republican colleagues will 
be supportive of President Obama. This is not a partisan issue.

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