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White House defends counter terrorism aide
THE battle over President Obama's top counter terrorism aide has escalated.Senator John McCain blasted John Brennan for accusing Republicans of aiding al-Qaeda by being critical of his response to the failed Christmas Day airline attack. The White House came to the defence of Brennan in the face of new criticism over a recent editorial in which he accused Republicans of aiding Al Qaeda with their criticism of the interrogation of failed Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Brennan has 25 years experience in counter terrorism and does not wear his politics on his sleeves. "John is there each and every day working in his office to try to do everything he can to keep the American people safe," Gibbs said, adding that the administration has asked him to stay on. Republicans have assailed Brennan and the Obama administration for its handling of Abdulmutallab, who was read his Miranda rights, outlining legal privileges including the use of an attorney, after 50 minutes of questioning. Critics say Abdulmutallab should have been treated as an enemy combatant and subjected to a military tribunal instead of a civilian trial. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for Brennan to resign after a hearing in Congress last week in which Brennan said he was tired of criticism from armchair quarterbacks. Bond's counterpart in the House, Republican Pete Hoesktra (R-MI), urged the administration to fire him. On Tuesday, Brennan accused Republicans critical of his response to the failed Christmas Day airline attack of aiding al-Qaeda. Brennan made his accusation in an opinion article published in the USA Today. "Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of Al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill," he wrote. Posted by: tipper 2010-02-12 |
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