“The radical fundamentalists who struck us on 9/11 achieved by our reaction what they could not through their own actions: a blow against the freedoms that animate the American idea. Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo, warrantless electronic surveillance, torture, and “extraordinary renditions” have made us less, not more, secure. We have alienated allies around the world and created disunity at home.”

I am also happy to learn, thanks to a quick Google search, that Biden voted against the FISA compromise.

Attacking McCain for supporting FISA, Biden said:

“Senator McCain has now not only joined the company of President Bush – but also President Nixon – in taking the position that as President he would consider himself above the law. In 1978, I helped draft the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) which made clear the exclusive legal steps the President must take in order to conduct national security surveillance. President Bush chose to ignore the law and now it seems Senator McCain will continue this policy. Once again–there is no daylight between President Bush and Sen. McCain.

“I said during the FISA debate in 1978 that ‘it is not necessary to compromise civil liberties in the name of national security.’ That’s as true today, even in a time of war, as it was then. We all share the goal of capturing the terrorists and protecting national security and we can do that without violating the privacy of the American people. Like President Bush, Sen. McCain is presenting the American people with a false choice—national security or civil liberties. We need a President who understands that we can have both. It’s what our values and our Constitution demands.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself.