Intelligence Committee Chair Backhands Haywire Howie

Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence sent this letter (pdf) to Howard Dean today, in response to Dean's outrageous claim that, "President Bush's secret program to spy on the American people reminds Americans of the abuse of power during the dark days of President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew."

It's a good place-putting-in.  Definitely worth a read.  Here's the closing paragraph:

In peacetime and especially when our nation is at war, our leaders, including the chairmen of our political parties, should be more careful and better informed before they criticize the intelligence programs that protect our nation. Vibrant debate is important in our free society, but that debate should be serious and rational, especially where national security is concerned. Too many are looking at national security issues through partisan lenses. I have seen it on the Intelligence Committee for the past three years. Our nation, and the men and women of the military, law enforcement, and the intelligence community, deserve better.

Senator Roberts also sent this letter defending the ongoing Terrorist Surveillance Program to Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and ranking member Patrick Leahy.