VICTORY Act

The VICTORY Act ("Vital Interdiction of Criminal Terrorist Organizations Act of 2003") was introduced in the 108th Congress, 1st Session, by Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), John Conryn (R-Texas), and John Kyl (R-Arizona). DRAFT June 27, 2003[1].

The purpose of the bill is "To combat narco-terrorism, to dismantle narco-terrorist criminal enterprises, to disrupt narco-terrorist financing and money laundering schemes, to enact national drug sentencing reform, to prevent drug trafficking to children, to deter drug-related violence, to provide law enforcement with the tools needed to win the war against narco-terrorists and major drug traffickers, and for other purposes." [2]

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The Victory Act is, perhaps, a watered-down version of The Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 or Patriot Act II. (See full text of the DRAFT Act, January 9, 2003.) [3]

According to Warblogging.com, "it may be a little tamer than the DSEA '03. [but what] we do know, however, is extremely troubling." [4]

James Gordon Meek, in the August 6, 2003, New York Daily News article "Ashcroft tour to plug terror bill" announced that Attorney General John Ashcroft was "hitting the road to rally support for the Victory Act, which would further expand his powers to go after Al Qaeda and narcoterrorists ... If passed, the feds would be allowed to: [5]

• Clamp down on Arab hawala transactions, where cash exchanged in an honor system has been funneled to terrorists.
• Get business records without a court order in terrorism probes and delay notification.
• Track wireless communications with a roving warrant.
• Increase sentences for drug kingpins to 40 years in prison and $4 million in fines." [6]

The National Consumer Coalition Privacy Group called the Victory Act "a grab-bag of enhanced police-state powers." [7]

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SourceWatch Resources

• AMBER Alert Anti-kidnap Bill
• Department of Defense
• Department of Justice
• Patriot Act I
• war on drugs

External Links

Undated Resources

• See PatriotWatch for "Pieces of Patriot II".

Dated Articles

• Elaine Cassel, The Smell of VICTORY? Ashcroft's Latest Stinkbomb, CounterPunch, August 7, 2003.
• Brian Knowlton, Ashcroft Pushes Defense of Terror Law, International Herald Tribune, August 19, 2003.
• Dean Schabner, Target: 'Narco-Terror'. Draft Bill Would Provide Broader Power; Ashcroft Defends Patriot Act, ABC News, August 20, 2003.
• Ryan Singel, Patriot Act II Resurrected?, Wired News, August 21, 2003.
• Pete Guither, Patriot Act, Victory Act, Despot Act, DrugWarRant.com, August 21, 2003.
• Don Eggen, GOP Bill Would Add Anti-Terror Powers, Washington Post, August 21, 2003: "'The Victory Act represents a major expansion of federal surveillance, asset forfeiture and other powers under the guise of linking the war on drugs to the war on terrorism,' said Tim Edgar, legislative counsel for the ACLU. 'It does not address the intelligence problems that led to the September 11th attacks, continuing a failed policy of simply granting more power to the government instead of ensuring the government uses its existing powers effectively.'" See ACLU web page "Oppose the Overreach of Police Powers."
• Bigger Brother?, Mother Jones, August 25, 2003.
• Charles Levondosky, Victory Act would be no victory for public, Casper Star-Tribune, August 26, 2003.
• VICTORY Act - Orwellian theater hits fevered pitch on 9/11 eve, September 7, 2003. Archived at Libertythink.
• H.R. 3037: Antiterrorism Tools Enhancement Act of 2003 introduced in House of Representatives, September 9, 2003.
• Beltway conservatives slam Hatch on VICTORY Act, Salt Lake Tribune, September 15, 2003.
• The 'Victory Act' Details, TalkLeft, November 22, 2003: "With the bill expanding Patriot Act rights moving full speed through Congress this week, people sound surpised--as if they thought things were going to get better. We think they will get worse. The Victory Act has yet to be introduced, but that doesn't mean it's dead."