That is the message of a compelling and poignant Wall Street Journal op-ed this morning (subscription req’d) by the intrepid Debra Burlingame, whose brother Chic was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on September 11th. It is a much read. Here is an indication of why:

We now have the ability to put remote control cameras on the surface of Mars. Why should we allow enemies to annihilate us simply because we lack the clarity or resolve to strike a reasonable balance between a healthy skepticism of government power and the need to take proactive measures to protect ourselves from such threats? The mantra of civil-liberties hard-liners is to “question authority” — even when it is coming to our rescue — then blame that same authority when, hamstrung by civil liberties laws, it fails to save us. The old laws that would prevent FBI agents from stopping the next al-Mihdhar and al-Hazmi were built on the bedrock of a 35-year history of dark, defeating mistrust. More Americans should not die because the peace-at-any-cost fringe and antigovernment paranoids still fighting the ghost of Nixon hate George Bush more than they fear al Qaeda. Ask the American people what they want. They will say that they want the commander in chief to use all reasonable means to catch the people who are trying to rain terror on our cities. Those who cite the soaring principle of individual liberty do not appear to appreciate that our enemies are not seeking to destroy individuals, but whole populations.

Unless action to renew them is taken, crucial Patriot Act provisions are set to expire five days from now, thanks to the obstinacy of Senate Democrats and a hand-full of GOP fellow travellers. It’s unconscionable. Read Debra’s piece, and understand what’s at stake.