So in the run-up to the 9/11 attacks the 1600 Crew appears to have had more warning than what they have admitted to. Preznit 2Stupid2Believe has emphasized repeteadly that if only Osama had sent him a briefing paper with a summary of the attacks, he might have let Condi, Karl or Crashcart brief him on it between Nap and Vacation.
For most Americans, the disbelief was the same. The attacks of Sept. 11 seemed to come in a stunning burst from nowhere. But now, after three weeks of extraordinary public hearings and a dozen detailed reports, the lengthy documentary record makes clear that predictions of an attack by Al Qaeda had been communicated directly to the highest levels of the government.
The threat reports were more clear, urgent and persistent than was previously known. Some focused on Al Qaeda's plans to use commercial aircraft as weapons. Others stated that Osama bin Laden was intent on striking on United States soil. Many were passed to the Federal Aviation Administration.
While some of the intelligence went back years, other warnings — including one that Al Qaeda seemed interested in hijacking a plane inside this country — had been delivered to the president on Aug. 6, 2001, just a month before the attacks.
The new information produced by the commission so far has led 6 of its 10 members to say or suggest that the attacks could have been prevented, though there is no consensus on when, how or by whom. The commission's chairman, Thomas H. Kean, a Republican, has described failures at every level of government, any of which, if avoided, could have altered the outcome. Mr. Kerrey, a Democrat, said, "My conclusion is that it could have been prevented. That was not my conclusion when I went on the commission."
So what were they thinking of in those fateful days around August 6th?
» Preventing Stem Cell research, gotta keep the Christo-Fascist Vote
» Vacation
» Stealing Money from Education
» Naptime
» Missile Defense and funding big defense contractors
» The Next Vacation
» Sending more money to the Taliban for their anti-Opium campaign
» Another Long Weekend
» Get Iraqi Invasion Plans worked out
» Head to Kennibunkport for Vacation
As you can see, they were very engaged. In other things. And of course, on September 11th, Preznit Cowardly Lion did the one thing he does so well and has done his whole life:
Bush thought he had a "man-date" from the U.S. Supreme Court appointment. (Maybe that's where Andrew Sullivan came into the picture.)
posted by: Shag from Brookline on 04.18.04 at 03:01 PM [permalink]
But can we stop referring to that $43 million aid package for Afghanistan as “given” to the Taliban? While it certainly did conveniently coincide with reports that they had managed to curtail the opium trade, and thus can be seen as an indirect reward, none of that money actually was given to the Taliban government, but mostly was in the form of grain supplies to the UN Food Program. It sounds good but hurts our credibility.
The real scandalous thing about that was that it provides further proof that the administration wasn't truly focused on al-Qaa’idah. If you were seriously worried about a terror threat from a group harbored by a government, and that you might well have to retaliate against that government if you were unable to prevent the terror attack, would you for one minute consider doing something like that?
In fact, if they really cared about terror, they could have made expelling al-Qaa’idah a condition for food aid (Not that the Taliban were going to do that, seeing as how Osama did so much for them, but it would have been something to do on the off chance it would have worked, plus would have bolstered our case for war later on even more).
Terrorist,terrorist,under everyones bed?
Communist,communist,America used too dread.
History repeats itself with sad remorse,
Another president says"We must stay the course."
Fear tactics won elections in the past,
George W. Bush wants the terrorist fear too last.
Will our America be safe for certain?
A Bush America reminds me of the old iron curtain.
Wake up people! Take control of your future and fate.
Get George WAR Bush out of office! Do not let him skate.
