In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
9/11 Commission Says U.S. Agencies Slow Its Inquiry
9/11 is Bush's windfall. He would be a nothing, a nobody, and a joke, if it wasn't for the attack. I know some Gore voters who actually have said to me "Maybe it is good Gore didn't win, because Bush make me feel better being there on 9/11" Huh? As much as I don't like Giuliani (often), he definitely made me feel better being there, but W?
Anyway, 9/11 is Bush's armor against all facts against him. Be thankful he was there.
But 9/11 was his hugest failure.
All other failures but aside, even if nothing else was done, he, and he alone could have at least prevented the Pentagon bombing. But he failed. He read about Goats. He made a brief speech. He got on a plane. And THEN he okayed the idea of shooting down jets. Airforce jets were minutes away from the Pentagon when it got hit. Due to Bush, and due to Bush only, they were not in the air much much earlier. I have a lot more I want to say about that when I have time to write it out more clearly then I usually do on this site.
Meanwhile back to the article in question (see above):
WASHINGTON, July 8 — The federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 terror attacks said today that its work was being hampered by the failure of executive branch agencies, especially the Pentagon and the Justice Department, to respond quickly to requests for documents and testimony.
The panel also said the failure of the Bush administration to allow officials to be interviewed without the presence of government colleagues could impede its investigation, with the commission's chairman suggesting today that the situation amounted to "intimidation" of the witnesses.
...
Mr. Kean [Republican ex Gov of NJ] and Mr. Hamilton suggested that the Justice Department was behind a directive barring intelligence officials from being interviewed by the panel without the presence of agency colleagues.
At a news conference, Mr. Kean described the presence of "minders" at the interviews as a form of intimidation. "I think the commission feels unanimously that it's some intimidation to have somebody sitting behind you all the time who you either work for or works for your agency," he said. "You might get less testimony than you would."
the Bush Administration used to not like that type of intimidation. As this Blog reminds us:
WHY DO INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS NEED SADDAM-STYLE MINDERS?
Remember back before the war, when UN investigators were questioning Iraqi scientists? Remember how it was that the US made such a stink about being able to interview the scientists without official Iraqis present? Sure you do.
Back then, the Bush administration claimed that Saddam Hussein was intimidating these scientists into spouting the official government line. In fact, the US went so far as to demand that questioning be continued outside of Iraq, where Saddam would be less likely to influence what the scientists had to say.
The Bush Administration was right when it said it was intimidating. Why isn't it now?
- rob 2:15 PM - [PermaLink] -
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