July 22, 2004, Mistakes were made...
Those of you motivated enough to read the entire 9-11 Commission Report, all 500 plus pages, may amble over to the Commission's web site after 11:30 a.m. EDT today. For everyone else, you'll just have to take the words of various pundits, fair and balanced, like Fox News, for example, or incredibly biased, like me, or somewhat muddled, like this AP Report via Yahoo, which submits that the report blames neither the Clinton nor Bush II Administration (interestingly, no one sees fit to even ponder blaming the Bush I Administration, which may be most to blame of all), instead citing "institutional failings" and "failure of imagination".
For the Hmmm-teenth time: the odds were probably against completely stopping the 9-11 attacks, just as the odds always favor terrorists willing to make enough tries. However, basic mistakes were made, such as the CIA's failure to timely notify law enforcement that it was tracking several of the highjackers, even as a video just released shows that highjackers tracked by the CIA set off metal detectors at Dulles Airport, but were "wanded", and waved right on to their fatal flight. A national intelligence coordinator-- usually thought to be the job of the National Security Advisor-- a position vacant since Incompetentaleezza Rice took a paid leave of absence from it in early 2001-- may well be a good idea. But some things are still unusually troubling...
Thank God for Michael Moore. Much as I really don't like the man, and am troubled by a "documentarian" who has no problem making shit up when it suits him, America owes him a huge debt just for publicly and widely diesseminating things our readers have known for years but most people did not know, such as those few minutes in a Florida classroom, showing us that when the President of the United States has just been informed of a major attack on his nation's principal city and hence, decisive action of the Commander in Chief is required, his response was to retreat into a 3rd grade classroom for story time. Worse, the President happened to be in Central Florida, a short drive away from McDill Air Force Base, headquarters of American Central Command.
You see, boys and girls, the man who donned a flight-suit to declare "Mission Accomplished", who insists he is a "war president" every time he opens his smirky little mouth, who is running entirely based on fear-mongering about the fact that the nation can't trust a career senator and decorated war-hero with its security... shit in his pants the moment he was presented with a real crisis.
I'll make it easy: I have no idea how John Kerry would react in a similar crisis. George W. Bush has already told us how he will act: he will hide in front of third grade children, and then he will head off to Air Force One to hide from everyone else. I do not suggest that had this President done his job, apologized to the classroom, invited the kids to the White House, and got his ass to the nearest situation room (a few minutes' drive away, it turns out) demanding top performance from FAA, NORAD and everyone else out there, that the 9-11 tragedy would have been lessened, somehow.
But it would have been nice to know that the guy we paid to do the job actually did the damned job...
Comments
I'd love to see Kerry pull a macho thing on Bush during the debates.
Something like "It would have been interesting to see what kind of soldier YOU would have been, little man".
He oughta have his writers working up a zinger (better than that) that he can insert at the most convenient time.
Posted by Zizka at July 22, 2004 11:25 AM
"9/11 Commission Finds That 47-Year Old School Teacher Could Have Prevented WTC Tragedy"
Buried deep in the findings of the 9/11 Commission is the conclusion that Mary Winegard, a 47-year old school teacher from Des Moines, Iowa, could have prevented the WTC tragedy by intercepting the terrorists at Logan Airport. It seems Ms. Winegard was in close proximity to the terrorists, and later told the FBI "I knew something was wrong with these guys, if only I had done something." Ms. Winegard is a member of the Libertarian Party. The report recommends that no action taken against Ms. Winegard, and that Ms. Winegard has no ties to Saudi Arabia.
Posted by Fatt Nudge at July 22, 2004 12:11 PM
"Al-Jazeera Issued Press Creditionals for GOP and Democratic Conventions"
With all the talk of extreme security measures being undertaken to protect the participants of the GOP and Democratic Conventions this summer, it might seem odd that Al-Jazeera, "The Jihad's Hometown News Media", might be issued press credentials for the events.
"Not so," says Raymond Kelly, NYC Police Commissioner, who is able to explain the policy reasoning underlining the decision. "We want to encourage polite and orderly activities that support terrorism, and discourage those that are uncivil and downright mean. Niceness goes a long way, no matter on what side of the fence you're sitting on." Unconfirmed rumors also suggest that the Saudis prefer to listen in on the events on an Arabic station, which is better able to insert traditional muslim dress on the female participants through video production techniques.
Posted by Fatt Nudge at July 22, 2004 02:55 PM
F.N.--
Mary Winegard was long ago outed as a Mossad agent-- turns out the Israelis WERE responsible after all; and the Saudi video filter simply deletes women entirely (based on voice timbre and other criteria).
Having listened to some moron representing "United for Peace and Justice" on the radio complaining that THE POLICE had to PAY for shade, soundstages and water for the West Side Highway approved demonstration, I realized these people are freaking idiots. Although they organized the anti-war demonstrations, I tend to think their Bolshevik leanings AND GENERAL STUPIDITY helped undermine the legitimacy (and hence power) of a rather substantial anti-war movement leanings.
Don't get me wrong-- I'm still planning on attending (I usually bring several American flags for these occasions), and now, apparently, my own parasol and bottled water... But give us a break. This is a come as you are protest: the taxpayers of New York City, of which I am one, are putting up with ENOUGH SHIT about the GOP Convention, without having to PAY FOR ITS PROTEST TOO.
Posted by the talking dog at July 22, 2004 04:02 PM
I am delirious, Dog.
After only 1021 days of bourgeois liberal leaning propaganda (we'll spot you September, 2001), we have a breakthrough. So profound that I might take up my banner and frolic with you and the peaceniks on the West Side Highway. We'll dance barefoot on the earthen gravel, and frolic naked on the piers along the highway (not near Chelsea-save that for the weekend). Oh the humanity. We can sing Peter, Paul & Mary songs until well past dark (This time, you sing the Mary parts). If the sun is too bright, we'll cover half the crowd with one of Hillary's pantsuits. If it gets too cold, we'll set fire to a shantytown under the old West Side Highway, and sing sad songs about Joe Hill. Power to the People, my friend. I'm getting my tie dyed shirt out of the attic, and I got the new Jimmy Buffett CD. In the words of the great John Kerry, quoting the great George W, who was quoting the really cool Kirsten Dunst in her cheerleader movie, "Bring it On."
Posted by They Call Me Mr. Crabcake at July 22, 2004 06:50 PM
Only the Crab would include setting fire to a "shantytown" in the festivities. Lighting it with your burning cross, Mr. C?
Posted by mamayo at July 22, 2004 08:46 PM
Mr C...You know Grateful Dead tunes will suit that tie-dyed shirt so much better. This protest may well be just what the doctor ordered for you. A dose of good 'ole free speach! Go and be glad you did.
Posted by alicia at July 22, 2004 10:16 PM
Damn...speech, that is.
Posted by alicia at July 22, 2004 10:19 PM
Kottke put the report's PDF file into HTML format, in case you're interested.
Posted by Linkmeister at July 23, 2004 02:15 AM
Alicia:
Look for me at the demonstration.
I'll be wearing my "Free Whoopi" button.
And Mamayo: Quite a leap there. Neil Young could tell you that there was more of that cross burning stuff in the old Southern Democrat days. But just for that, if I see you at the protest-No soup for you.
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