Rice Faults Past Administrations on Terror

[priller]

President Bush's national security adviser said on Thursday that the Clinton and other past administrations had ignored evidence of growing terrorist threats and that despite repeated attacks on American interests, "until Sept. 11, the terrorists faced no sustained, systematic and global response" from the United States.

"They became emboldened," the adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said of Al Qaeda, "and the result was more terror and more victims."

<snip>

While never naming Mr. Clinton or other past presidents, she argued that Mr. Bush had no choice but to take a far more muscular approach to American security, given the world he inherited, one in which she said the biggest threats to America were never taken seriously enough.

---------------

Article at http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/31/politics/31POLI.html

I believe Condi has really stepped into deep doo-doo here. Former Clinton officials (Sandy Berger comes to mind) have said repeatedly in the past that they were desperately trying to get across to the Bushies the seriousness of al-Qaeda and other terrorist threats, but the Bushies were focused on Russia and China and the need for missle defense.

[phillybri]

1. The Buck Stops Over There!!!

We didn't do it!!!

[saigon68]

47. Ah ha the sayings of crystal ball gazer Condominium Rice

This lady is reading tea leaves again

[loudnclear]

64. Doesn't she remember she was part of one of those "past administrations?"

this woman really does need a man!

[truthisfreedom]

2. hate begets hate.

what would jesus do, condi?

[Stuckinthebush]

3. Does anyone in this administration ever take responsibility?

Jeez, Condi...this BS won't fly. There are too many people who know about Clinton trying his hardest to get Bush to pay attention to the Al Queda threat.

[La_Serpiente]

4. Oh ho

she just opened Pandora's Box. Let's see Gergen respond to this.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FlashHarry]

6. And I thought Clinton was "obsessed with Bin Laden."

At least according to Clinton-hater Louis Freeh, the former FBI director.

[muchacho]

7. argh!

HELLO?!

Hart Rudman report?

Terrorism briefings with Bill Clinton's National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger and Condi Rice?

Where's your personal responsibility now you feckless neo-con lying weasles?


http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0805-04.htm

http://www.fas.org/man/docs/nwc/

[Maeve]

8. So it's Poppy's fault???

If not a "blame Clinton" ploy, then it has to be Poppy's fault!

[ozymandius]

9. A terrorist threat that materialized a year into Bush's tenure! That hack!

This shit is not hatched in a vaccuum. I suspect that pages will be made available to the Senate and the 9/11 panel. This is pre-emptive spin.

[madrchsod]

10. well let`s see

if any of the democrats stand up for clinton and his team. if no one does then we have nothing and no one to vote for.

[peekaloo]

11. Condiliar's grip on reality has come "unstuck"

No wonder she looks so miserable lately.."........given the world he inherited, one in which she said the biggest threats to America were never taken seriously enough."

Big Al called that chapter 'Operation Ignore'.


Suck on it!

[NicoleM]

12. Somehow

we need to find a way to innundate Condi with copies of the "Operation Ignore" chapter from Lying Liars.

[annxburns]

13. Is this a response to Clark

..... slamming her and the administration this week? He said that the Bush administraton must live up to it's responsibiliities for the failure to prevent 9-11. That Bush must release his intelligence documents to Kean - is this the response?

[dbt]

14. Lemme see if I got this:

CONdi says that Clinton and other past administrations had ignored evidence of growing terrorist threats.

Would this be before or AFTER Clinton officials warned her about bin Laden?

:freak:
dbt
"How do you sleep? Ah, how do you sleep?" --That Lennon fellow

[suegeo]

51. And ummm, about that "carpet of gold"

Would this also have been after Lela Helms (SP?) and some CIA spook visited the Taliban and shouted "Carpet of Gold or Carpet of Bombs" at them?

Not only did Clinton warn Dr. Rice (who can't find her ass with both hands, she's so incompetent) about the treat, but the illegal Bush junta actually provoked the threat.

Just criminal. Rice is awful, the worst of the worst.

[formactv]

67. There's competition

Colin Powell, the Man of Straw

[L.A.dweller]

72. "While never naming

Mr. Clinton or other past presidents, she argued that Mr. Bush had no choice but to take a far more muscular approach to American security, given the world he inherited, one in which she said the biggest threats to America were never taken seriously enough."

[LizW]

15. Keep flappin' your trap, Condi

and all the people from former administrations who know just how your incompetence led to the deaths of 3,000+ Americans are going to start talking to the press.

This woman is going to end up under oath before a Congressional investigation if she keeps gratuitously blabbing to try to save her sorry boss's ass.

[goforit]

76. God I hope so.......

"This woman is going to end up under oath before a Congressional investigation if she keeps gratuitously blabbing to try to save her sorry boss's ass."

Congress needs to be aggressive!!!(And to think they too have elections coming up)

[IggleDoer]

16. Previous Administrations - does Bucky mean Saint Ronnie?

Over 200 marines killed in the Beruit bombing and Saint Ronnie punishes the culprits by attacking Grenada.

No wander they became convinced that terrorism is effective.

[DoYouEverWonder]

23. Add that to the 200+ troops killed in the Gander crash

That happened during during Reagan's term and that VP Bush squashed the investigation. Oh never heard of the Gander crash? Trying googling if you want to find out why.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

62. Interesting...

<snip>
Union of Canadian Transport Employees Report




Islamic Jihad claims responsibility


On December 12, hours after the crash, an anonymous caller telephoned a French international news agency in Beirut stating that the Islamic Jihad, the Shiite Moslem extremist group was claiming responsibility for the crash at Gander. The caller asserted that the group had planted a bomb on board the aircraft to prove "our ability to strike at the Americans anywhere" (see Exhibit 4).


Dismissals came instantly, beginning with the Pentagon's chief spokesman Robert Sims: "We have no indications of explosions prior to the crash or of hostile action" (see Exhibit 5). Other rapid dismissals followed from the White House's spokesman Larry Speakes, the RCMP and Transport Minister Don Mazankowski -- all on the day of the crash only moments after the Islamic Jihad' s claim for responsibility (see Exhibits 5 and 6).


How was it learned so quickly that the call was a hoax? Is it possible to verify the validity of an anonymous call so quickly? This very fast dismissal on the part of the U.S. government, without explanation or valid grounds raises serious questions. If the dismissal was not done on solid grounds why was it ever done in the first place?


The possibility of terrorism was discounted instantly even though 10 months earlier, on February 14, 1984 the Director-General of the same American Multinational Force and observers unit based in the Sinai, Leamon Hunt was ambushed and gunned down by terrorists in the streets of Rome (see Exhibit 7). Knowing full well that the MFO was a terrorist target, it is curious to say the least, that American intelligence would instantly dismiss the Islamic Jihad's claim. A politically motivated response evidently comes to mind but logical grounds based strictly on normal intelligence gathering and procedure are completely absent.


If indeed there was a cover up in this affair, much would be revealed in the strategy developed by U.S. officials in the first few hours following the tragedy. It was during these delicate moments that a decision was taken at high levels as to what the official U.S. government response would be. The only problem with the response was that it was categorically impossible to discount sabotage or a pre-impact fire in those early stages because no investigators had even begun to examine one square inch of the wreckage on the other hand, such a rapid dismissal of the Islamic Jihad claim from an area where news travels comparatively slowly could and should not have been publicly discounted so quickly.


It may have been decided as such because U.S. officials knew from the very first communication they received about the crash in the early morning hours of December 12, 1985 that the aircraft was engulfed in flames and that in all probability any evidence of wrongdoing, if there was any, would be destroyed by powerful flames being fed by some 45,000 litres of jet fuel poured into the aircraft moments earlier at Gander airport. The wreckage was in fact completely destroyed by fire which was still raging up to 20 hours after the crash.

<snip>
From: http://www.sandford.org/gandercrash/investigations/union_report/html/_cover_page.shtml

I vaguely remember the crash, but never knew about the Jihad claims.

[katusha]

70. even more interesting

is this letter to House Intelligence Oversight Committee February, 14 , 1998

http://www.dcia.com/gander1.html

Specifically, I wish to bring your attention to a device that Sgt. Arleigh McCree, the renowned head of the Los Angeles Police Bomb Squad Unit, felt certain was the device responsible for blowing up the US Army chartered ARROW AIR DC-8 passenger transport that crashed in Gander, Newfoundland December 12, 1985. All of the 248 servicemen and the 8 person flight crew died when the bomb exploded immediately after take-off. The plane then traveled a short distance in the air before it crashed and burned. Our firm designed and manufactured the responsible device exclusively for, and sold it only to, the Central Intelligence Agency.

(snip)

There are compelling reasons to believe that this air crash involved a nuclear accident. Within hours of the "crash", U S Army General John Crosby arrived with a Broken Arrow Nuclear Disaster Team, and, without conducting any normal investigation, ordered the area bulldozed over with 6 feet of soil. There was a glowing white-hot object the size of a large grapefruit that had burned through the plane and through the body of a stewardess. This object continued to glow "white-hot" for 16 hours even after fire hoses were trained on it. This is NOT chemical behavior. It is what can only be expected of a sub-critical core of a nuclear bomb whose explosive shell had burned but did not detonate. The presence of this white-hot glowing object is the key to the motive for the bombing.

[DoYouEverWonder]

73. Now here's the juicy part

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_cr/h920430-gander.htm

INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE GANDER PLANE CRASH

HON. ROBIN TALLON

in the House of Representatives

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992


<snip>

Seven years ago a military charter bringing 248 American soldiers home from a peace-keeping mission in the Middle East crashed over Gander, NF. It remains this country's worst military peace-time disaster, killing more soldiers than the military conflicts of Desert Storm, the Panama invasion and Grenada combined.

<snip>

Questions still persist as to the cause of this tragedy. Rather than initiating its own investigation, the U.S. Government chooses to accept a disputed report from the deeply divided Canadian Commission. Almost half of the Canadian Board claimed that an explosion caused the plane to crash.

Even though it is standard procedure to investigate terrorism as a cause in any air disaster, no U.S. agency, including the Vice President's Task Force on Combating Terrorism and its chairman at the time, George Bush, ever investigated for the possibility of terrorism or foul play. This despite the fact that the terrorist group, Islamic Jihad, tried four times to take credit for the crash.

<snip>



(BY ROY ROWAN)

Flying home for Christmas in 1985, three years before the Pan Am bombing, 248 American soldiers and eight crew members died when their chartered DC-8 jet plunged to earth just after taking off from a refueling stop in Gander, Newfoundland. It was the worst U.S. military air disaster ever. Icing of the wings was immediately suggested as the cause, although Islamic Jihad terrorists just as quickly boasted of blowing up the jet.

It wasn't until 1989 that an Iran-contra connection to the tragedy was revealed. Arrow Air, the charter company, turned out to be one of Lieut. Colonel Oliver North's regular arms shippers. Although most of the crash victims belonged to the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, returning from six months' duty with the multinational peacekeeping force in the Sinai, more than 20 Special Forces personnel trained for counterterrorist missions were also on board. Suspicions have recently deepened that they, like Charles McKee and the members of his hostage-rescue team on Pan Am Flight 103, were the target of an attack.

<snip>

As he pored over the forensic evidence, Wheaton became convinced that the plane had suffered a precrash explosion--and that there had been a U.S.-Canadian conspiracy to conceal the cause of the accident. `If the truth about this crash had gotten out in 1985,' he says, `it would have exposed the Iran-contra scandal one year before it became public.'

<snip>

Repeated efforts by the Families for Truth About Gander to open FBI files about the crash have failed. Democratic Congressman Robin Tallon of South Carolina has tried to help. Two years ago, he persuaded 103 other members of the House of Representatives to petition President Bush to initiate an `investigation to explore all possible crash theories.' Bush never responded. Tallon, who says that up until then he had frequently visited the White House, says he was never invited back.

more...


(To the mods - this info is from the Congressional Record, therefore copyright rules do not apply.)

[Wickerman]

85. The snake that swallows it tail

Past administrations. Anyone got that pic of Rummy shaking hands with Saddam - master terrorist? Not only did BushI administration ignore the threat (like Reagon was SO effective after the marine barracks bombing) of terror - they armed terror. Now, of course, we all know that Saddam is a lot of things, but prior to 2003 he was not a terror threat - but if they want to call him one, and Condi wants to spew this shit - then lets break out all the "facts". Condi and Bush* will go down for this kind of play.

[Bozvotros]

17. The World He Inherited????

WTF? Is that a quote from her? Did she think her massa inherited the world?

Sorry. Silly question.

[TheLastMohican]

18. What he inherited is PhD lady with antiquated knowledge

of Soviet Union which comes in handy only if you want to ask historians and your grandpa's and grandma's. Heck you can even ask me, I was a green guy young blood back then.

[calimary]

28. You noticed that, too.

What do they call it - obsolete? An anachronism? She has a PhD in a political system that NO LONGER EXISTS. And yet there she is at the top of the national security ziggurat - NOW. In this POST-Soviet age.

[Journeyman]

55. If Bushie was "truly" concerned about terrorism. . .

he'd have appointed a Middle East Expert as NSC instead of a useless anachronism like Rice.

[goforit]

77. Yes I agree!!.......This is what disturbed me from day one!!

I couldn't believe how backwards, out of touch with reality and
out-dated all in this administration were. It was so bizarre
to see how a clock could stop in time for these thugs.

They stilled believed that the iron curtain was up.
They had such an anti Russia, anti-China and anti-Korea attitude
from day one!!!

This was three months before the election. I wrote a letter to the
NYT about this but as usual nothing ever came of it.

I honestly felt like we were headed for the twilight zone.....
and here we are.

[rooboy]

19. I don't care what any of you say...

McGruder is right - the woman needs a lover.

[calimary]

26. Maybe she's hoping it'll be georgie-poo.

She sure spends an AWFUL LOT of time with him. It's often a group of three that takes off for Crawford or Camp David or other parts - georgie, laura, and CONdi. So what is REALLY going on here, a "presidential" threesome?

[peekaloo]

29. eeewwww......you know when Georgie asks Condi if she wants

a stiff one he's talking about cocktails.

[burythehatchet]

59. What an awful image

I'd rather see Mr. Burns and Smithers finally get it on.

[formactv]

69. She's the unsticker

[0007]

34. I'm not sure what she needs?

A good face lift would help a little.

There is something wrong with her, I heard it said that she had the hots for Clinton and he gave her the pitch. That indeed sez a lot, because top dog would do almost anything.

[LiberalFighter]

60. Read the latest Boondock

Better read them before they go premium.

http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/18/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/22/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/23/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/27/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/28/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/29/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/30/
http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/2003/10/31/

[havocmom]

20. Maybe it was Bush I dining with Osama's folks

and making him sit at the kis's table that caused all the trouble?

[progressiverealist]

21. isn't this charade getting really, really transparent?

I mean, it seems like even a complete moran could see it. Anything bad that happens is Clinton's fault. And when there's a snippet of good news on the economy? All praise Bush! I swear to god, this administration has the collective mentality of a ten-year-old.

PS... anyone with a ten year old: I am sorry for just having insulted your child.

[JNelson6563]

22. what was it? a month

or so Clinton was in office when the WTC was first bombed? Funny I didn't hear the Clinton admin. whining It's All Bush's Fault!!

But then again, we are talking about Republicans here....

Julie

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. And the Cole happened in Oct. 2000

A month before the election. If Clinton did anything big then all the repugs would have screamed their butts off.

[xultar]

25. She hasn't read Al Franken's Book...

Where whe is outted for dismissing General Wesley K. Clarks attempts to meet about the anti-terror plan he created for the Clinton Administration.

Plus...She's fulla hooey cuz they knew the attacks on 9/11 were coming.

Liar liar pants on fire

[Rose Siding]

27. I don't see Clinton taking this in silence

He has been all too eager in the past to explain, at length, his admin's steps taken re terrorism. If he'd cut loose with a few additional details everytime they try this, we'd all be better off.

[Terran]

30. "until Sept. 11th"??

"until Sept. 11, the terrorists faced no sustained, systematic and global response" from the United States.


Uh, Condi, September 11th would include your boss too. Thanks for pointing that out. :eyes:

[imax2268]

31. Is everyone

in this administration hitting the crack pipe or what...?

"It's not our fault...it's....the last and previous administration's fault...we had nothing to do with this...we started it but we don't want to face the responsility...!"

2004 election is not getting here quick enough...

[Tommy_Douglas]

32. Of course nobody took it seriously...

I mean Condi herself could not even fathom the idea that a plane could crash into a building. She said so herself.

[joeybee12]

33. Somebody needs to make a stink and fire this b**ch!

She's not only evil, she's insane!!!!!!!!!!

[kodi]

35. bush stopped clinton's 3 tiered approach to getting bin laden

when bush entered the white house there were 46 intelligence agents assigned to tracking bin laden, on sept 10, 2001, that number was down to 2.

the justice dept, on sept 10, 2001 had submitted a budget for terrorism that had $30Million in cuts (to offset the tax cut)

clinton had a rapid response program to kill bin laden. it included tomahawk missles from navy ships in the persian gulf, air craft in saudi arabia, and marines stationed on ship. these were capable of hitting targets where bin laden was within 45 minutes.

bush cancelled this program the first month in office.

who's fooling who here?

sid blumenthal went over all this in his recent book.

condi rice is a fucking liar.

[goforit]

78. This is proof that Ossama has always worked for Bush!!!

MIHOP .....all the way!!!

[chemenger]

36. Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 62

"Combating Terorism" and PDD 63 "Critical Infrastructure Protection" were issued by President Clinton in 1997 - 1998 to create an integrated structure for combating terrorist attacks that involve explosives, chemical or biological agents, or acts of sabotage against American infrastructures. In PDD 63, the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO) was created to coordinate critical infrastructure assurance initiatives and to create a well-directed national plan.

Condi Rice is nothing more than a lying (or uninformed) sack of shit whore for the Bush administration. And the media is nothing more than a Repuke-controlled, spineless pack of dogs milling around their masters hoping for some table scraps.

God help us all!

[lovedems]

37. Does anyone remember what the Bushies were doing when they first

came into office? They were blaming the Clinton's for stealing and trashing the white house! Unfortunately the media never really bothered to mention that after an investigation, there was absoultely NO EVIDENCE that the Clinton's did anything wrong. My point being, they were more worried about trashing Clinton than security matters and terrorists threats. If you read David Corn's new book, he points out that the Clinton administration told the incoming Bushies that OSAMA BIN LADEN WOULD OCCUPY MOST OF HIS TIME. I hope Condi Rice and all the other little shit bags from this administratoin rot in hell for blaming somebody else for their own failures! This happened on Bush's watch and he was in a position to look at all the signs, but it was more important to him to vacation at his dumb ass ranch!

:mad:

[Grins]

38. God, I love it!!!

"...Clinton and other past administrations had ignored evidence..."

(GASP!!!!) Do you mean Poppy was at fault? Can't be. Well, maybe it can. No wonder dad gave his award to Ted Kennedy.

Man, he must be pissed!

[goforit]

79. He's getting up in age and is feeling guilty about the JFK murder!!

And my heart ain't bleeding on this one!!!

[Flying_Pig]

39. The damned lying *itch! She should go look in the mirror. There has

never been an administration like this in the history of our nation. They are completley unwilling to take responsibility for anything! It may be "smart" politics to play this game, but it shows how depraved and craven they are. They're so filled with hubris, I am surprised they don't explode.

They need to be taken down, and soon. The Dems in Congress better find a backbone, and stage a major revolt over this buck passing. Letting them get away with this, will ultimately lead the masses to actually believe this crap, and then the Dems will be in trouble. Time for a major Dem offense.

I wonder if this may be part of a campaign to lay the ground for the release of Bush's 9/11 papers, in a pre-emptive "stratergy" to lay blame on someone else? Yes, I'll bet that's what it is.

Fuck them.

[mac56]

41. Yeah - aren't we glad the grownups are in charge now?!

:eyes:

[Tempest]

40. The Big Lie

Tell the biggest lie you can and repeat it often and eventually people will believe it.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

42. and between inauguration Jan. 20, 2001, and the Sept. 11 attacks???

"Ms. Rice's comments make no reference to what the Bush administration itself did between Mr. Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2001, and the Sept. 11 attacks.

In the past she has said that a detailed plan to counter Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups was on her desk, approved, when the attacks occurred. That plan became the basis for the decision to drive Al Qaeda out of Afghanistan and topple the Taliban."

(and no mention of Ashcroft cutting anti- terrorism funding)!!!

TRUTH: BUSH DID NOTHING!!!

May this entire administration rot in hell.

[SOS]

43. Condi may have a point

on the complete failure of previous administrations in regard to terorism. Here's a partial list of terror attacks under the Republican administrations of Reagan and Bush 41:

1983
Bombing of U.S. Embassy in Beirut, April 18, 1983: Sixty-three people, including the CIA's Middle East director, were killed, and 120 were injured in a 400-pound suicide truck-bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

Bombing of Marine Barracks, Beirut, October 23, 1983: Simultaneous suicide truck-bomb attacks were made on American and French compounds in Beirut, Lebanon. A 12,000-pound bomb destroyed the U.S. compound, killing 242 Americans, while 58 French troops were killed when a 400-pound device destroyed a French base. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

1984
Kidnapping of Embassy Official, March 16, 1984: The Islamic Jihad kidnapped and later murdered Political Officer William Buckley in Beirut, Lebanon.

1985

TWA Hijacking, June 14, 1985: A Trans-World Airlines flight was hijacked en route to Rome from Athens by two Lebanese Hizballah terrorists and forced to fly to Beirut. The eight crew members and 145 passengers were held for 17 days, during which one American hostage, a U.S. Navy sailor, was murdered.

Achille Lauro Hijacking, October 7, 1985: Four Palestinian Liberation Front terrorists seized the Italian cruise liner in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, taking more than 700 hostages. One U.S. passenger was murdered.

Egyptian Airliner Hijacking, November 23, 1985: An EgyptAir airplane bound from Athens to Malta and carrying several U.S. citizens was hijacked by the Abu Nidal Group.

1986
Aircraft Bombing in Greece, March 30, 1986: A Palestinian splinter group detonated a bomb as TWA Flight 840 approached Athens Airport, killing four U.S. citizens.

Berlin Discoteque Bombing, April 5, 1986: Two U.S. soldiers were killed, and 79 American servicemen were injured in a Libyan bomb attack on a nightclub in West Berlin, West Germany.

1988

Kidnapping of William Higgins, February 17, 1988: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. W. Higgins was kidnapped and murdered by the Iranian-backed Hizballah.

Naples USO Attack, April 14, 1988: The Organization of Jihad Brigades exploded a car bomb outside a USO Club in Naples, Italy, killing one U.S. sailor.

Pan Am 103 Bombing, December 21, 1988: Pan American Airlines Flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland by Libyan terrorists. All 259 people on board were killed.

1991
Attempted Iraqi Attacks on U.S. Posts, January 18-19, 1991: Iraqi agents planted bombs at the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia's home residence and at the USIS library in Manila.

1992

Bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina, March 17, 1992: Hizballah claimed responsibility for a blast that leveled the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, causing the deaths of 29 and wounding 242.

[Enjolras]

45. The whole idea of global jihad IS the fault of a previous administration

but it wasn't Clinton's, nor even Poppy's. The Reagan administration cooked up that little gem to motivate Arabs from around the region to "liberate" occupied Afghanistan from from the evil, atheist Soviets
during the 1980's. They created a powerful monster to do their bidding, and after it did, they turned their backs on it. Predictably, it bit us in the behind. It continues to do so today. And smashing this monster only disperses it into hundreds of little mini-monsters, which can hide just about anywhere.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

56. Reagan: Let's deal with Iraninan terrorists to win back hostages

Raygun forever compromised American interests due to his hollow dealings with terrorists.

[Fleshdancer]

44. Unfortunately, this isn't suprising

Has bush EVER taken responsibility for his actions??? He grew up too rich and too priveledged and he never had any negative consequences for all his f*ck-ups including:

Poor grades in school, DWI, insider trading, failed companies, AWOL, lying to go to war, ignoring bin laden until it was too late, karl rove's nasty campaigning tactics, ect.

The man is sociopathic. I honestly believe he believes nothing is ever his fault. He doesn't live in our reality and the fact that he's squatting in the White House is insane.

[gratuitous]

46. When does the Lil George administration start?

Holy cow, these are excuses I would consider trite from my seven-year-old grandson!

But indeed, the Bushies have taken a more muscular approach to American security, and the result is 350 dead military personnel and countless (and uncounted) thousands of Iraqis. Fuckheads.

[MsLeopard]

48. She blames others, eh?

I copied this from a poster right here at DU on Oct 12, 2001 and have used it ever since when the right wingnuts I work with start the "it's Clinton's fault" mantra.

http://www2.cnn.com/US/9607/30/clinton.terrorism/
In 1996 Bill Clinton proposed a very extensive anti-terrorism regulation. The Republicans in both congress and senate shredded this regulation, made fun of it, called it “paranoid”, and patronized the president in every way possible. Orrin Hatch even called some of the threats of terrorism in the homeland a “phony issue”. Shameless!

http://www.newsday.com/news/nytwa96-gore906.story
Al Gore also put together in 1996 a series of recommendations on airport security that the Republican congress called “paranoid”, too harsh, and the airline industry (lobbying against it) considered too expensive and impractical to apply.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/30/international/30INTE.html
Bill Clinton signed an order to hunt Bin Laden after the attacks on the African embassies and the attack to the Cole.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_155000/155252.stm
They got really close to killing the bastard. Soon after, the Kosovo mess got started too. What did our Repubs congressmen and talking heads? Accused Clinton of “wagging the dog”, ridiculed the efforts as a way to divert attention from Monica-gate, and denied the proper support for his actions. Trent Lott went as far as to say "You can support our troops without supporting the president," the type that statement that now Repubs will call treason.

http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/09/12/bush/
Bill Clinton ordered the Hart-Rudman report on the potential dangers of terrorism in the homeland. The results of the research, which pointed at the possibility of something like the WTC tragedy happening, was ignored by Smirky and his gang. Ignored completely. Now we got the biggest terrorist attacks on US soil under his watch.

Remember the 241 good Marines slaughtered at the airport in Beirut. Reagan insisted they be stationed at the high-visibility area to "show the flag." His military advisors warned it was vulnerable, but Ronnie Ray-Gun insisted. The blood of 241 Marines is on his hands.
~~~~~~~
This is a powerful indictment of the inaction taken by Repugs, until they needed to do something... And look what they've accomplished. Disgraceful.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PurityOfEssence]

50. Calling Sandy Berger!

You personally told her that Bin Laden would be the biggest problem she'd face; you must come forward and fight these assholes.

This is now a critical juncture for the Democratic Party and the Clinton Administration. While Bill is a fool and attempts to mollify Junior's decision and the yellowcake nonsense, this dicks have no compunction about blaming him and his people for everything.

I sincerely believe that if the Democrats don't stand up and vehemently contest this, they're doomed. You can't "play nice" or turn the other cheek in the face of something like this. These people are NOT unassailable.

Why didn't Cheney's terrorism committee EVER meet before 9-11? Why was O'Neill cashiered? Why was the naval task force shadowing Bin Laden from the Indian Ocean withdrawn? What about the cruise missile attack in Afghanistan?

Not only that, she lumps everyone together as some big SPECTRE of bad guys: the Libyans, Palestinians, Al Queda, Iranians and North Koreans are all some big coordinated "them" to her. She's hideously simplistic: only supreme narcissists can create worlds of disconnected adversaries as big meanies "out to get me". Greedy, selfish narcissists; that's what she and her mob are.

[underpants]

54. The article pretty much totally refutes her points, in a nice way

Indeed Berger told her specifically that terrorism and alQaeda were going to be the main topic of foreign relations and security discussions that W&Co. would have.

I like that the article points out that she has admitted that the plan W SO COURAGEOUSLY INITIATED had been sitting on HER desk the whole time.

This whole thing is complete BS.
-How many arrests were made in connection with the FIRST WTC bombing? Does the name Ramzi Youshef ring a bell? The "blind cleric"? Did it happen 5 weeks after Clinton was sworn in and not one time did they try to blame anyone else? Did the press ever mention Poppa Bush in that?

How many arrests were made after the Khobar towers? (~15 I think)

Did the USS Cole happen 3 months before W siezed power? They expect Clinton to wrap it up from half a world away in 3 months? With the US Ambassador not letting the top FBI into "her country"? With the Yemenese making arrests (see) but not letting the arrested be extradited?

Has any credible expert come forward to say that Clinton's policy in North Korea DIDN'T prevent them from having ~100 nuclear warheads to sell to whoever instead of the 4 or 6 they might have? Has W's bully pulpit BS not encouraged them to start up again?

Did we find Timothy McVeigh?

How is everything that happened Clinton's fault "on his watch" but they are still blaming him for what happened on theirs?

Finally

What did your (Condi) policy of "everything Clinton did is wrong and must be reversed immediately" lead up to where we are today?

[Barad Simith]

52. Give 'em enough rope...

...and they'll hang themselves every time.

The press smells blood with this administration, as evidenced by yesterday's announcement on CNN of "day three of bannergate." Wait until they get Sandy Berger or Richard Clarke in front of a microphone on this one.

[Barad Simith]

53. (posted twice)

[Malva Zebrina]

57. that's why they screw everything up

Bush lies as is his normal mode, Condi lies, Powell lies ,Rummy lies, Wolfowitz lies, they all lie--as a result of those lies, thousands of innocent lives are lost--murdered by a bunch of liars.

Can you imaging them sitting down at a meeting to discuss some important piece of policy--each knowing the other lies through their hat constantly? --no wonder they are so confused, disjointed and could not conduct a decent plan for the occupation--they are all liars and were lying--to each other--as each other suspecte the other of lying in normal mode, and no one could know really, if anyone was telling the truth so no one really acted on anything

[Solly Mack]

58. Ugly on the inside makes for ugly on the outside

Her character is in the gutter.

[Vogon_Glory]

61. Clinton Didn't Do Enough??!!! What a Crock!

Former president Clinton was trying to do plenty against al Quaeda. His problem wasn't just that he was being double-crossed by the Saudis but also that Dubya's fellow Republicans were far more interested in pursuing any means possible to destroy the Clinton presidency and paid no attention to the threat posed by al Quaeda terrorists.

I was recently doing some housecleaning and came across some old Wall Street Journals from 1998 and 1999. Most of them dated after Osama bin Laden issued his notorious fatwa calling for the deaths of Americans around the world. Did World Net Daily's Dow Jones affiliate pay any attention to the very real peril posed by the al Quaeda terrorists? H___ no, they were too busy focusing on Mr. Clinton's trusts with Ms. Lewinsky and other alleged offenses.

I consider the Republicans in office in the US Senate and the House of Represenatives far more culpable for allowing al Quaeda's successful attack on America and American interests than any Clinton White House official.

As typical with the Dubya Bush administration, when it comes time to assume responsibility, the GOP passes the buck.

Restoring "honor" and "integrity" to the White House, my #*@%!!!

[Hoppin_Mad]

63. Lets not forget Reagan's pull-out from Beruit after 241 Killed !

The terrorists got EXACTLY what they wanted from Reagan. The US cut and ran after having 241 killed at the Marine barracks. This is thought to be a CRITICAL act in embolding terrorist by proving 'terror works'

Big Bad Brave Ronnie, huh ?

[karlschneider]

65. Just ran Condi through Anagram Genius...here's my favorite

Crazed ozone lice

:D

[neuvocat]

66. What a dumb-ass bitch!

She was the one who ignored the warnings both from the Isreali Mossad and Gary Hart concerning airport security.

[Cooley Hurd]

68. FAA-Q Condi!!!!

Your lie on this subject has been exposed for quite a while now... Give it up, Oil Queen!

[Minstrel Boy]

71. Does the Administration have a less convincing liar?

"I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon."

ahem...


"One such CIA briefing, in July 2001, was particularly chilling and prophetic. It predicted that Osama bin Laden was about to launch a terrorist strike 'in the coming weeks,' the congressional investigators found. The intelligence briefing went on to say: 'The attack will be spectacular and designed to inflict mass casualties against U.S. facilities or interests. Attack preparations have been made. Attack will occur with little or no warning.'"
http://www.msnbc.com/news/907379.asp?0cv=CB10

"An FBI supervisor, sounding a prophetic pre-Sept. 11 alarm, warned FBI headquarters that student pilot Zacarias Moussaoui was so dangerous he might 'take control of a plane and fly it into the World Trade Center,' a congressional investigator said in a report Tuesday."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&ncid=716&e=4&u=/ap/20020924/ap_on_go_co/attacks_intelligence

"U.S. intelligence agencies received many more indications than previously disclosed that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network was planning imminent "spectacular" attacks in the summer of 2001 aimed at inflicting mass casualties."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36754-2002Sep18.html

"Weeks before the terrorist attacks on 11 September, the United States and the United Nations ignored warnings from a secret Taliban emissary that Osama bin Laden was planning a huge attack on American soil."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=331115

"Egyptian intelligence warned American officials about a week before Sept. 11 that Osama bin Laden's network was in the advance stages of executing a significant operation against an American target, President Hosni Mubarak said in an interview on Sunday."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/04/national/04WARN.html

"A key point in unraveling why the FBI failed to follow up leads on Al Qaeda terrorism now centers on the Bureau's contemptuously brushing aside warnings from French intelligence a few days before 9-11."
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0222/ridgeway2.php

"When the hubbub about what the White House did or didn't know before Sept. 11 dies down, Congressional or other investigators should consider the specific warnings that friendly Arab intelligence services sent to Washington in the summer of 2001."
http://www.iht.com/articles/58269.html

"Britain gave President Bush a categorical warning to expect multiple airline hijackings by the al-Qaeda network a month before the September 11 attacks which killed nearly 3000 people and triggered the international war against terrorism."
http://www.sundayherald.com/24822

"Israeli intelligence officials say that they warned their counterparts in the United States last month that large-scale terrorist attacks on highly visible targets on the American mainland were imminent."
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml:$sessionid$52PMOXQAADW5PQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2001/09/16/wcia16.xml&sSheet=/news/2001/09/16/ixhome

David Schippers, former Chief Investigative Counsel for the US House Judiciary Committee and head prosecutor responsible for conducting the Clinton impeachment:

Schippers received information from “impeccable” US intelligence sources, including FBI agents, that a massive attack was being planned by terrorists targeting the financial district of lower Manhattan. (He went public with this two days after the attack in an interview with WRRK in Pittsburgh.) He said he had tried warning Ashcroft and other officials six weeks before the attacks.

"According to Schippers, these agents knew, months before the attacks, the names of the hijackers, the targets of their attacks, the proposed dates, and the sources of their funding, along with other information. At least two weeks prior to 11th September, the FBI agents again confirmed that an attack on lower Manhattan, orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, was imminent. However, the FBI command cut short their investigations into the impending terrorist attacks and those involved, threatening the agents with prosecution under the National Security Act if they publicised information pertaining to their investigations.

"The agents subsequently sought the council of David Schippers in order to pressure elements in the US government to take action to prevent the attacks. Schippers warned many Congressmen and Senators, and also attempted to contact US Attorney General John Ashcroft without success, managing only to explain the situation to a lower-ranking Justice Dept. official who promised a return call from Ashcroft the next day. The Attorney General did not return the call despite the gravity of the situation. Schippers is now legally representing one FBI agent in a suit against the US government in an attempt to subpoena their testimony, so that he can legally speak about the blocked investigation on public record." (PG 107, The War on Freedom by Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed)

Judicial Watch:
Robert Wright "…an active FBI Special Agent filed a complaint last week concerning FBI/Justice Department interference in and mishandling of terrorist investigations. The FBI Special Agent, who wishes to remain anonymous at this time, alleges that he was retaliated against when he continued to push for and pursue certain terrorist investigations over the objections of his FBI and Justice Department supervisors." Judicial Watch Press Release, Nov 14 2001.

A Moroccan secret agent, Hassan Dabou, had penetrated al Qaeda for two years, breaking cover the summer of 2001 to warn of “spectacular” attacks in New York in the summer or autumn of 2001. “Secret service chiefs are said to have taken seriously the tip from one of its veteran informants and immediately passed on the details to Washington.”
Times of London, June 12, 2002

Stanley Hilton, San Francisco Attorney and former aid to Bob Dole, has launched a $7 billion class action suit on behalf of the families of 14 victims of 9/11 which alleges that the Bush Administration conspired to create the Sept. 11 attacks for his own political gain

"Hilton, who said he has sources within the FBI, CIA, the National Security Agency and Naval intelligence, demands Bush's impeachment and believes the truth will come out in trial.

"Hilton claims the Bush administration ignored intelligence information, refused to round up suspected terrorists beforehand, and during the hijackings refused to disable pilot controls and switch to a ground-based remote system."
http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?story=n.lawyer.0611w

An Iranian man known as Ali S. in a German jail waiting deportation repeatedly phones US law enforcement to warn of an imminent attack on the WTC in the week of September 9-15. He calls it "an attack that will change the world." After a month of badgering his prison guards, he is finally able to call the White House 14 times in the days before the attack. He then tries to send a fax to Bush, but is denied permission hours before the 9/11 attacks. German police later confirm the calls. Prosecutors later say Ali had no foreknowledge and his forebodings were just a strange coincidence. They say he is mentally unstable. Similar warnings also come from a Moroccan man being held in a Brazilian jail. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 9/13/01, Ottawa Citizen, 9/17/01, Sunday Herald, 9/16/01)

One article later suggests that bin Laden moves his training bases in Afghanistan "in the days before the attacks." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/16/01) Given US satellite surveillance of such bases, shouldn't this have been a huge clue that a major attack was imminent?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

74. Great post! Do you think that ,any of your mentioned items may have

something to do with the fact that the WH does not want to play ball with the 911 investigation?

[Minstrel Boy]

81. Maybe just, y'know, a little....

or maybe it's "national security"? :shrug:

Given the warnings we know they received, imagine how damning the Aug 6th Daily Briefing must be.

[GoldenOldie]

75. Follow the Leader???????

George W. Bush has never, ever, had to take responsibility for his actions. Drunk driving, drugs, AWOL, failure to notify SEC on his sale of stock in ARBUSCO, Texas land theft and abuse of taxpayor's funds to build his sports arena - sale of team and property left Georgie a millionaire and the taxpayor's a little poorer.

As a leader he sets the example for his Administration and supporters - He is not willing to take responsibility neither is Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Rumsfeld, etc., etc., etc., etc.

It's all everyone else's fault and if you don't believe Georgie, or Condi, just ask his mommy Bab's Bush. They are just to rich, intelligent, bored to be bothered about responsibility, ethics, or democracy - whatever that is. They can't let all this stuff clutter their "beautiful minds."!!!!!!

[wabeewoman]

80. Pass-the-buck bush

pass-the-buck bush, pass-the-buck bush....Keep on repeating it

[Catshrink]

82. Don't mess with the Big Dawg, Condi:

He's way out of your league.

[BenDavid]

83. The Big Dawd,

Needs to get down right mean and on this Condi Rice matter, I think it is time that he again has a "Sister Souljah" moment.Now as my comment concerning Ms Rice, BartCop said it best:"Excuse me, Ms Liar, but that charge can only begin to stick after you explain what concrete, positive and public steps Bush took to fight bin Laden from January 21, 2001 to September 10, 2001.Until you provide us with that list, you're just another lying whore." Very well said Bart....

[young_at_heart]

86. The Dems cannot let her get away with this

She is constantly furrowing her brow and stating unequivocally what she "beleives" is the truth. Her mushroom cloud reference shows she has NO credibility. I used to have a modicum of respect for her....NO MORE!

[Dover]

84. Speaking of past administrations, Bush Sr. said this about attacking

Iraq:

In his memoirs, "A World Transformed," written five years ago, George Bush, Senior, wrote the following :

"Trying to eliminate Saddam...would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. Apprehending him was probably impossible.... We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq.... there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Furthermore, we had been consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land."