NIGHTLINE: Could it Have Been Prevented?

[owillis]

"Gov. Kean will be Chris Bury's sole guest tonight, and we'll talk about all of those issues. If there is responsibility, if people did make mistakes, it's hard to imagine how anyone could live with that."

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: It's the question that has been hanging over this country since those awful moments on September 11th. Could it have been prevented? Now the co-chairman of the commission investigating the attacks says "Yes."

It's somehow easier to accept a tragedy if there was just no way to avoid it. If you start saying things like "if only he had left two minutes earlier" or "if only she had missed the plane," you'll go crazy in the end. It's easier to accept something as an "act of God," something that we had no control over. Because to think that somehow, by acting or not acting, a tragedy could have been averted, lives spared, is something that is almost impossible to live with. That is true especially of 9/11. There have been countless stories about people who survived because they left late for work, and people who perished because they got there early, or something like that. But could the attacks have been stopped before they started? That's the real question.

A commission was formed to investigate. Were there structural problems in the government that prevented the sharing of information? Yes. Did agencies miss crucial information? Of course. But it's hard not to ask, in spite of all of the problems, was it really possible to have stopped the attacks?

The chair of that commission, former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean, says that the attacks were preventable, and that there are those who bear responsibility for not stopping them, some of them still in positions of authority. Gov. Kean will be Chris Bury's sole guest tonight, and we'll talk about all of those issues. If there is responsibility, if people did make mistakes, it's hard to imagine how anyone could live with that. Every image of those buildings in flames would be a reproach. We rarely do a broadcast that consists of just a conversation between the anchor and a guest. That is what we're going to do tonight. I hope you'll join us.

Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff
ABCNEWS Washington bureau

--
http://www.oliverwillis.com

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Look for some big event today to pre-empt tonight's program

any wagers?

BREAKING NEWS: OSAMA BIN LADEN CAUGHT!!!!

[Dudley_DUright]

4. You mean like officially charging Jacko?

Hopefully Nightline will stick to the real news (but I would not bet the farm on it). I would really like to see this show tonight.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Guess you win!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=276097

[Dudley_DUright]

15. Although I would like to take credit for being clairvoyant

I have to confess that I saw the "breaking news" (and I use the term news very loosely here) on CNN as I typed my "prediction".

[Fleshdancer]

38. well that was noble of you...

I would have gone for the glory and not admit I read the CNN breaking news. Yes, I'm aware I have issues. :silly:

[Cocoa]

7. Saddam escapes

Nightline will show live footage of Saddam's Bronco being chased through Baghdad.

[Jack_Dawson]

12. LOL

[number6]

39. LOL ..

..

[barbaraann]

11. My guess is....

Barney the White House dog goes shopping for presents for George and Laura. :-)

[Terwilliger]

18. you're right..."Michael Jackson arrested"

I'll bet money that Nightline pre-empts its previous plans because MJ was arrested. Either that or Malvo's guilty verdict...one or the other.

[Langis]

2. I see legs sprouting!

And there it goes!

[arcane1]

3. cool, maybe my angry pissed-off letter to ABC did some good

I made a point of telling them that CBS was covering this story while ABC was spewing the party line that Saddam was the worlds most dangerous man...

on edit- here is the thread from yesterday about ABC suckage:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=934340

[musiclawyer]

23. I wrote all the networks other than CBS

Yes, perhaps just a few letters make as difference, especially if they are from DUers, who are more likely to compose articulate, commone sense text. I basically said that real news not being covered is to the networks' peril, as the only audience left one day will the one without the means to buy any of the sponsor's products.

[Triana]

5. uh-huh...

...here comes the spin cycle. It will be interesting to see how the media spin this away from their darling George. I hope I'm wrong...

[Cocoa]

10. that's the best way to approach it

there's often a big disparity between Nightline's promos and the actual show.

[crissy71]

24. exactly right

I'm ready to be disappointed - it'll probably be luke-warm - not sure the whore media thinks this is a boat that should be rocked - I hope I'm wrong

[tlcandie]

6. Or like Iraqgate when it came out with Ted Koppell and nothing

was done. Still just out there along with the criminals. Of course, it would be like Iran/Contra and most go free and server in the US government later down the road.

[Zero Gravitas]

8. "...some of them still in positions of authority"

For example Former Governor Bush aka "President" George W. Bush &
(vice) President Dick Cheney (R, Halliburton)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Tenet I would venture to guess

[pandoraShrugged]

21. No, Tenet has stories

This is not something that can be passed off with the rest of the iraqi evidence. This is something that directly resulted in the death of 3000 people. Tenet fell on his sword once for these pricks already - I doubt he will do it again. He knows far too much about far to much to be backed into a corner. My guess is that COndi will take the fall. The Republicans think she is black - and nonessential anyway. She will get pardoned by Bush - who will say she was just too stupid for the job - but Jim Baker is on the scene now. The adults are in charge.

Move along. nothing to see here.

[zanana]

13. Kean will "modify" his statements

It happens every time. When pressed, I'll bet he says his claims have been "exaggerated".

[shortshorts]

28. Yup!

Yes, already happened.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13116-2003Dec18.html

"We have no evidence that anybody high in the Clinton administration or the Bush administration did anything wrong," chairman Thomas Kean said in an interview with ABC's "Nightline" taped for airing Thursday night.


I have to learn not to get my hopes up.

[alarcojon]

30. I saw the same story on the San Francisco Chronicle website

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/12/18/national1913EST0813.DTL

[alarcojon]

31. Welcome to DU, shortshorts!

Always good to see new people!

B-)

[colorado_ufo]

34. Kean has to be cautious with some of his statements.

Due to the Christmas rush, his bulletproof vest hasn't arrived yet.

[kainah]

37. so that's what Scotty knew at the press briefing

when he kept saying "I don't think that's what Kean said...." The number of people still capable of standing up to these bullies effectively and saying, "At long last, sir, have you no shame?" is rapidly running out. Kean is one of the last, best hopes. Little else will be permitted that has the stature of this commission. The repugs will never allow another investigation.

[maggrwaggr]

16. let's go on a limb and be optimistic

this could be, should be, the beginning of the end for Bush and Co.

We were waiting for media to pick up the story, well, Nightline's a pretty good start.

[rumguy]

17. I can't wait to see this Nightline

This is going to be good. I want the truth out there for all to see. It will start coming out slowly at first, and then boom, this all could blow up in their faces. Bottom line: that memo on Rice's desk, just down the hall from Bush's office, well that memo shows they KNEW a big attack was coming, and basically, DID NOTHING.

[Justice]

19. Very Important Development

Nothing to gloat over - but I am glad it is being covered.

I don't think Kean would accept being sole guest if he was going to backtrack.

[pandoraShrugged]

20. Nothing will happen

Nothing will happen with this. The Bush lovers will still love their golden boy - even if pictures surface of Bush, Osama, and Mohammad Atta posing together. Even if Bush was found knee deep in a pile of Oxycontin, nothing would happen. Even if they found out that Bush was gave Atta and company the plane tickets... the wingnuts would still love him.

They love him like they love Christ. They will never believe he could ever do anything that is evil or unseamly. If anything, they will balme the 9-11 commission and the liberal media for attacking the king.

[salin]

22. Hey Oliver...

Didn't see you posting here... I followed your blog in the early Enron implosion days ... about december two years ago (does that seem possible?!) You had great information and background to catch folks like myself who were just trying to quickly get up to speed.

Sorry for the nonsequitor response... but just wanted to say hi and a belated thanks!

Can't say that I often make it a point to watch Night-Line... tonight will be an exception. Thanks for the heads-up.

[revcarol]

25. I have been disappointed in almost every Nightline "expose."

Gets to a point where it almost comes up with something you can sink your teeth into, then backs off or has a backtracking summary, like "of course, there's always the other side, which we will highlight as we finish..." for 8 of the minutes and other nonsense. They are soooo determined not to offend, because the program might go off the air, and even Teddy boy is not nearly as direct as he used to be, and he only does about 1/4 of the programs anymore, and he's the best of the lot...OK, teachers, how's that for a run-on sentence.

could someone do play-by-play because I really am remote and haven't had my dish installed yet, but don't expect much, myself.

[xchrom]

26. but will the buck

stop with george?
so many people knew 9-11 was coming -- it was more a question of who didn't know?
there were reports sitting on george's desk about the impending attack -- and that had better come out.

[Virginian]

42. But did he read them?

He has stated that he doesn't bother reading the paper because his staff will tell him what they want him to know.
Just because there was a report on his desk doesn't mean he took the time away from his jogging, working out, ESPN or fundraisers to read it.

[Nlighten1]

27. Welcome to DU! O Dub

Glad to see one of my favorite bloggers here.

[Imajika]

29. Sept. 11 Panel: Bush, Clinton Not to Blame

Here is what Kean will reportedly say tonight. I think it helps explain why there has been so little coverage.

I think a lot of people are going to be very dissappointed as it appears Kean is going to retract much of what he had been alluding to on CBS.

Imajika

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3524187,00.html

By LAURENCE ARNOLD

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of a federal commission looking into the Sept. 11 attacks said Thursday that mistakes over many years left the United States vulnerable to such an attack, but he resisted pinning blame on either of the last two presidential teams.

``We have no evidence that anybody high in the Clinton administration or the Bush administration did anything wrong,'' chairman Thomas Kean said in an interview with ABC's ``Nightline'' taped for airing Thursday night.

Kean said the 10-member National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States has not decided whether to ask former President Clinton or President Bush to testify. He also said that any conclusions about the performance of high-level officials ``will be reached when we are finished with our job, not now.''

Kean sought to clarify remarks attributed to him in a CBS News report that aired Wednesday.........(more)

[Chomskyite]

32. Rove F***ed him . . .

. . . like he's never been f***ed before, obviously.

[Gloria]

33. Randi Rhodes proposed ad : split screen showing Bush's activities

while the tower burned.......

I think she said someone at TBTM had a long version of this, something like the 20 min. Bush was hanging around., which he wants to cut in length and get on the air...

[bpilgrim]

36. GlobalFreePress has the ORIGINAL very POWERFUL

http://globalfreepress.com/images/shadowgovernment/movies/sgtv/wtr/Ep1small.mov
(long dl but worth it)

if anyone can mirror please DL and DU me the link :toast:

please HELP us pass the word :bounce:

peace

[TrueStory]

45. it's a good idea to put a clock and to list the events

like here:

http://www.attackonamerica.net/bush911flash.htm

[Northwind]

35. I read the thread title...

As someone musing over whether Nightline could have been prevented...

[Rainbows]

40. Finding Fall Guys ...

Oops this or that went wrong, poppycock. Get a few low levels to take the rap and its all over. The question we need answered is who shut down national command, the Air Force, high level FAA, etc. It is easy to say it was all a mistake, but someone at the highest levels, made sure it would happen. That if exposed would bury the neo conservatives for ever, they would never be back as a significant political force in this country again.

[Catherine Vincent]

41. Kean said those guys shouldn't have been in the country.

The moderator is trying to get him implicate top people like Tenet, Rice or Bush and this SOB is thinking about middle people.

Can't believe I was hoping a republican would come thru for this country.

[Cooley Hurd]

43. But we still have Max...

Max will come through once the WH is forced to hand over the right documents, namely the 8/6/01 memo.

[demgrrrll]

44. It seems like Nightline has been used to pull their collective

arses out of the fire again. This isn't the first time
Nightline has been used in that manner. Ted K does a
hatchet job debate and now this. I'd love to hear the
phone calls arranging these programs.