Condoleezza Rice's Credibility Gap - Point by point

[0rion]

A point-by-point analysis of how one of America's top national security officials has a severe problem with the truth

03/23/04 "Center for American Progress"

* CLAIM: "I don't think anybody could have predicted that they would try to use an airplane as a missile, a hijacked airplane as a missile." – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, 5/16/02

* FACT: On August 6, 2001, the President personally "received a one-and-a-half page briefing advising him that Osama bin Laden was capable of a major strike against the US, and that the plot could include the hijacking of an American airplane." In July 2001, the Administration was also told that terrorists had explored using airplanes as missiles.

Condoleezza Rice's Credibility Gap POINT BY POINT

[Big_Balled_Dem]

1. To be honest

I never thought pre-9/11 that anyone would actually do it. In fact I never heard ANY public official on the Left, Right or Middle mention it throughout the 2000 campaign.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Had anti-aircraft defenses at G8 summit in Italy in 2001

At the G8 summit in Italy earlier in 2001 the Italians had anti-aircraft defenses set up around the city to defend against just this type of threat, so although no politicians might not have publicly talked about it, the security services were well aware of the threat from aircraft being used to crash into buildings, and if the National Security Adviser to the president wasn't aware of it she would have been amazingly incompetent.

[Generic Other]

7. They weren't incompetent they just had other priorities

The big security issue this White House focused on prior to 9/11 was whether to investigate into allegations of vandalism of White House staff offices, ie. the disappearance of "w" keys off the staffer's keyboards, and the possible petty theft of silverware and tea towels from Air Force One.

Otherwise they were busy feasting with their political cronies on the spoils derived from financially ruining the government from within.

Having witnessed their systematic dismantling of government regulations protecting citizens from the likes of them, one can only conclude that such individuals not only knew of the threats to our security, they deliberately ignored warnings.

Only a man who believed that 9/11 was a good thing would call it the "hitting the Trifecta."

[Generic Other]

4. I recall there was a foiled plot to crash planes into the Eiffel Tower

prior to 9/11. Isn't that why the warnings were issued? Didn't German and Israeli intelligence warn us too?

And wasn't Bush refusing to touch any documents left behind by the Clinton administration including a study of airport security, terrorism threats, etc. undertaken by Clarke under Clinton?

And hadn't Bush taken a 30 day vacation to Crawford prior to 9/11? And wasn't this when Ashcroft first refused to ride on commercial flights?

And wasn't it the same time we were giving the Taliban 45 million for humanitarian aid?

Or has my memory failed me?

[thebigidea]

9. this is why Richard Clarke was in charge of counterterrorism, and not you

[Nlighten1]

2. Fact: On August 6, 2001

Is there a link available for this?

[0rion]

5. Sorry, site is getting slammed right now....

nt

[jbfam4]

6. some links

Politrix dot Org - Bush fears handing over PDB's - All else fails ...
... Washington Post story , although not in his book, is the Aug. 6, 2001
PDB given to Bush while on vacation at his ranch in Crawford. ...
www.politrix.org/ modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=528 - 27k - Cached - Similar pages

9/11 Panel to Have Rare Glimpse of Presidential Briefings ...
... 6, 2001, PDB examining possible methods of attacks by al Qaeda, including airline
hijackings, that has been publicized in news reports and congressional ...
www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45999-2003Nov15 - Similar pages

BAD ATTITUDES: Okay, Here’s the Deal…
... Particularly important is the crucial Aug. 6, 2001 PDB, which warned of Osama
bin Laden’s desire to hijack commercial planes in the United States. ...
badattitudes.com/MT/archives/000904.html - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Salon.com News | "The president ought to be ashamed"
... Particularly important is the crucial Aug. 6, 2001 PDB, which warned of Osama
bin Laden's desire to hijack commercial planes in the United States. ...
www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/11/21/cleland/ - 39k - Cached - Similar pages

Niagara Falls Reporter
... 6, 2001 PDB that mentioned a "closely held intelligence report" including information
that "a group of bin Laden supporters was planning attacks in the United ...
www.niagarafallsreporter.com/gallagher126.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

911 Inquiry Must Investigate US Military Command, Intelligence ...
... Washington Post story, although not in his book, is the Aug. 6, 2001
PDB given to Bush while on vacation at his ranch in Crawford. ...
www.btinternet.com/~nlpwessex/Documents/ WATUS911undefended.htm - 101k - Cached - Similar pages

Calpundit: Republicans Running Scared?
... Now BushCo might be keeping her around so she can take the fall for the Aug 6 2001
PDB scandal that may erupt after the 9/11 Commission reports later this ...
www.calpundit.com/archives/003287.html - 101k - Cached - Similar pages

[jackstraw45]

8. Send it to Ed Bradley....

He'll need it.

Unless his questions are being supplied by the White House (likely).

[indigobusiness]

10. Condi is pissed

Condi Denied Cell Next To Martha


Get your honest news here:
http://sludgereport.blogspot.com

[newyawker99]

13. Hi indigobusiness!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[0rion]

11. Lying is so prevelant these days...

sad times.

[bluedog]

12. why then did they

have a practice simulation of a plane crashing into the pentagon on the morning(I believe )of 9-11. It was posted somewhere here on DU?

Seems to me they had the idea that it would happen if they were preparing for it.and she could not have been that far out of the loop

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. Anyone who ever read Tom Clancy knew it was possible.

I can't remember which book it was that the Japanese pilot flew a JAL 747 into the Capitol, but it was published a couple of years before 9-11. For anyone in our government to say that they 'couldn't imagine' someone doing that is simply absurd...