Breaking: Kean backtracks on statements in tonights Nightline

[cthrumatrix]

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

(copied from the LBN thread)


Rove...made the call and said ...no more.

[bpilgrim]

1. SCAPEGOATS: Adm. Husband E. Kimmel and Gen. Walter C. Short

who will they choose this centuary?

`Justice cries out for this,'' said historian Michael Gannon, who believes Kimmel and Short were scapegoats, blindsided by officials in Washington who failed to relay critical information before the Japanese attack.

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the heightened state of alert imposed upon Americans, the president ``might not be in the mood right now to exonerate people alleged not to have been alert,'' Gannon said in an interview.

In 2000, Congress put language into a defense bill urging the president to restore both officers to the highest rank they held during World War II.

The two officers were removed from their commands after the attack, declared to be in dereliction of duty for not preparing Pearl Harbor and forced to retire.

more...
http://www.infowars.com/saved%20pages/Prior_Knowledge/Bush_skipping_PH.htm

peace

[cthrumatrix]

2. This sure sounds a "bit different"... changed his tune

snip

But Kean said in Thursday's interview that he did not mean to suggest that certain federal officials should have been fired after Sept. 11. He said he was commenting on obvious mistakes that were made, such as letting terrorists into the country and letting dangerous items onto planes.

``There are a number of steps along the way, that if they had occurred differently, this event wouldn't have occurred,'' he said.


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

[DODI]

3. From the press conference today:

Q Well, I have talked to his office, and they're saying that he was quoted accurately. But he did say, apparently there's no question about it, he did say it was preventable. He did say, when asked specifically, are there people who failed to prevent it who are still in authority, his answer was, yes, and we'll find out who those people are.

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't seen any further comment from him. But when I looked at his comments, I didn't quite take that same impression. But I would reiterate that the President strongly supports the work of the commission. If there is something that we can learn that can help prevent a terrorist attack like September 11th from happening, we want to know about it. And that is why at the direction of the President, we are working very closely with the commission to help them complete their important work. Both the chairman and co-chairman have publicly applauded the assistance of the White House in helping the commission. So that's where things are. But the commission is continuing to do its work.

What's up gang?

[illini]

4. I am sure Rove only had to use the standard threats.

Your wife will be raped and children snuffed.

[alcuno]

5. Did he backtrack on the idea that it was preventable?

Doesn't seem so. When he talks about doing something wrong, to me that means causing it. That doesn't mean it wasn't preventable.

[cthrumatrix]

11. read #2...he is backtracking...make no mistake about it.... (IMHO)

[laruemtt]

6. well surprise surprise surprise

they got to him - probably threatened his family...

[Military Brat]

7. From clear as a bell to opaque as mud

Thanks, Kean. You're such a hero to this country, and I'm sure all the families of the 9/11 victims will revere your name forever and ever.
:puke:

[Stephanie]

8. "remarks attributed to him" - he's ON VIDEO saying them! n/t

.

[Devlzown]

9. Already backpedaling.

This is going nowhere fast, as I suspected. Too many heads could roll over any prior knowledge revelations.

[nostamj]

10. an-thrax

a little dab'll do ya

[onecitizen]

12. They got to him...........

apparently. Is there not ONE human being that will stand up for the truth in Washington? Not one? This makes me sick.

[welshTerrier2]

13. democrats and 9/11

i keep seeing threads asking why the democrats, both candidates and others, have not gone public with inside information they may possess about 9/11 ...

the question is, other than getting some press, what, if anything, would be done in the halls of justice with this information?

if Kean's one day, 180 degree turnaround is any indication, it looks like the answer is "pretty much nothing" ... Nixon and the GOP came very close to getting away with all the dirty tricks associated with Watergate ... it's not real hard to see that 9/11 crimes might not be prosecuted either ...

if we don't get some bona fide American heroes really soon, the story of America's darkest day may get buried forever ...

[Ksec]

14. Of course he did. Did you expect any less?

Sad, but at least he told truths initially before the repubs hammered him into lying .

[cthrumatrix]

15. The Ball is in "CBS's Court" .... they should again repeat and start thier

own investigation.... this is our only chance.

[prisonerseven]

16. My guess he blames CBS to discredit Rather

This is an ABC program after all.

[Sugarbleus]

17. Damn it !!

But then, why should I be surprised.

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez :nuke:

[kentuck]

18. Too late...the genie is out of the bottle....

people will not be satisfied until we have some answers.

[cthrumatrix]

19. I would agree IF anyone in the media gave a "rats ass" this is disgusting

and an obvious about face based on pressure from Rove and "the powers that be".

[madfloridian]

20. He says it on video. Here is the link.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/eveningnews/main589137.shtml
Betcha CBS will be holding on to that one.

[cthrumatrix]

21. kick

[Imajika]

22. Well...

I do hate to say I told ya so, but I did say last night when the "Bush is toast" and "Bush is going down" threads began appearing, that people should not assume anything will come of this.

People have got to get it out of their minds that Bush is going to be anything other than a very strong incumbent President come November next year.

The silly talk about Bush being impeached, or driven from office is just ridiculous. It is NOT going to happen. Everytime one of these stories breaks - whether it be the ENRON or Yellowcakegate sagas or during the "Bush Knew" media cycle, too many people get the foolish notion that it will be the end of Bush's Presidency. I mean, we even had people here swearing that they were absolutely certain that the CIA was out to get Bush back when the media was actually covering the Plame/Wilson leak. The very notion of such a thing sounded as ridiculous then as it does now, but folks lose their heads and get caught up in the moment only to be regularly disappointed a few days later.

We are going to have to beat a potentially very strongly positioned sitting President next November, and we had all better get a grip and realize that this is the reality of the situation.

We are going to need the best nominee, a near flawless campaign and a whole lot of putting aside our differences and working together.

Anyone who has read my posts knows full well that I believe Dean will probably get the nomination, and I have a terrible fear that he will be annhilated and take down much of the southern Democratic Party with him. But if my preferred candidate(s) don't get the nod, and Dean does, well by God I am going to put aside my differences and get behind him. We can argue and debate now, that is democracy and it is healthy even when it doesn't appear so - but sooner rather than later we are going to have to unify for the good of our party and the nation and prepare to do battle with a powerful Republican Party and a very strong incumbent President.

Imajika

[NewYorkerfromMass]

23. Excellent post Imajika

I agree and share your sentiments fully. I am for Kerry.

[RBHam]

24. Kean, Hamilton et all make me sick

When will Max Cleland break his silence? When will he have the guts to go on TV and explain to all of us he disappointed how his once fiery rhetoric and determination to find out the truth was compromised.

Amazing how little attention it has gotten. I remember Max on Aaron Brown's show sounding the battle cry for complete disclosure. Now, he has slunk away to a soft diplomatic position in favour of war criminal and intel insider Bob Kerrey. Think Kerrey is going to blow the whistle? Maybe in 30 years.

Hey Max! The future of your country is at stake!

Whatever they have holding over your head, show some cojones for God's sake! Tell us what thethreatened you with! We're behind you.
Please, for the love of the ideals that America used to represent, FIGHT BACK!