Conyers, Dingell, Harman, and Slaughter Write to ABC

[kpete]

Conyers, Dingell, Harman, and Slaughter write to ABC:


Dear Mr. Iger:



We are advised that ABC is scheduled to air a two-part mini-series entitled "The Path to 9/11" on September 10 and September 11. While we have not yet seen this program, news reports raise serious questions about its accuracy. Therefore, we request that the inaccuracies described herein be addressed immediately and that the program be thoroughly reviewed and revised for accuracy before it airs.



Among our concerns about the program are the following: first, it reportedly contains a scene in which Sandy Berger, the National Security Adviser to President Bill Clinton, declines to give Central Intelligence Agency operatives the authority to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden, and in which those operatives are outside a house where Bin Laden is located. This account has been expressly contradicted by Richard Clarke, a high-ranking counterterrorism official in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations.



Second, the film reportedly contains a scene in which the Central Intelligence Agency declines to share information about the 9/11 hijackers with the FBI and ascribes that failure to the so-called "wall," limiting information sharing by the Department of Justice in certain circumstances, and established by the Department of Justice in an internal memorandum.



This scene is puzzling at best, and inaccurate at worst. According to a Republican Member of the 9/11 Commission, former Senator Slade Gorton, the "Department of Justice guidelines at issue were internal to the Justice Department and were not even sent to any other agency. The guidelines had no effect on the Department of Defense and certainly did not prohibit it from communicating with the FBI, the CIA or anyone else."



These two examples alone create substantial doubt about the overall accuracy of this program. September 11th is a day of mourning and remembrance for every American. We do not believe that it is appropriate for it to be tainted by false assertions of blame or partisan spin.



To avoid that occurrence, we urge you to review this film and correct these and other inaccuracies. We appreciate your prompt attention and reply to this time sensitive matter.



Sincerely,



Representatives John Conyers, Jr., John Dingell, Jane Harman, Louise Slaughter

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_09_03_atrios_archive.html#115756521217041438

[panader0]

1. I gave them a scathing complaint yesterday via e-mail

Who the hell owns abc? Wait, let me guess......... hmmm some rich repuke.

[BonnieJW]

5. Disney

[Kikosexy2]

11. Good for you..

and everyone else...ALL OUT BOYCOTT OF ABC COME 9/10 & 9/11!!!...Repigs made fuss about CBS "The Reagans" so now it's our turn!! BOYCOTT!!

[Idioteque]

2. What happened to Jane Harman?

She used to totally suck but lately she's been very impressive.

[Bozita]

3. Perhaps she's seen the polls

Anti-incumbency and anti-war numbers are rising.

[redqueen]

4. Already thanked Slaughter... need to thank the rest now. n/t

[Vidar]

6. Applauding them.

[Cobalt Violet]

7. K & R. Great letter. n/t

[bvar22]

8. John Conyers, Jr., Louise Slaughter

REAL Leaders in the Democratic Party!

No surprise to find these American Patriots standing UP!

Where are our other Democratic Leaders (The Celebrities)?
No surprise to find them hiding again.

[beltanefauve]

15. I wonder which

"celebrities" will be making the rounds on the Sunday "news" shows, and what they'll have to say about it!

[Roland99]

9. They should hit the M$M hard & often for the rest of the apologetic crap.

[Raffi Ella]

10. ....

:applause: :applause: :applause:

Keep up the pressure everybody. :kick:

[bonito]

12. It's good to hear this Thank you! recomended

[Bozita]

13. Just sent the letter to Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Asked her to join in.

[samsingh]

14. doesn't this set the stage for massive lawsuits

libel etc, against ABC if they still air the lies?

[bliss_eternal]

16. Thank you for this...I will call their offices

and thank them tomorrow! :thumbsup:

[Lasher]

17. OK I sent an email but I changed the template

Here's what I sent:

Please don't air "The Path to 9/11" Mini-series (subject)

Robert A. Iger
President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company

Dear Mr. Iger:

It is just plain wrong for you to air this distortion, particularly when it is perfectly timed to help the GOP kick off their fall campaign for the November elections. And you're even running it commercial-free, as though it were a factual public service. Shame on you! Whatever happened to fairness in broadcasting? How can you justify this blatant exercise of corrupting our political process?

Patti C. Smith, President and General Manager of KVUE-TV, has advised that a disclaimer will be broadcast throughout this travesty to advise there are fictionalized scenes. This exercise of applying lipstick to a pig just isn't good enough.

If you must air this mini-series, at least do it after the November elections. If you think it has to run on September 11, then you will do less damage by airing it next year.

I would appreciate a prompt reply to my e-mail.

I'm going to try to watch this POS partly because I want to be prepared when someone asks me later, "Oh, but I'll bet you didn't even watch this this wonderful historical work of art, did you?" A liberal application of beer should help me get through it.

Edit: If you use this website to send a message, ThinkProgress.org will put you on their mailing list. They advise at their website, however, that you can unsubscribe by following the instructions included in each message you receive from them. My first email from them contained no such instructions.