Bush criticized by former 9/11 commission member

[babylonsister]

Bush criticized by former 9/11 commission member
AP


By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – A former member of the 9/11 Commission criticizes former President George W. Bush in a new book for not responding to pre-attack intelligence on Osama bin Laden's intentions.

In "The Emperor's New Clothes: Exposing the Truth from Watergate to 9/11," Richard Ben-Veniste writes that CIA analysts told Bush that bin Laden was determined to strike inside the United States, "yet the president had done absolutely nothing to follow up."

A Democrat and a longtime Washington attorney, Ben-Veniste provides an inside account of the commission's three-hour interview with Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on April 29, 2004.

Bush told the panel that the Aug. 6, 2001, intelligence summary — known as a presidential daily brief — was the only one he ever received on the domestic threat, Ben-Veniste writes.

In the interview with Bush, Ben-Veniste asked the president why he hadn't met with the FBI director after getting the PDB.

Bush replied that there were concerns predating his administration about politicizing the FBI and interfering in pending cases.

But "this was no pending case subject to claims of political interference," Ben-Veniste writes in his book.

The president said he couldn't recall whether he asked National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to get in touch with the FBI regarding the PDB, according to the book.

On Friday, a spokesman for the former president, Rob Saliterman, declined to comment, referring all questions to statements Bush made on April 11, 2004, during his re-election campaign, the day after the PDB was publicly released.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090522/ap_on_go_co/us9_11_book

[choie]

1. That's great, Richard

How's come you couldn't release this information DURING Bush's presidency?

[Uncle Joe]

2. "How's come you couldn't release this information DURING Bush's presidency?"

This is a different subject but I imagine the motivation was and is the same, just substitute the word "administration" for "companies." It was kind of cosmic as I read your question after reading the other thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5714409

"This worries me because it is not realistic to simply cut out the companies that are so powerful right now. It's a good idea that is not about to happen."

[choie]

3. on Bush's statement that if there had been 'a serious concern' in August 2001, he

would have known about it, Ben-Veniste writes "..on my best behavior, I didn't come out and ask him what he thought a briefing from the CIA titled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.' was, if not a serious concern." WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK THAT, BEN-VENISTE?