An interesting piece from CBS News here in which the head of the 9/11 independent commission publicly states that 9/11 could and should have been prevented:
"As you read the report, you're going to have a pretty clear idea what wasn't done and what should have been done," he said. "This was not something that had to happen.[...]There are people that, if I was doing the job, would certainly not be in the position they were in at that time because they failed. They simply failed."Speaking for myself, I have to balance this news with my immediate reaction that this sounds like a bit of Monday-morning quarterbacking. It's easy to say that if our number one priority before 9/11 was to stop people flying planes into buildings we could have done it. But that was only one possibility amongst thousands of terror scenarios.
Still, if this commission is able to identify real weaknesses within our intelligence system then they should obviously be addressed. I just hope this administration has the cojones to admit it and take the necessary measures.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1110192,00.html
Posted by: | December 19, 2003 at 02:53 PM
Here is a perfect example that cannot be denied of the 'LIBERAL MEDIA' twisting a news story!
I'm glad I found this because I saw Keane on NightLine last night and I was afraid no one would report on what he said...
AGAIN A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OUR LIBERAL MEDIA!
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/18/911.commission.ap/index.html
Posted by: Del | December 19, 2003 at 05:59 PM
From the article above...
Kean sought to clarify remarks attributed to him in a CBS News report that aired Wednesday.
bobo - get that book from Goldberg! He worked for CBS close to 30 years and this is exactly what he wrote about!
I could not have planned this any better!
Liberals never, ever let me down - they are so predictable - it's scary!
Posted by: Del | December 19, 2003 at 06:03 PM
Hey, don't worry. I intend to read the Goldberg book.
I just hope that you'll actually read the Franken book, and keep your end of the deal, since several times you've indicated that you're only going to skim it.....or did I misunderstand you? I hope so.
I think we've both got to do a good faith reading of our "assigned reading material".
Skimming over it is cheating! (Just say no!)
Cheers
Posted by: bobo | December 19, 2003 at 09:26 PM
Hey, the latest announcement is now that Libya has agreed to open it's books and allow weapons inspectors to go through Libya. They've already handed over all sorts of documentation to both the US and Britain. I wonder what event(s) over the past year might have made Libya want to be more open.
Posted by: Jim | December 19, 2003 at 11:22 PM
About the latest...
Libya agrees to dismantle weapons of mass destruction program!
Thanks to our Presidents leadership he is changing the Arab world.
Bush is doing to the Arab world what Reagan did to the Soviet Union.
Both of these presidents will go down in history as doing the right thing and causing monumental positive changes in the world!
I know Libs/Dems that this is a bitter pill to swallow but you cannot argue with success. I predict this trend will continue to the 2008 election! Republicans will continue to win through the next decade due to the evidence of the last ten years!
In order for Democrats to ever win back the majority will mean a 180-degree turn from the direction they are presently on. Their direction, their thinking, their logic are things from the past and the majority of Americans are tired of the same old rhetoric.
Eventually Libs/Dems will see the light though right now that ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ looks really dim!
Posted by: Del | December 19, 2003 at 11:26 PM
Those who want to see how a real leader approaches threats against our nation check out this 'live speech' from Bush about the Libya announcement.
This is what it takes folks! I'm proud to be an American and extremely proud of our President!
http://g.msn.com/0VD0/10/00?m=n_bush_libya_031219&csid=Msnbc
Posted by: Del | December 19, 2003 at 11:53 PM
"Thanks to our Presidents leadership he is changing the Arab world.
Bush is doing to the Arab world what Reagan did to the Soviet Union."
Your guy - W. - is a coward.
First off: Libya had no other choice. Sanctions imposed by Reagan and then kept alive by Bush Sr., Clinton (OOOH! Let's blame him anyway!!!!), and now Bush Jr. pushed Libya to the brink of economic suicide.
Second: Funny to see why your nationalist biased US "media" conveniently left out the all important fact that it were British and German (Oooh!!! Don't mention the Germans!!!!) negotiators who convinced Gadaffi to give up his already flawed WMD program.
Now, Del: how about allowing those UN inspectors to inspect the US stocks of chemical and biological weapons?
Oh... Wait, no: I forgot, sorry. Your president refused to sign the laws banning those weapons. Never mind
Posted by: Kaj | December 20, 2003 at 12:59 AM
Kaj... buddy...
Come back home - we'll forgive you!
I know this is burning you up!
Why do I love this so much - maybe it's because the truth hurts!
Come back Kaj... come back...
Posted by: Del | December 20, 2003 at 01:09 AM
Wait a second...
Kaj... are you a US citizen?
If not - why am I wasting my time responding to your dribble?
Please enlighten me...
Posted by: Del | December 20, 2003 at 02:02 AM
Good grief, I'm away for a little while and the school room goes to hell in a hand basket.... LOL
Del, read your damn book and no cheating.
Bobo you read your damn book and no cheating either.
Del, quit picking on Kaj he can't help it.. :o)
Chrish blow it out your shorts needle nose.....
=====
I tend to agree with Luke's assessment of this up coming report when Luke says "sounds like a bit of Monday-morning quarterbacking. It's easy to say that if our number one priority before 9/11 was to stop people flying planes into buildings we could have done it. But that was only one possibility amongst thousands of terror scenarios.
Still, if this commission is able to identify real weaknesses within our intelligence system then they should obviously be addressed. I just hope this administration has the cojones to admit it and take the necessary measures."
Hopefully some good will come of it all Weanesses identified and corrected, and yes the administration having the cojone to admit mistakes were made and put in place the corrective measures so it never happens again.
Let's face it irregardless of who's at fault or to blame mistakes were made and people died. I don't believe the mistakes were intentional they were mistakes. No conspiracy or ulterior motives
but, mistakes were made.
I, for one, believe the President will have the cajones to stand up and admit mistakes were made and take whatever steps are necessary to correct it. That's the sign of a real leader not one who comes up with excuses, finger pointing, and passing the buck. What president was it that said "The buck stops here."? I don't believe Our President will pass the buck.
Posted by: Chrish | December 20, 2003 at 05:18 AM
Kaj... whatever pushed Libya over the edge - the end justifies the means!
Truth is Gadhafi is no fool. He thermometer was up and it registered HOT – time to cool things down. As far as Germans involved – well… not in the last nine months of secret negotiations. Isn’t it funny that Gadhafi approached us – hmmm… wonder if the shadow of the Bush administration kind of nudged him a bit?
Point is – the wave is high and moving quickly. The fact is the mindset in that part of the world is changing. Watching Saddam crawl out of the hole sent a clear message to those considering putting on a ‘strap-on’. All of a sudden those 70 or so virgins are not looking so good.
You may not like it – you may in fact hate it – you may hate our President and frankly – too bad for you.
The majority of Americans back him and he will win again – may I be so bold – in a LANDSLIDE! Mark my words!
Too bad Bush can only be in office for 4 more years… imagine if we could select a ‘king’ for life!
Get over it or you will continue to whither in your agony!
Posted by: Del | December 20, 2003 at 01:50 PM
"The end justifies the means."
That kind of thinking will fly back and hit us in the face in a couple of decades. Believe.
Posted by: Luke | December 20, 2003 at 07:16 PM
In the case of dictators - yes the end does justify the means... especially with the recent news about Libya!
It's amazing reviewing the past week of news while it's fantastic news for us (US) all you hear are negatives from the left.
Liberals and most Democrats need something bad to happen to be happy. It's sad really... And most Americans see this attitude!
The majority of Americans had a fantastic week!
The most recent Gallup poll shows that 61% of Americans believe going to war in Iraq was the right thing to do while 35% said it was not worth it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2003-11-17-bush-poll.htm
All the other questions show that Bush has a commanding lead in most areas!
Add that Dean is leading the Democratic pack and the writing is clearly on the wall. All on the extreme left = Dean. All others = Bush.
I smell a landslide…
The more you guys continue with the ‘dismal outlook’ every time something good happens while continuing to bash Bush – the stronger the support for Bush.
I just don’t get the strategy – can someone help me understand?
Posted by: Del | December 20, 2003 at 09:18 PM
"King for Life"?? Sorry, I don't think so, that I cannot get behind... That would be a monarchy.
Posted by: Chrish | December 21, 2003 at 08:26 PM
Chrish... tongue in cheek my friend.
That's the point - 4 years at a time giving the opportunity for new leadership as long as it's agreed upon by the majority (electoral vote).
Why keep hammering the current leadership - could it be that it is the best plan at this point and how does one offer an alternative?
Given that National Security is a real immediate challenge – the majority feels safer with a Republican leadership at this point in our history. When confronted with this current state of mind – our safety – nothing comes close. Not even the economy – which frankly is on the right track by the way. Nothing else matters in the minds of the majority.
Posted by: Del | December 23, 2003 at 06:09 AM
I wholehearted agree. Democrat or not I really shudder to think how things would be now if Gore had won instead of Bush. And yes to those who think otherwise Bush did win the election, not by much, but he did win.
Yes things are beginning to turn around and let's hope it continues that way. The economy is beginning to look better and that's a good thing.
Absolutely correct National Security is number one in priority I only wish the Liberals would get it through their heads that it ain't "The Good Ol Days" anymore. That days of wringing ones hands and lamenting the plight and anger of those who would destroy us ain't cutting it anymore.
It's sad but, the only way to deal with the terroist groups, the countries that support them is to "Fight Fire with Fire". Bush is doing exactly that and stop now would be foolish indeed.
Del, I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..... Stay out of trouble and behave yourself..... LOL
Posted by: Chrish | December 23, 2003 at 03:05 PM
Thanks for mentioning again that Bush did win the election. Despite what some want to believe (through selective memory) Bush did have the votes in Florida when it was independantly counted. Why did Gore only want to recount a few heavily democratic districts anyway, rather than the whole state?
Gore would have spared the Taliban and Al Qaeda for fear of hurting the tree in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Jim | December 23, 2003 at 06:01 PM
Jim,
Absolutely right, it seems those in my party seem to forget, ignore, or deny that after, I believe it was, three independent recounts of the votes in Florida they ALL showed that Bush, by a slim margin, did win the election. I, for my part, was truly embarrassed by the childish antics shown by Gore and the Democratic Leadership. What made it even more embarrassing was watching those people holding the ballots up to the light and trying to figure out if it was dimpled or not and then having the audacity to say that a slight dimple showed the voters intent. It was like watching a some of school kids arguing over whether or not the runner was safe... Hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic... I think that showed The People to what level the Democrats would sink in order to win... Sad, very sad.
Sad to say Gore, like Clinton, would probably have lobbed a few cruise missles at some old empty training camps and called it a day....
Posted by: Chrish | December 23, 2003 at 10:16 PM
The Dems will someday again rise - though at the present it looks mightily bleak. Seems that the 60’s have finally run aground… the days of ‘if it feels good - do it’ have caught up to all.
You see – simply because it feels good doesn’t mean in the end it is good… it took all a while to figure it out.
The majority has found that it takes a bit more than doing what feels good.
I foresee a decade at the very least of a more conservative view taking control. Is it best for our nation and at this point, sadly, it’s the only alternative due to the damage already done.
I do not see another option for Dems at this juncture but to ride it out. Condemning and ill talk will only continue their dwindling numbers and support. Why it is so hard for them to realize the inevitable - is a great puzzle to me…
Next election the Dems will be lucky to hold onto 43 seats… never mind the Presidency.
Posted by: Del | December 23, 2003 at 11:16 PM
You're right on target Del. A lot of damage has been done to this country's institutions over the years. A lot of damage and it's going to take a number of years to straighten it out and make it right. Damage to our educational, judicial, penal, and immigration systems to name a few.
One can only hope we don't wind up going to the extreme opposite as that would be just as bad as where we are now.
Perhaps, as you say and I'm sorry to say the Republicans can pick up more seats perhaps, just perhaps more conservative judges will be put in place to counter the damages that liberal judges have done over the years and I AM NOT speaking as regards the Freedom of Choice issue. I'm speaking more about those liberal judges who seem to think they have the authority or it's their place to override the Will of the People.
We, The People, know what it is We want, what We expect, and what we need. We certainly do not need elitist judges dictating to Us, The People, what We need, want, or expect. Hopefully the end of this situation is just over the horizon.
Posted by: Chrish | December 24, 2003 at 01:42 AM
Most excellent point Chrish...
Due to both the executive and legislative losing more and more Democrats – the judicial branch is now the heir apparent to drive liberal issues. Sadly though this is NOT their role. A perfect example was our last election and how the courts were manipulated in Florida.
Again – today American citizens are much more savvy and get it. Democrats have got to smarten up and fix what really ails the party not try to continue the class warfare, condemning and foolish attacks.
A perfect reflection of this continued insanity is sites just like this one! Hence my own curiosity and one reason why I continue to frequent this site. It just baffles me that they believe that the current ‘operating procedure’ is the way to go.
I’m not sure what orgs like the Expats could do but if I were them I would be all over the Dems as a group letting them know that they have to win converts over to their side to ever make the changes in government they would like to happen. Not alienate and piss off the majority.
Chrish – have a safe & happy holiday!
Posted by: Del | December 24, 2003 at 11:58 AM
Here's an interesting perspective!
The next time you hear a politician use the words "billion" casually, think about whether you want that politician spending your tax money...
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into perspective in one of its
releases:
A billion seconds ago, it was 1959.
A billion minutes ago, Jesus was alive.
A billion hours ago, our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate Washington spends it.
The Democrats are complaining on how long the war is taking but consider this:
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
It took less time to find Saddam's sons in Iraq than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the
police after his Oldsmobile sunk at Chappaquiddick.
It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!!!!
Damn our military is GREAT !
Del, you and your family also have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To all of you at Expats also have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year....
Posted by: Chrish | December 24, 2003 at 01:57 PM
To bobo…
Well I actually took a few hours to read and do a bit of research on Al Franken’s ‘Lies’ book. The book is simply written and there were a few times when I chuckled though I was hoping for more laughs. After going through it and doing a bit of research – I now totally understand why the Democrats are in the state they find themselves today. If Franken and Moore are the leading authors to push the Democratic cause – you guys are in trouble ‘BIG TIME’!
Let me start by saying – how can anyone take this seriously with the pure hatred and profanity that Al uses throughout the book. Is this how Democrats believe they will change the mindset of the much needed center to come to their side? Never mind that all one has to do is just go through some of the supposed facts and the dishonesty and disingenuous stance that Al takes cannot be hidden. It’s in print!
I’m just going to touch on a few things but I can certainly add more if requested. Let’s start on his tirade on Ann Coulter. He spends two chapters alleging that her latest book Slander is filled with lies! Two chapters in which he goes on and on about all the lies and comes up with only two things from her book. His first one is her statement in the book that the NY Times did not mention NASCAR Dale Earnhardt's death until two days after. It was a mistake – they did report his death one day after though it was not in the headline but in the story. He shows an actual reprint in his book. BTW – since this discovery – Ann Coulter has made the correction in her book. I’ve got to admit Al – you caught Ann here.
The other fact that he writes about concerns Ann Coulter referring to Norman Thomas as the father of Evan Thomas. Now here’s an example of the disingenuine honesty of Franken – he actually has a conversation with Evan Thomas, which he includes in his book. And Evan states that no – Norman Thomas was not his father. Al never asks or goes any further on this question. After researching this fact I was surprised to learn that Al was right Norman was not his Evan’s father – Norman was his GRANDFATHER! Al never mentions this in his book!
This is the best Al Franken comes up with to denounce Ann Coulter as a lying conservative! He mentions two other things – a friendship issue with Ann and a footnote issue with her book. Now Al put this book together with a bunch of Harvard alumni in which he called TeamFranken and this is the best he can come up with? Seems that everything else that Ann writes about including her other books are true because he supposedly went through her books and this is what he discovered? Kind of makes one wonder since Ann has some real nasty stuff on the Democrats throughout all of her books with evidence included.
On Bill O’Reilly he really tears into him. Ooh… You know why – because Bill stated he had won two Peabody awards for Inside Edition when in fact it was a Polk award. Al has a kitten over this issue. Most puzzling!
Now here’s an ironic twist to lying that Al Franken writes about. He has a chapter dedicated to how he fraudulently solicited stories about abstinence education from conservative leaders. Here Al is an unabashed liar in his own book! Maybe we are supposed to overlook this considering that he is supposed to be a ‘comedy writer’?
Well again – I’ve got much more on this book and honestly it does contain many lies… The fact is the lies are coming from Al Franken and they are in print!
I’m sure glad I didn’t pay for this book. It was in the NYC library - main Manhattan branch as a one week express check out. I didn’t need the week though – it was not a difficult read to understand and realize how pathetic the Democrats are if this is what they rely on to get their message across.
Bobo – care to add to this? BTW – how’s Goldberg’s book coming along?
Posted by: Del | December 29, 2003 at 05:51 PM