Wednesday, April 14, 2004
More Reader Email
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004
To: editor@201k.com
Subject: Help me understand
From: Mark
Editor,
Much has come to light recently vis a vis the government's knowledge concerning the activities of individuals plotting terrorist attacks against the United States. The unprecedented release of a previously-classified PDB on the subject is a first in my lifetime. With today's testimony of Freeh and Ashcroft underway I expect the 9/11 Commission will gather more information in order to allow them to reach a more complete conclusion regarding the events that precipitated the attacks, the fact that several commission members have publicly stated they believe the attacks could have been prevented notwithstanding.
What strikes me most plainly, though, is the utter arrogance of the Bush administration in pre-emptively concluding that no one in the administration is culpable of anything, hence no public contrition or admission of failure of any kind. Richard Clarke is the only person intimately involved with the horrible events that has shown any character whatsoever, to the extent that he spoke directly to the survivors of those killed and actually expressed remorse and culpablility.
Worst of all is Rice's declaration that, given what was known and by whom and when, she doesn't see how anything could've been done differently. She doesn't see how anyone else could have looked at the same information she did and concluded anything other than what she concluded. She talks of "structural failures", in other words, bureaucracy got in the way. It wasn't her fault, it wasn't the numerous agency's fault, it wasn't the fault of those in charge on the various agencies. In fact, it was no one's fault, least of all the infamous George W. Bush.
My question, then, is this: WHAT ARE WE PAYING THESE DAMN PEOPLE FOR, ANYWAY??? You mean to tell me that NO ONE could've put two and two TOGETHER and determined that SOMETHING was wrong??? WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?? Is that consummate FRAUD, "Dr. Rice", suggesting that BUREAUROCRACY caused the attacks on this country!? Are the survivors of those murdered supposed to take comfort in knowing that NOTHING could've been done DIFFERENTLY???
This is an outrage, an utter OUTRAGE! I've never seen so much public ass- covering, such brittle denials of culpability, such sanctimonious obfuscation in my life. Mediocrity, thy name is REPUBLICAN!
And all we have left is the same impotent question we are always left with. Why?
Mark
To: editor@201k.com
Subject: Help me understand
From: Mark
Editor,
Much has come to light recently vis a vis the government's knowledge concerning the activities of individuals plotting terrorist attacks against the United States. The unprecedented release of a previously-classified PDB on the subject is a first in my lifetime. With today's testimony of Freeh and Ashcroft underway I expect the 9/11 Commission will gather more information in order to allow them to reach a more complete conclusion regarding the events that precipitated the attacks, the fact that several commission members have publicly stated they believe the attacks could have been prevented notwithstanding.
What strikes me most plainly, though, is the utter arrogance of the Bush administration in pre-emptively concluding that no one in the administration is culpable of anything, hence no public contrition or admission of failure of any kind. Richard Clarke is the only person intimately involved with the horrible events that has shown any character whatsoever, to the extent that he spoke directly to the survivors of those killed and actually expressed remorse and culpablility.
Worst of all is Rice's declaration that, given what was known and by whom and when, she doesn't see how anything could've been done differently. She doesn't see how anyone else could have looked at the same information she did and concluded anything other than what she concluded. She talks of "structural failures", in other words, bureaucracy got in the way. It wasn't her fault, it wasn't the numerous agency's fault, it wasn't the fault of those in charge on the various agencies. In fact, it was no one's fault, least of all the infamous George W. Bush.
My question, then, is this: WHAT ARE WE PAYING THESE DAMN PEOPLE FOR, ANYWAY??? You mean to tell me that NO ONE could've put two and two TOGETHER and determined that SOMETHING was wrong??? WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?? Is that consummate FRAUD, "Dr. Rice", suggesting that BUREAUROCRACY caused the attacks on this country!? Are the survivors of those murdered supposed to take comfort in knowing that NOTHING could've been done DIFFERENTLY???
This is an outrage, an utter OUTRAGE! I've never seen so much public ass- covering, such brittle denials of culpability, such sanctimonious obfuscation in my life. Mediocrity, thy name is REPUBLICAN!
And all we have left is the same impotent question we are always left with. Why?
Mark
