Stuck In The Cold War? (Bush never mentioned al Qaeda once before 911)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/02/politics/main610068.shtml

<snip>Nevertheless, prior to Sept. 11, 2001, a CBS News review of speeches and public remarks by President Bush suggests he did not mention al Qaeda once, although he did send a letter to Congress extending Clinton-era sanctions against the Taliban for harboring Osama bin Laden.

As O'Hanlon put it, the question is not one of prevention of the Sept. 11 attacks but whether the Bush administration had prioritized the threat posed by al Qaeda above that of states viewed as rogues, like Iran, and major powers, like China – and whether greater vigilance might have meant a greater likelihood of thwarting the attacks.

"It is an argument that is suggestive, not conclusive, but it is still moderately persuasive and I've heard some Clinton people make the argument in off-the-record internal discussions here at Brookings and elsewhere," O'Hanlon said. "We do know now that it was knowable. That there were certain people on the terrorist watch list that were in the country, that there were certain tactics for using airplanes that had been discussed before and not given sufficient attention."

Clarke's book argues that President Bush and Wolfowitz on the day of Sept. 11, and the week following, had a preoccupation with Iraq as the culprit in spite of top terrorism officials reporting that al Qaeda was responsible.

more

[calimary]

1. OF COURSE they were stuck in the Cold War. Why else would

someone like Contradicta Rice be named National Security Advisor????? Her expertise is in THE SOVIET UNION. She's a widely recognized expert on THE COLD WAR, and she is described, by specialty, as a SOVIETOLOGIST. As my kid would say - NO DUH!!!

[JoFerret]

2. Keep the spigot tiurned on

.

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Pre-911 Right Wing Mentality

Before September 11, 2001 the right wing wasn't paying a bit of attention to al Quaeda. They were too busy beating the drums for a new "Star Wars" missile shield and for a new Cold War with the People's Republic of China. Any mention of the possibility of terrorist weapons being smuggled in or airliners being used as terrorist weapons were ridiculed and belittled.

Even if C Plus Augustus had done half as well as his toadies and apologists said he has at combating Al Quaeda after September 11th, he still should be fired for not paying attention in the seven months he had between his inauguration and the September 11th attacks--not just because of his inaction but to send a message to future Presidents not to goof off about the important stuff.

[Cocoa]

4. bizarre

CBS actually looking into the facts of the matter? It's weird, it's almost like they're a news organization.

[Ilsa]

5. Stuck in the '80's

Trickle-down economics.

Cold War mentality. "I looked into Putin's soul..." bullshit.

Junior was probably reminescing about his old coke habit in early 2001.