I wasn’t near a TV for Dr. Rice’s appearance before the 9-11 commission, but hearing excerpts on the radio was a good indicator that the event was geared towards the November election. I had thought that these were hearings to discover the facts of what led to the attack so that we could fix the bureaucratic mess that kept the proper information from flowing from intelligence agent to intelligence agent. 60 minutes had a great story in 2003 about the FBI woman who was mistreated for trying to cut through the weeds with her intelligence. Government agencies are about procedure not results. That wisdom alone can go a long way to explaining the result of any government snafu.
But why end the discussion there when these hearing would be a wonderful John Kerry campaign stop? There was no doubt that the timing of this theatre was staged to make Bush look like a weak leader. What’s funny is that they aren’t even trying to hide it. Why else would you allow an audience in the chambers to applaud at questions and statements by the panel? In a serious hearing, guests are made to mind their manners. You can’t applaud in traffic court.
The American Left wants pre-emptive action on all tragedies retroactive to their occurrence, but won’t support pre-emptive action otherwise. It’s a great political tool to insist that every calamity can be prevented while demagoging
The American Right is made to fight fellow citizens for the defense of this nation, but let anything slip through and it is also their fault. The American Left can therefore make useless treaties and sign worthless peace agreements in the Rose Garden and get credit for “trying.” No one expects them to think North Korea or Yassar Arrafat can’t be trusted. No judgment is required. They got their name on the dotted line, didn’t they? Who could have foreseen that terrorists and despots would break their word?
Bush, on the other hand, is supposed to foresee everything.
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