Bush Bite #22 - 5 Oct 2004
Asleep at the wheel
One thing I don't get is how Bush "owns" the 9/11 discussion. His actions and inactions seem to lead directly to the most devastating terrorist attack ever... remember, it happened on his watch. Cheney's assertion that without them in the White House we'll get hit again is bizarre: it seems the best thing to do to prevent another 9/11 is to REMOVE the Bushies.
In the eight months before September 11:
- Bush ignored warning from the outgoing Clinton national security team that sleeper Al Qaeda cells in the U.S. were the nations number one threat.
- Bush threw out Clintons plan to attack Al Qaeda. The Bush Cabinet had their first terrorism meeting on September 4.
- Bush gave the Taliban $43 million in aid in April 2001, even after he knew that the Taliban was funding Al Qaeda and was partly responsible for the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole. Incidentally, the United Nations at the time was imposing economic sanctions on Afghanistan for refusing to turn over bin Laden.
- Bush blocked the FBI from investigating terrorism ties to Saudi Arabia.
- Attorney General Ashcroft shot down the FBIs request for $57 million for additional counter-terrorism agents and researchers. In a letter dated September 10, 2001, he told budget director Mitch Daniels to cut state and local anti-terrorism programs. In July 2001, Ashcroft insisted on private jets for his personal trips.
- The National Security Agency warned in June 2001 that Mideast terrorists were planning to attack important American symbols using hijacked commercial aircraft in the near future. Bush went on vacation for all of August 2001.
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