For the first time, the chairman of the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks is saying publicly that 9/11 could have and should have been prevented, reports CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston.
"This is a very, very important part of history and we've got to tell it right," said Thomas Kean.
"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."
Asked whether we should at least know if people sitting in the decision-making spots on that critical day are still in those positions, Kean said, "Yes, the answer is yes. And we will."
Kean promises major revelations in public testimony beginning next month from top officials in the FBI, CIA, Defense Department, National Security Agency and, maybe, President Bush and former President Clinton.
There are so many investigations floating around, held at bay by the administration, but always threatening to erupt into real trouble. The energy task force. The WMD lies. The Plame Affair. But none are as potentially explosive as the 9-11 Commission.
"Kean points to the very thing that never made any sense about 9/11, which is, in order for it to happen as it happened, not just a few things had to be fucked up, EVERYTHING had to be fucked up.
FBI failure to follow up leads, coupled with Bush pressuring them to lay off bin Laden. INS/State Dept. failures to keep terrorists out of the country. Airport security failures. Failure of FAA to alert NORAD, even after multiple hijackings were apparent. Failure of NORAD to pass the word on to fighters on alert status. Resultant failure of fighters to intercept hijacked planes.
So, how come NO ONE involved in ANY of these fuckups LOST THEIR JOB? I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I have NEVER been able to wrap my mind around that one. I finally put it down to the W administration's pathalogical inability to ever admit to error of any kind.
Anyone else see any Coincidence here??
In day before yesterday's press conference, that Washington Times tool Bill "stretch" Sammon asked a nasty question to Bush intended to trash Howard Dean:
Q: "Howard Dean recently seemed to muse aloud whether you had advance knowledge of 9/11. Do you agree with the RNC that this is political hate speech?"
Nasty, unfair, tricky question... but unintentionally putting Junior in the position to answer if he knew in advance of the 9/11 attacks.
Bush stays quiet. Stumbles... says nothing. Looks like deer caught in headlights.
His mouth moves... stumbles again. Nothing comes out... Then he mumbles "There's a time for politics..."
He keeps moving his head awkwardly, avoiding eye contact...
More awkward silence... more strange gestures.
"Well, you know..."
More uncomfortable silence and weird facial gestures. Something comes out of his mouth. He mumbles:
"...some absurd 'sinuation..."
More weirdness, then he mumbles again: "There's a time for politics..."
Then he points at another journalist to change the topic.
Bill Sammons, noticing he has screwed up, quickly changes the topic. All the media whores in the room laugh out loud. So funny, ha ha ha! But not one of them presses him to actually ANSWER the damn question.
That video clip is WAY beyond disturbing, even by Bush standards. Hemming and hawing is right. And NO ONE calls him on it, they all just laugh. Ha ha ha. So funny. Not.
