Important op-ed coming tomorrow from
NYT by one of its former reporters, terror expert Kurt Eichenwald with blockbuster claim that his reading of documents from 2001--even before that famous August 6 "Osama wants to attack buildings with planes" briefing--shows: "While those documents are still not public, I have read excerpts from many of them, along with other recently declassified records, and come to an inescapable conclusion: the administration’s reaction to what Mr. Bush was told in the weeks before that infamous briefing reflected significantly more negligence than has been disclosed. In other words, the Aug. 6 document, for all of the controversy it provoked, is not nearly as shocking as the briefs that came before it." One thing:
Operatives connected to Bin Laden, one reported on June 29, expected the planned near-term attacks to have “dramatic consequences,” including major casualties. On July 1, the brief stated that the operation had been delayed, but “will occur soon.” Some of the briefs again reminded Mr. Bush that the attack timing was flexible, and that, despite any perceived delay, the planned assault was on track. Yet, the White House failed to take significant action...
C.I.A. prepared an analysis that all but pleaded with the White House to accept that the danger from Bin Laden was real.
2 comments:
Reminds me: The Age of Sacred Terror by Daniel Benjamin and Steven Simon recounts at length the way the incoming Bush administration refused to take seriously advice on terror from the outgoing Clinton administration. Hopefully this new evidence will reopen the debate.
I checked Charlie Pierce's blog at Esquire.com to see if he had a link to the NY Times op-ed, although even beforehand I absolutely knew he would have. It was mentioned on "Morning Joe" before the rerun of the "Today" show video from that day. Michael Smerconish, on his radio show today at noon Eastern time said that the "Today" show THIS morning discussed something having to do with the Kardashians! Un-effing-believable.
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