Quote:
Originally posted by onetime2
You are connecting dots in hindsight using facts known now that were either completely impossible or damned difficult to connect at the time.
This memo does not give any specific actionable information. It would be like me saying "I know John Kerry wants to win the Presidency of the US. We believe he will do this by trying to convince voters that he's a better alternative than Bush using ads and speeches targeting the economy, the war in Iraq, and Bush's actions during his first eight months in office." Now go ahead and stop him. I can pretty much guarantee that after the election I'll be able to offer specific examples of how to do it, but right now you don't know how things will play out so you're shooting in the dark as far as what you should do.
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The memo said:
- bin laden had operatives in the USA
- they were planning an attack soon
- using explosives
- involving an airplane hijacking
- they were observing new york city federal buildings
- and recruiting muslim youth in NYC
- the FBI has 70 investigations going on
- and the CIA has a tip that an attack using explosives is imminent
All in just a two page memo. That looks pretty actionable to me. Especially since Clarke was also attempting to make Rice and others aware of the danger. You asked what could have been done. I answered. As I said, there were at least two tips, the one from Moussaoui's INS agent and the phoenix memo, that could have led to the stopping of the entire plot. All bush would have had to do was order a comprehensive review of intelligence, something that the Hart-Rudman report suggested back in february.
Instead, Bush was on his ranch in august, giving quotes to reporters about how his dogs like to chase each other.
What could Bush have done? Again, I say, anything.