4yrs ago this week, Bush is handed the Hart-Rudman Report on Global Terror

[blm]

He refuses to read it.

[Hissyspit]

1. 9/11 Could Have and Should Have Been Stopped

Simple as that.

Complicit or Incompetant.

[dweller]

8. why not both?

Complicit and too ignorant to cover it up so that anyone with more than 2 brain cells would see the obvious.

still simple.

dp

[Hissyspit]

10. Or Both. Sorry, forgot to add that.

[opihimoimoi]

2. How REVEALing....but then...Can he read and comprehend???

and Condi, the Nat SEEEECURITY ADVISOR??? DID SHE READ IT>>>as it is HER JOB?

and Cheney? as VP he is also responsible for the well being of America...what of HIM? did he read it?


and if NOT<

WHY NOT?????

woulda saved 3000 lives??? fuck yeah it woulda.....

Come, we go find Reason, she was around here some place

[blm]

5. I heard Cheney shelved it.

It was pretty obvious that NONE of them read it. If they had they could have prevented 9-11.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. woulda saved 3000 lives???

Would have ruined two perfectly good invasions and cut the MIC out of hundreds of billions of dollars... not to mention the KBR/Hallibacon/Bechtel pig trough.... but then, I am a conspiracy theorist and I read all sorts of things into events that are clearly just black and white issues.

www.whatreallyhappened.com
"It is not anti-Semitic to criticize the policies of the state of Israel." -- Colin Powell

[Amich]

3. I sometimes wonder if he can even read.

if so maybe at a real low level. Ignorance is bliss is what i hear. he didn't want to bring himself down maybe. who cares about the peons.(sarcasm)

[whistle]

4. Shrub did not refuse to read the report, he simply was not able...

...to read and comprehend the words unless someone else read it to him and explained each idea very carefully to him. Unfortunately the only staff person who could do that was Condi Rice, but Laura refused to allow Condi in the same room alone with *!

[blondeatlast]

6. Most sobering post today. Good God.

There are no damn words.

Can this be a news story in retrospect?

[jbane]

7. But it wasn't linked to Sadam...damn you!

Now take it back, re-type it and make sure it ends in Baghdad.

[tnlefty]

9. Didn't he toss it aside stating that Unca Dick would do his own

assessment and report? I remember the POS and bad actor, and my former senator, Fred Thompson, making negative comments on the Hart-Rudman on one of the talking head shows. It was sooo obvious that he was covering for Smirk*.

[dweller]

12. yes he did

and that 'tome' is sitting gathering dust and cobwebs in the undisclosed bunker never seen yet by the inquiring public eye.

dp

[Cell Whitman]

11. Worst decision ever made for a president - check these quotes out..

was to ignore HR.

"There are some things I wish we'd have done when I look back. I mean, hindsight is easy. It's easy for a President to stand up and say, now that I know what happened, it would have been nice if there were certain things in place; for example, a homeland security department. And why I -- I say that because it's -- that provides the ability for our agencies to coordinate better and to work together better than it was before. ." (Bush 4/13/04) http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/04/20040413-20.html
______

From http://www.cjr.org/archives.asp?url=/01/6/evans.asp

Hearings were scheduled for the week of May 7. But the White House stymied the move. It did not want Congress out front on the issue, not least with a report originated by a Democratic president and an ousted Republican speaker. On May 5, the administration announced that, rather than adopting Hart-Rudman, it was forming its own committee headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, who was expected to report in October. "The administration actually slowed down response to Hart-Rudman when momentum was building in the spring," says Gingrich.
_____

From Salon 9/12/01:
http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/09/12/bush/index.html

Bush administration officials told former Sens. Gary Hart, D-Colo., and Warren Rudman, R-N.H., that they preferred instead to put aside the recommendations issued in the January report by the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century. Instead, the White House announced in May that it would have Vice President Dick Cheney study the potential problem of domestic terrorism -- which the bipartisan group had already spent two and a half years studying -- while assigning responsibility for dealing with the issue to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by former Bush campaign manager Joe Allbaugh.

The Hart-Rudman Commission had specifically recommended that the issue of terrorism was such a threat it needed far more than FEMA's attention.

Before the White House decided to go in its own direction, Congress seemed to be taking the commission's suggestions seriously, according to Hart and Rudman. "Frankly, the White House shut it down," Hart says. "The president said 'Please wait, we're going to turn this over to the vice president. We believe FEMA is competent to coordinate this effort.' And so Congress moved on to other things, like tax cuts and the issue of the day."
______

From the WP 1/20/02: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A8734-2002Jan19
On May 8, Bush announced a new Office of National Preparedness for terrorism at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. At the same time, he proposed to cut FEMA's budget by $200 million. Bush said that day that Cheney would direct a government-wide review on managing the consequences of a domestic attack, and "I will periodically chair a meeting of the National Security Council to review these efforts." Neither Cheney's review nor Bush's took place. ..

Bush did not speak again publicly of the dangers of terrorism before Sept. 11, except to promote a missile shield that had been his top military priority from the start. At least three times he mentioned "terrorist threats that face us" to explain the need to discard the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. ...

At the nexus of law enforcement and intelligence, where the United States has concentrated its work against al Qaeda since 1998, a longtime senior participant said he observed no essential change after the White House passed to new occupants.

"Ninety-nine point-something percent of the work going on and the decisions being made would have continued to be made whether or not we had an election," the career officer said. "I have a real difficult time pointing to anything from January 20th to September 10th that can be said to be a Bush initiative, or something that wouldn't have happened anyway."
______

From: http://www.cjr.org/year/01/6/evans.asp
Hart specifically mentioned the lack of preparation for "a weapon of mass destruction in a high-rise building." But the report was not simply alarmist. It was unusually constructive, avoiding grandiose language for a step-by-step blueprint of what urgently needed to be done to create a National Homeland Security Agency, revive the frontline public services, and pull together the forty discrete official bodies with responsibility for national security.
_____

from Feb 2, 2001

http://www.emergency.com/2001/21stcentury_rpt.htm
The panel, in what many are calling a radical departure from "conventional wisdom," recommended folding the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Customs Service, Border Patrol and Coast Guard into the new "Homeland Security Agency." It said that the National Guard should be "reorganized, properly trained and adequately equipped" to cope with natural disasters and attacks on U.S. targets by weapons of mass destruction. The commission said that the National Guard should be relieved of the responsibility of participating in overseas deployments and concentrate on security at home.

The report said: "The combination of unconventional weapons proliferation with the persistence of international terrorism will end the relative invulnerability of the US homeland to catastrophic attack. A direct attack against American citizens on American soil is likely over the next quarter century. The risk is not only death and destruction but also a demoralization that could undermine US global leadership. In the face of this threat, our nation has no coherent or integrated governmental structures."
______

This is my favorite from Joe Allbaugh congratulating Bush on his "bold and innovative proposal." sheesh

http://www.fema.gov/nwz02/nwz02_72.shtm

FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh Statement Regarding Department Of Homeland Security
Release Date: June 6, 2002
Release Number: 02-072
Washington, D.C.-- I congratulate the President for his bold and innovative proposal. The American people deserve accountability and clarity, and this plan provides both. The new Department of Homeland Security will bring together the people and information needed to make America and all Americans safer. President Bush is an agent for change and this is a great step in the right direction.

[Cell Whitman]

13. Did Condyloma tell Bush the threat was "not immediate" check this out

who the hell said it wasn't immediate, no one ever said that. Who told Bush this?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/05/20010508.html
May 8, 2001
Statement by the President
Domestic Preparedness Against Weapons of Mass Destruction

".....it is clear that the threat of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons being used against the United States -- while not immediate -- is very real."

[Hissyspit]

16. Condi's Famous Quote

"No One Could Have Seen This Coming" or something to that affect. I don't have a link for it. Go google.

[blm]

18. And the media let the American people believe that Bush created Homeland

Security out of his quick, deliberative assessment of the terror issues.

The media does Bush's job for him. The few in the media who dare to point out Bush's lies and incompetence are roundly ignored by the mainstream corporate news networks.

Ever hear Matthews, Blitzer, Woodruff, et al, discuss the FACTS about Hart-Rudman and how Bush first refused to read it, then co-opted it only after 9-11 and pretended the guidelines it proposed were HIS ideas?

[Stephanie]

19. Great post! And let us not forget Dick Cheney's secret energy task force

Dick needed a New Pearl Harbor.

_________________________

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040216fa_fact

CONTRACT SPORT
by JANE MAYER
What did the Vice-President do for Halliburton?
Issue of 2004-02-16 and 23
Posted 2004-02-09

<snip>

For months there has been a debate in Washington about when the Bush Administration decided to go to war against Saddam. In Ron Suskind’s recent book “The Price of Loyalty,” former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill charges that Cheney agitated for U.S. intervention well before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Additional evidence that Cheney played an early planning role is contained in a previously undisclosed National Security Council document, dated February 3, 2001. The top-secret document, written by a high-level N.S.C. official, concerned Cheney’s newly formed Energy Task Force. It directed the N.S.C. staff to coöperate fully with the Energy Task Force as it considered the “melding” of two seemingly unrelated areas of policy: “the review of operational policies towards rogue states,” such as Iraq, and “actions regarding the capture of new and existing oil and gas fields.”

A source who worked at the N.S.C. at the time doubted that there were links between Cheney’s Energy Task Force and the overthrow of Saddam. But Mark Medish, who served as senior director for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs at the N.S.C. during the Clinton Administration, told me that he regards the document as potentially “huge.” He said, “People think Cheney’s Energy Task Force has been secretive about domestic issues,” referring to the fact that the Vice-President has been unwilling to reveal information about private task-force meetings that took place in 2001, when information was being gathered to help develop President Bush’s energy policy. “But if this little group was discussing geostrategic plans for oil, it puts the issue of war in the context of the captains of the oil industry sitting down with Cheney and laying grand, global plans.”

<more>
_________________________

[blm]

22. Texas oil robber baron foreign policy.

,

[Cell Whitman]

26. Congress was BEGGING Bush to pay attention.

Rep. Ike Skelton(D-Mo.) and Rep. William (Mac) Thornberry(R-Tx) thought it was time to prepare for terrorism and each offered bills to get the government into the business of protecting its citizenry, this was in March of 2001. They tried to force Bush to listen and his May annoucement that Cheney would lead a task force was the result. Though it NEVER MET!!!

First, Thornberry proposed HR1158, a very detailed outline/plan based on the Hart/Rudman report, to bring together various governmental departments to prepare the country for forthcoming terrorist attacks. This must have been a problem for Team Thief because as we all know they don’t like those pesky congresspersons trying to “run” things. The President’s power was being infringed upon again, eh?

Not so fast George, Rep. Ike Skelton with his bill, HR1292, took a different approach saying basically, ‘hey, we need the people who are going to run Homeland Security to put this together.’ In essence saying, “Shrub, there is a problem here, just DO something…anything.” Of course Skelton asked that congress be kept abreast and have basic oversight of what Rove/Cheney/Hughes came up with...

George DID NOTHING!!! the REPUGS controlled ALL three branches of the government. It was before Jeffords switched. Hassert and BUSH killed these bills.

Here is an excerpt from Rep. Skelton's testimony before the Transportation and Government Reform Committees on Homeland Security in April 2001.
http://www.house.gov/transportation/pbed/04-24-01/skelton.html

"The president and his departmental secretaries are in the best position to know the answers to issues concerning use of the military in homeland security. As a result, H.R. 1292 directs the president to devise and implement this strategy."
--
What happened to HR1292?

Excerpt from the “Status” of Skelton’s bill HR1292
4/4/2001: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
8/10/2001: Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from DOD.


How do you have an unfavorable comment about a bill that asks Bush to do ANYTHING, just SOMETHING!!!!
_______

H.R.1158
Sponsor: Rep Thornberry, William (Mac)(introduced 3/21/2001)
SUMMARY AS OF:
3/21/2001--Introduced.

National Homeland Security Agency Act - Establishes a National Homeland Security Agency. Requires the Agency's Director, who shall serve as an advisor to the National Security Council, to: (1) plan, coordinate, and integrate those U.S. Government activities relating to homeland security, including border security and emergency preparedness, and act as a focal point regarding natural and manmade crises and emergency planning; (2) work with State and local governments and executive agencies in protecting U.S. homeland security and support State officials through the use of regional offices around the country; (3) provide overall planning guidance to such agencies regarding homeland security; (4) establish command and control procedures for potential contingencies, including those that require military assets; and (5) annually develop a Federal response plan for homeland security and emergency preparedness.

Transfers to the Agency the authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Customs Service, the Border Patrol of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office and the Institute of Information Infrastructure Protection of the Department of Commerce, and the National Infrastructure Protection Center and the National Domestic Preparedness Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Establishes within the Agency: (1) separate Directorates of Prevention, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Emergency Preparedness and Response; and (2) an Office of Science and Technology to advise the Director with regard to research and development efforts and priorities for such directorates.
Requires the Director to establish mechanisms for the sharing of information and intelligence with U.S. and international intelligence entities.

Status of HR1158:
3/21/2001: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
4/23/2001: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations.
4/24/2001: Joint Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management and by the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations (Government Reform Committee).
***

Part 2: Rep. Ike Skelton, proposed HR1292 in March 29, 2001.

Bill description:
H.R. 1292, the Homeland Security Strategy Act of 2001 (Rep. Ike Skelton), directs the President to: develop a strategy for homeland security by identifying threats and developing specific strategies for anti-terrorism and emergency management; identify executive departments, agencies, and other organizations that should play a role in protecting homeland security and specify each organization’s role; provide for the selective use of military personnel and assets; optimize the use of intelligence capabilities; improve medical response capability and equipment stockpiles at federal, state, and local levels; and designate a single official in the federal government to be responsible for homeland security. This proposal is also based on the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on National Security for the 21st Century.

Status of H.R.1292
3/29/2001:
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Judiciary, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

3/29/2001: Referred to House Armed Services
4/4/2001: Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
8/10/2001: Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from DOD.
(I'd like to see that "unfavorable' comment)

3/29/2001: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
3/30/2001: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
4/24/2001: Joint Hearing Held by the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management and by the Subcommittee on National Security, Veteran's Affairs and International Relations (Government Reform).

3/29/2001: Referred to House Judiciary
4/19/2001: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

3/29/2001: Referred to House Select Committee on Intelligence

[Supersedeas]

28. good work Cell....very concise collection, ty

[dpbrown]

15. Repeat that EVERY time someone compliments Condi Rice

Repeat that EVERY time some far-wrong nutball tells you Clinton was sitting on this hands.

[oasis]

17. National Security Advisor Condi Rice should have read it and taken action.

She dropped the ball on 9/11. Tom Ridge took over her responsiblies for the protection of American citizens.

She's incompetant and a liar.

[Gold Metal Flake]

20. Why is THIS not a headline! Why is THIS not a stump speach?

I NEVER see anything on how Blivet**co enhanced or strengthened our anti-terror efforts. We, the left, know how the State Dept. in Ambr Bodine curtailed the Cole bombing investigation. We know how Ashcroft and Justice curtailed the issuance of FISA warrents, we know how Cheney dismantled the Cabinet-level Terror Csar position.

The liberal media strikes again.

[blm]

23. That's why it is up to us to remind them.

Unfortunately most of the media is unaware of the report, too.

[Stephanie]

21. kick

:kick:

[oasis]

24. kick

[hector459]

25. Kick and e-mail to Matthews, Dobbs, Scarborough, Blitzer, Woodruff

eom

[blm]

27. Thanks for recognizing the significance.

.