Reply #56: Well, my statement was more in response to the context enumerated by someone else [View All]

[TeamsterDem]

namely that Clinton did a much better job as compared to Bush in terms of preventing attacks. I agree that he did a slightly better job, but to earn the "much" adjective I would have had to see at least some of the would-be attackers rolled up beforehand and charged with conspiracy. To earn consideration as having been universally better his administration would have had to have stopped the thing entirely. He paid more attention, sure. I'll readily grant that. And he appointed better people. I'll grant that as well. But the attack still occurred and was dreamed up and put into action WHILE he was in office, not in just the 8 months Bush was in office.

I think it's quite easy to tear a sentence or two from something someone says and attack that versus attacking the idea more broadly. I mean if I'd said "Clinton allowed 9/11" (and I'm not saying or suggesting that) then of course I could be attacked. And rightfully so. But what I mean is that the Clinton administration did really nothing a whole bunch better (tangibly) with respect to the ultimate 9/11 plot except paying more serious attention to terrorism more broadly. But they didn't block either of the assholes on the watch list, didn't arrest anyone once here, and didn't go in and kill bin Laden with special forces AFTER the '93 bombing. Those are failures, not things to be admired or excused. Then again, they're not nearly as bad as the "okay, you've covered your ass" school of thought.

But protecting any nation from terrorism is a lot like major league baseball: There are tons of people in the MLB with all of the effort, drive, motivation, and hustle in the world who ultimately don't pan out and wind up in another line of work. Unless the country is protected - not just with effort/good intentions but with results - then you effectively didn't get it done. Bush didn't get it done. We all agree on that. But I find it impossible to see how Clinton got that job done with respect to 9/11 if for no other reason than 9/11 ultimately did in fact occur.

Whose fault is it? I think a lot of people share in that dubious distinction. As do, I suspect, most people who don't knee-jerk to protect someone belonging to their own party.