Iraq was responsible for 9/11 ... in a weird way

[paulthompson]

In the wake of Paul O'Neill's revelations, the Demos should hammer that the pre-9/11 focus on conquering Iraq pushed fighting terrorism off of their radar screen. They couldn't seriously focus on both, and they picked the wrong one.

"'The U.S. government can only manage at the highest level a certain number of issues at one time – two or three,' said Michael Sheehan, the State Department's former coordinator for counterterrorism. 'You can't get to the principals on any other issue. That's in any administration.'

"Before Sept. 11, terrorism did not make that cut."

(Washington Post, 1/20/02)

We now know from O'Neill that Iraq was one of the few highest priority items.

"Bush Administration officials testified that they did not begin their major counterterrorism policy review until April 2001. Thus, it appears that significant slippage in counterterrorism policy may have taken place in late 2000 and early 2001."

(Congressional 9/11 Inquiry, 7/23/03)

We now know from O'Neill that Iraq was a major focus from the very first days of the Bush presidency, and the documents he quotes come from January - March, 2001 - the same time terrorism was completely neglected.

"Bush's first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff later says terrorism moved 'to the back burner' until 9/11."

(Washington Post, 10/2/02)

What was on the front burner? Conquering Iraq.

"Despite intelligence reporting from 1998 through the summer of 2001
indicating that Usama Bin Ladin's terrorist network intended to strike inside the United States, the United States Government did not undertake a comprehensive effort to implement defensive measures in the United States. ... There was insufficient effort to alert the American public to the reality and gravity of the threat."

(Congressional 9/11 Inquiry, 7/23/03)

In fact, the Congressional Inquiry puts it too politely. During the eight months Bush was in office before 9/11, there really isn't a single action they can point to that helped defend the US against terrorist attacks, and they actually undid down some of the positive things Clinton did, like surveillance of bin Laden.

So, even if you don't believe in LIHOP or MIHOP, the ungodly Bush cabal obsession with Iraq can directly explain why the 9/11 plot was successful.

[Stephanie]

1. It shows negligence, and it shows WHY they were negligent

Which I guess just brings us back to LIHOP. But who can doubt now? They came into office itching to get Iraq. All they needed was the trigger. Meanwhile they ignored every threat, every warning, every recommendation with regard to Al Queda. You'd almost think they did it on purpose.

I take back every mean thing I ever said about O'Neill. I'm moving him into the Patriot column.

[rumguy]

2. And his aides were desperate to find a reason to invade Iraq

how conveniant that 9/11 showed up, just in the nick of time....

I dare call it treason.

[MJG]

4. Anyone who doubts that this misadmistration would use any excuse...

...to invade Iraq is:

a) Part of the problem
b) Fooling themselves


The former being those who were just hungry for a war, the latter being the half-way decent people who have been suckered into believing the ever shifting excuses for this invasion.

It's really quite pathetic.

[Stephanie]

3. Please send this to Dean, Clark, Kerry

Whoever you choose. It's an excellent tack.

[paulthompson]

5. Thanks

How would one contact them with this?