anyone here read "Why America Slept" by Gerald Posner

[ChairmanAgnostic]

I am about done with it, and frankly it makes me angry.

On top of the 9/11 whitewash, (A multi-million dollar whitewash), it seems pretty damned clear that that FBI, CIA, NSA and others had their heads up one another's asses.

He makes that case that in the years leading up to Shrub's appointment by the USSC, Clinton's staff was more concerned with public perception and polls (thank you Dick Morris) than doing the heavy lifting.

He seems to give Bush a pass, blaming the FBI for not informing Richard Clarke of critical data, of not permitting lower level investigators to proceed with serious investigations of potential terrorists and of not sharing data with the CIA.

In sum, I have no doubts that CLinton's administration was poll-based more than substantive in several key areas. I also have no doubts that this administration did nothing at all with respect to terror while Condi Peepers Rice was hoping to see through walls before 9/11. Under Clinton, Richard Clarke had real authority, but was stymied by forces within and without. Under Bush, he was emasculated and no one dared interfere with the president's exercise or book reading program. Over all, an informative read, but he could have concentrated more on the failings of the Bushistas. A lot of empty spaces there.

Anyone else here read it?

[Hobarticus]

1. I enjoyed it, but I don't agree that Bush got a pass

I think he drove the point home that ideologues took over the reigns of our government, and rendered the agencies responsible for our safety repellant to "all things Clinton" , including the headway that Clinton had made vis-a-vis protecting us against terror.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. true. I do love (if that is the right word)

the part about Cheney telling Feinstien to go fuck herself for 6 months after she raised an anti-terror package with him. And how the FBI actually asked for dozens more translators, staffing and larger budgets for combatting terrorism, Ashcroft cut the funding in July by $200,000,000. And how condi was basically a fuck up.

But, what do we know? This is a WarpResident who knows what is best for the country. When facing 15 of 19 hijackers from the House of Saud, when Yemen and Pakistan's head of Intelligence were actively protecting bin Laden, he chose the obvious - to invade Iraq.

Silly us. We mere citizens simply don't understand these deep issues of policy.

[Hobarticus]

3. I say it again: if you're not pissed, you're not paying attention.

Or, you've drunk the Kool-Aid.

[cassiepriam]

4. How could Clinton do his best job? The hounds of hell at his feet

from day one. It is a miracle he was able to get any thing done.

[Hobarticus]

5. That comes up in the book, as well...

The author points out that the public was busy worrying about OJ Simpson. The FBI and Justice Department were busy chasing down leads about a blowjob in the Oval Office or Whitewater. Without flat-out saying it, he paints a pretty rosy picture of our resources being squandered on the GOP's axes to grind.

[cassiepriam]

6. These idiots have cost us dearly for so long.

With their selfish greedy corrupt behavior. They are vile. Why oh why have the american people let the continue this way for so long?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. What? And ignore Jon-Bidet Ramsey? What are you thinking?

Come come now, the death of a trained-girl-puppet is much more important than Gary Hart's report on terrorism and how to deal with it. And by all accounts, his report was superb. Just imagine if he were in charge of the Democratic party.

Yeah, I never did hear any freeper explain just how going after Clinton's penis was in the national interest, especially when people like bin Laden were making nice nice with Pakistan's head of intelligence and the security chief of the House of Saud. (How many hundreds of millions did the House of Saud pay to bin Laden as a pay-off? No one will ever truly know.)

Then again, the mysterious deaths of three high ranking Saud family members with connections to bin Laden (a lack of water? in the desert? Are you kidding?!?!) and the subsequent plane crash in Pakistan, in such quick order.

Who did it? We didn't have the capacity. The Sauds? killing their own family members? when Bandar-Bush's wife is a huge supporter of bin Laden? So, who then? The Israelis? The Russians? Belgium?

Overall, the book is informative. Posner also writes well.

[cassiepriam]

8. Yes, we are an arrogant, ignorant, superficial people....

some say our leadership is a reflection of us.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. ouch. A touch, a touch, I do confess.

say, what was on that blade, anyway?

[cassiepriam]

10. LOL, meant to be a reality sandwich, not a poison sword...

but seriously. A president (even one who stole the election)
is a reflection of the zeitgeist. What does Bush and pals
say about us as a country, as a people? Bush Co is a mirror
of the American people's dark side, the shadow if you will.
Too many people have been directly or indirectly involved
to deny this fact.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. all too true.

What bush's election says about us is being thrown back at your face, requiring such half-hearted measures like Condi and Bush's den mother going out to make fiends and confluence peepholes.
Let's see, after bombing in the House Saud, Turkey and probably everywhere else, I wonder where else she will be sent.

[cassiepriam]

12. Bush needs strong women around him .....

he is insecure, needy and dependent. He likes to be mothered
and taken care of by women.