D-Cal Sen. Barbara Boxer to challenge Condoleezza Rice during affirmation
Daily Kos had an article today stating that D-Cal Sen. Barbara Boxer has published an online petition that will be used in the confirmation hearing for the appointment of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State on Tuesday, Jan 18th. As of now, 6,005 Americans have signed the petition.
This is an important step to take in the continued fight to raise awareness of the complete illegitimacy of the Bush Administration. Why is Condolezza Rice being awarded for her incompetence? Here are some of the questions that will be raised during the affirmation hearings:
In addition I believe Condi should be asked how on earth she so easily shrugged of the importance of the Aug. 6th PDB entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US". Portions of the PDB have were released and declassified in May, and can be read here: Aug 6th PDB - Bin Laden Determined to Strike In Us The Clinton Administration warned Condi that Al Qaeda should be their chief national security concern. The FBI was extremely worried over the level of chatter heard over the radios - the phrase "Hair on Fire" was used to describe the level of concern. The PDB mentioned that Al Qaeda was surveilling buildings in New York. The PDB mentioned that Al Qaeda was conducting preparations for high jackings. FBI officials in Phoenix were concerned about Eastern Men in flight schools who were acting suspiciously, and were concerned of a possible highjacking plot.
What were Condoleezza Rice's excuses? Why did she not take an active role as the National Security Advisor. First, she stated that the Aug. 6th PDB was a historical document. WHAT??? There is nothing in the memo describing the issue in past tense. The title says it all "Bin Laden Determined the Strike in the United States". Secondly, she stated the memo did not recommend any courses of action. YOU'RE THE BLOODY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. You should have been well aware that Al Qaeda represented a clear and present danger to the United States.
Also mentioned by Condi: "No one could have imagined flying planes into buildings". Are you serious? I mean this idea was clearly presented in the Tom Clancy 1995 novel, Debt of Honor, clearly presented the exact same terrorist plot. If an American Novelist, along with the millions of fans who read this book, was aware of this possibility, surely the National Security Advisor should have been. I was amazed to read that in 9/11 Report that Bush, Cheney, and Rice were not sure that this was a terrorist attack until the second plane struck. I mean this is unbelievable. I remember the moment I first heard that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. For a second, I thought it would've been a small personal aircraft, but the moment I heard it was an Airliner, I immediately knew it was a terrorist attack.
As the National Security Advisor, Condeleezza Rice had an important role to play, and she failed in her duties. A proper National Security Advisor would have recognized the imminent threat, and conducted an active role in the nation's security effort. A simple inquiry to the FBI, asking to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity related to highjackings would have been enough to get the ball rolling. In addition, several of the known Al Qaeda operatives were on FBI watch lists. An active National Security Advisor would have contacted the FAA and informed them to be on the lookout for the known Al Qaeda operatives on the watch list. Several of these men past through airport security checkpoints, and a couple were even randomly selected for additional screening. If the FAA were alerted of the immanent threat posed by Al Qaeda, the entire tragedy might possibly have been avoided. Maybe not avoided, but it immensely irresponsible of Condeleezza Rice to have shirked her duties, and then flippantly cast off any criticisms of her conduct during the lead-up to 9/11, without publicly accepting any personal responsibility for her failures in the national security effort.
I haven't even begun to discuss Condeleezza Rice's role in convincing America of the imminent threat posed by Iraq. You do remember the know infamous line: "We don't want the smoking gun to be mushroom cloud". Could this women possibly have done a worse job as the National Security Advisor? How does Bush reward this incompetence? By promoting the women to the role of Secretary of State.
As a token of my gratitude for the steps that Sen. Boxer has taken in fighting the Bush Administration on the issues of election reform and now, the affirmation of Condoleeza Rice, I have written an email to her, which I have posted below.
Dear Sen. Barbara Boxer:
I want to personally thank you for the leadership role you have taken in making a strong political stance against the Bush Administration over the past few weeks.
I was so glad to hear that you had signed on with the protest of the Ohio elections. The media has been so lax in their efforts to raise the important issues involved in unfair election practices, instead choosing the easy route of casting off the dissenters as conspiracy theorists. The need for uniform national election standards has never been more apparent, and it frustrating both right wing pundits and
politicians in this country have been so reluctant to allow this issue to be addressed.
Today, I was happy to sign you petition to seek the truth concerning the role played by Condoleezza Rice during 9/11 and the leadup to the Iraqi War. I first learned about the petition in a discussion on the website Daily Kos. If you have a few extra minutes, I recommend that you read this discussion for insight on additional questions that you may want to ask.
Thanks again for your bravery and courage in standing up to this administration. The democratic party needs strong leaders like yourself if they hope to reverse the momentum of the self-destructive trainwreck that is the Bush administration.
Keep up the good work - and continue to fight this administration every step of the way:
And most certainly, do not allow them to wage an illegitimate war based on false pretences, without asking those in charge the tough questions that need to be answered.
Thank you once again for the work you are doing. Every day, I wake up concerned over the level of damage and harm that an unbridled Bush Administration with no concern over re-election can do this country - especially with a republican senate and house. We are living in a time of great political turmoil in this country - I wake up every day, still amazed and horrified that this country has not realized the grave mistake that was made in handing the Bush Administration a second term. I want to personally thank you for your role in fighting this administration every step of the way. With the important work that you are doing, we can raise awareness on these important issues facing our nation, and take back America.
This is an important step to take in the continued fight to raise awareness of the complete illegitimacy of the Bush Administration. Why is Condolezza Rice being awarded for her incompetence? Here are some of the questions that will be raised during the affirmation hearings:
- Why did the United States go to war in Iraq based on misleading -- if not false and fraudulent -- evidence?
- Why did we divert valuable resources and intelligence personnel to Iraq, taking them away from Afghanistan and the pursuit of Osama bin Laden?
- Why did you mislead the American people into thinking there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaida before September 11th?
In addition I believe Condi should be asked how on earth she so easily shrugged of the importance of the Aug. 6th PDB entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US". Portions of the PDB have were released and declassified in May, and can be read here: Aug 6th PDB - Bin Laden Determined to Strike In Us The Clinton Administration warned Condi that Al Qaeda should be their chief national security concern. The FBI was extremely worried over the level of chatter heard over the radios - the phrase "Hair on Fire" was used to describe the level of concern. The PDB mentioned that Al Qaeda was surveilling buildings in New York. The PDB mentioned that Al Qaeda was conducting preparations for high jackings. FBI officials in Phoenix were concerned about Eastern Men in flight schools who were acting suspiciously, and were concerned of a possible highjacking plot.
What were Condoleezza Rice's excuses? Why did she not take an active role as the National Security Advisor. First, she stated that the Aug. 6th PDB was a historical document. WHAT??? There is nothing in the memo describing the issue in past tense. The title says it all "Bin Laden Determined the Strike in the United States". Secondly, she stated the memo did not recommend any courses of action. YOU'RE THE BLOODY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. You should have been well aware that Al Qaeda represented a clear and present danger to the United States.
Also mentioned by Condi: "No one could have imagined flying planes into buildings". Are you serious? I mean this idea was clearly presented in the Tom Clancy 1995 novel, Debt of Honor, clearly presented the exact same terrorist plot. If an American Novelist, along with the millions of fans who read this book, was aware of this possibility, surely the National Security Advisor should have been. I was amazed to read that in 9/11 Report that Bush, Cheney, and Rice were not sure that this was a terrorist attack until the second plane struck. I mean this is unbelievable. I remember the moment I first heard that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. For a second, I thought it would've been a small personal aircraft, but the moment I heard it was an Airliner, I immediately knew it was a terrorist attack.
As the National Security Advisor, Condeleezza Rice had an important role to play, and she failed in her duties. A proper National Security Advisor would have recognized the imminent threat, and conducted an active role in the nation's security effort. A simple inquiry to the FBI, asking to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity related to highjackings would have been enough to get the ball rolling. In addition, several of the known Al Qaeda operatives were on FBI watch lists. An active National Security Advisor would have contacted the FAA and informed them to be on the lookout for the known Al Qaeda operatives on the watch list. Several of these men past through airport security checkpoints, and a couple were even randomly selected for additional screening. If the FAA were alerted of the immanent threat posed by Al Qaeda, the entire tragedy might possibly have been avoided. Maybe not avoided, but it immensely irresponsible of Condeleezza Rice to have shirked her duties, and then flippantly cast off any criticisms of her conduct during the lead-up to 9/11, without publicly accepting any personal responsibility for her failures in the national security effort.
I haven't even begun to discuss Condeleezza Rice's role in convincing America of the imminent threat posed by Iraq. You do remember the know infamous line: "We don't want the smoking gun to be mushroom cloud". Could this women possibly have done a worse job as the National Security Advisor? How does Bush reward this incompetence? By promoting the women to the role of Secretary of State.
As a token of my gratitude for the steps that Sen. Boxer has taken in fighting the Bush Administration on the issues of election reform and now, the affirmation of Condoleeza Rice, I have written an email to her, which I have posted below.
Dear Sen. Barbara Boxer:
I want to personally thank you for the leadership role you have taken in making a strong political stance against the Bush Administration over the past few weeks.
I was so glad to hear that you had signed on with the protest of the Ohio elections. The media has been so lax in their efforts to raise the important issues involved in unfair election practices, instead choosing the easy route of casting off the dissenters as conspiracy theorists. The need for uniform national election standards has never been more apparent, and it frustrating both right wing pundits and
politicians in this country have been so reluctant to allow this issue to be addressed.
Today, I was happy to sign you petition to seek the truth concerning the role played by Condoleezza Rice during 9/11 and the leadup to the Iraqi War. I first learned about the petition in a discussion on the website Daily Kos. If you have a few extra minutes, I recommend that you read this discussion for insight on additional questions that you may want to ask.
Thanks again for your bravery and courage in standing up to this administration. The democratic party needs strong leaders like yourself if they hope to reverse the momentum of the self-destructive trainwreck that is the Bush administration.
Keep up the good work - and continue to fight this administration every step of the way:
- Do not allow them to privatize social security without a fight.
- Do not allow them to begin drilling for oil in ANWR.
- Do not allow them to make permanent the regressive Bush taxes.
- Do not allow them to continue with additional tax reforms that will further increase the nation's tax burden on the poor.
- Do not allow them to pass our nation's deficit burden onto future generations.
- Do not allow them to continue with policies that reward unethical corporate practices.
- Do not allow them to continue with regressive environmental policies.
- Do not allow them to pay off political pundits, such as Armstrong Williams and Ryan, passing themselves off as journalists as they spew off state-sponsored government propaganda.
And most certainly, do not allow them to wage an illegitimate war based on false pretences, without asking those in charge the tough questions that need to be answered.
Thank you once again for the work you are doing. Every day, I wake up concerned over the level of damage and harm that an unbridled Bush Administration with no concern over re-election can do this country - especially with a republican senate and house. We are living in a time of great political turmoil in this country - I wake up every day, still amazed and horrified that this country has not realized the grave mistake that was made in handing the Bush Administration a second term. I want to personally thank you for your role in fighting this administration every step of the way. With the important work that you are doing, we can raise awareness on these important issues facing our nation, and take back America.
posted by markh100 at
10:47 PM
