Sen. Clinton Fires Back At Rice

N.Y. Democrat Defends Husband, Slams Secretary Rice Over Pre-9/11 Actions

(CBS/AP)  New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has struck back at Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the escalating political bickering over which president — Bill Clinton or George W. Bush — missed more opportunities to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks.

Sen. Clinton took aim at President Bush and Rice over their roles in 2001 before the attacks, part of a growing argument that ignited after former President Clinton gave a combative interview on "Fox News Sunday" in which he defended his efforts to kill Osama bin Laden.

"I think my husband did a great job in demonstrating that Democrats are not going to take these attacks," Hillary Clinton said Tuesday. "I'm certain that if my husband and his national security team had been shown a classified report entitled 'Bin Laden Determined To Attack Inside the United States' he would have taken it more seriously than history suggests it was taken by our current president and his national security team."

The senator was referring to a classified brief given to Mr. Bush in August 2001, one that Democrats say showed the Bush administration did not do enough to combat the growing threat from al Qaeda.

When the brief was delivered, Rice was the president's national security adviser, and Clinton's response was clearly designed to implicate her in the same criticisms that have been made of Mr. Bush.

Clinton's response came a day after Rice denied President Clinton's claim in the television interview that the Bush administration had not aggressively pursued al Qaeda before the attacks of 2001.

"What we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice said during a meeting with editors and reporters at the New York Post. "The notion somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there and didn't do that is just flatly false, and I think the 9/11 commission understood that."

Rice also took exception to Mr. Clinton's statement that he "left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy" for incoming officials when he left office.

"We were not left a comprehensive strategy to fight al Qaeda," she told the newspaper, which is owned by News Corp., the company that owns Fox News Channel.

President Bush declined to comment on the controversy when asked about it Tuesday. "I don't have enough time to finger point," he said at the White House.

Mr. Clinton was angered during the television interview when asked by Fox News' Chris Wallace why he didn't do more to fight al Qaeda.

"That's the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now," Mr. Clinton said in the interview. "They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try. They did not try."

---

Public Eye: The Clinton-Fox News Tussle
Calculated Strategy or Genuine Outrage? What Do You Think?

---

The war of words has sparked a firestorm online, and led some to speculate that Mr. Clinton, in the Fox interview, was trying to demonstrate that the Democrats are tough on terror.

Sen. Joe Biden, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, doesn’t think that was his motivation.

"I think he's frustrated and angry," Biden, D-Del., told Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "I don't think he went onto the show to say I am going to help the Democrats. I think it was, look, I am going to make my case."

Asked about Sen. Hillary Clinton's comments, Biden said, "I don't think it will have any impact. She's also a powerful figure in our party, a very capable senator, but look, the Clintons are in a class by themselves. They are the best known people in the country, if not the world and anything they say or do is going to be hyped.

"They have a very long record dealing with those on the right. And, you know, I don't blame them for their frustration. I don't think it has much impact," Biden said.

[energyecon]

Give 'em Hell, Hillary! Here is testimony from the 9/11 Commission with a link that shows the deception that Rice is foisting on the American people.

snip

The January 25, 2001, memo, recently released to the National Security Archive by the National Security Council, bears a declassification stamp of April 7, 2004, one day prior to Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission on April 8, 2004. Responding to claims that she ignored the al-Qaeda threat before September 11, Rice stated in a March 22, 2004 Washington Post op-ed, "No al Qaeda plan was turned over to the new administration."

Two days after Rice's March 22 op-ed, Clarke told the 9/11 Commission, "there's a lot of debate about whether it's a plan or a strategy or a series of options -- but all of the things we recommended back in January were those things on the table in September. They were done. They were done after September 11th. They were all done. I didn't really understand why they couldn't have been done in February."

snip

Clarke asked on several occasions for early principals meetings on these issues, and was frustrated that no early meeting was scheduled. No principals committee meetings on Al Qaida were held until September 4th, 2001.

snip

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB147/index.htm

[shafteriffic]

We all know clinton would have had to start a coalition to make peace with the terrorists. Today we would all be DEAD! It would have been nearly the same with Al Gore. Thank God when it came time to go to war, we had a president with the kahonas to do something immediately. The UN was being totally ridiculous, so Bush said screw em', we don't need them and he was right. If Hillary is elected president we will all be dead or chinese eventually. I am a real American, not a left wing democrat.

[rsoxfan1123]

shafteriffic, except now that Bush is realizing how expensive and painful war is (remember, he spent Viet Nam on a bar stool) he is crawling back to the same United Nations that he deemed unworthy to help him deal with Iran. Maybe a lesson learned too late...

[rsoxfan1123]

energyecon, way to bring the facts to the table. problem is, a lot of people consider Clarke a democratic lackey, but I am sure he was right though. Other people than just him said the same things, I do believe.

[pulto1]

President Bush's body language and facial expressions tell it all- the Republicans are concerned as well they should be. President Clinton's debate with Mike Wallace emphasises the fact that the Democrats are tired of it and they are not going to take it anymore.

[gtorlando]

Job well done Clintons, job well done.

[rsoxfan1123]

and the bush spin doctors are working on damage control even as we speak. who can blame them?

[nothappyatall]

"What we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice said during a meeting with editors and reporters at the New York Post. "The notion somehow for eight months the Bush administration sat there and didn't..."

Yeah GOOD JOB Ricey, fromthe moron who gave us "Good job Brownie" the right winger friend BUSH sat on his arse for SEVEN MINUTES reading "My pet goat" to kids in a class AFTER being informed the country was under ATTACK and that the towers had been hit by aircraft!
He STILL has no explanation why he sat there like the moron he is and did nothing instead of excusing himself and getting to the Whitehouse.
He's a do nothing idiot who does something too little and too late, when he DOES do something it's the WRONG action- like retaliatory illegal war against a country thathad nothing to do with 9/11 whatsoever!

[wardparkway2]

the true patriots in this country are the ones that question the hows & whys of what the government is doing. that's the right & responsibility of citizens in a democracy! Blind following and encourangement of a centralized government is nothing more than enabling a formation of a fascist society.

I may not agree with everything the Clintons have done, but they have more brains in their little fingers regarding domestic and international politics than the entire Bush administration.

[meboard]

This adminsitaion spends 50 percent of its time stepping in ka-ka and 50 percent of the remanider covering its tracks. No wonder they live in their own little world. Day one, Channey told W to go stand in the corner of the Oval Office and GWB's been spinning ever since. HAAaa!

[rharrin1]

What about the FBI AGENT that notified washington of terrorists and planes before 911 when the commando was in office with rice IT WAS IGNORED bush was probably on vacation

[wardparkway2]

Ojama....how can you judge these presidents by the same standard when a GOP Congress spends millions of taxpayer dollars chasing a Democratic stain on a dress and then turns around and refuses to challenge a GOP President for his faulted reasons of invading a sovereign country... reasons that are evaporating one-by-one and exposing the imagination and poor planning to the entire country????

[newsjeff-2009]

I am not basing or poking fun at the Clintons, but with all respect to what former president Bill Clinton is doing to help with America's war on terrorism, Bill Clinton is technically not the president anymore. If America is losing ground on the war in Iraq or the hunt for Bin Laden it is utimately President Bush and the entire GOP's responsibility since republicans control the white house,congress,senate and many governor's offices. I am not saying for sure whether we are or not winning the war on terrorism since we here so many different news reports and different news articles daily. It is time for America to stop griping about possible mistakes made by former President Bill Clinton and other democrats of the past, and look to the future of this country(No,I don't mean Clinton's personal or marriage affairs either, that is a personal matter and not anyone's business but his and Hillary's)If Bin Laden is still around America needs to make military efforts to find him, but republicans and democrats need to quit wasting time and focus on nailing down Bin Laden and his followers not blaming each other.

[wardparkway2]

Right on, NewsJeff!!!! And you know what? I'll bet we won't find bin Laden in Iraq, either... nor is he in Iran, just in case the Republicans think he might be there. About the report that concludes the invasion of Iraq has fueled terrorism against the West.... as my kids would say, "Like DUH!!!"

[perception5]

Bill and Hillary Liar are at it again along with their pals in our corrupt "free left-wing press". Hillary said yesterday, referring to the PDB memo dated August 8th 2001, and I quote:"I'm certain that if my husband and his national security team had been shown a classified report entitled 'Bin Laden Determined To Attack Inside the United States' he would have taken it more seriously than history suggests it was taken by our current president and his national security team."
Yeah right! now we find out today that Bill Liar received a PDB memo dated December 4th 1998 that says and I quote: "Bin Laden and his allies are preparing attacks in the U.S., that includes aircraft hijacking".
My fellow Americans it's becoming very clear that we can't trust our own American media because they are CLEARLY in bed with the "mother of all hate groups", the DNC.
It's really a sad day for America when these people and groups put their Party above that of being an American.
Do they really think they can lie their way to power in November?????

Isn't it great to live in country where you can lamblast the leaders of the country and not be prosecuted for your opinion. Opinions are a dime a dozen, being able to express them is freedom.

[meboard]

perception5 --that's a load of dribble... The right hates the Clintons because they pose the greatest threat to the RNC. They are both clever, articulate, intelligent, worldly, and can charm the pants or skirts off of anyone. And, they know how to win elections! W's only saving grace is his ablility to act like John Wayne for the slacjawed yokels who are too stupid to realize he's *** them! Its a sad day when the GOP can't come up with anyone better than GWB to head the party. Level with us...arnt you just a bit embarrassed?

[getcentered]

They put out a report that makes them look really bad on terrorism? Bush probably didn't read it, so he thought this would be a good thing for Republicans, because he know his constituency doesn't care about know the facts, they only care about what is "right". They won't read it either.

Clinton is right; he did come down hard on terrorist. It all there in the report, or at least what of it we get to see.

The GOP/Republicans last hope of survival is making the Dems look soft on terrorism. They will repeat "Bill Clinton" over and over to get emotional responses from those who just plain hate Bill.

The Democrats can defend us from terrorists, and probably do a better job because they'll use their minds.

Democrats should not let GOPers label them as soft or weak, and should stand up like Bill and Hillary Clinton.

History shows that our country has been growing more liberal, left and moderate. The GOP/Republicans need your anger and the polarization of the voting public in order for them to hold power. They want you to hate other Americans.

Next elections, don't them do it to you. Turn off FOX NEWS. Start reading more newspapers, but not just one. Get more sources. Get a balanced look at the world. Get Smart. Get Centered.

If you don't you'll be high on money and low on cash for the rest of your life.

[jbb2213]

Those who admire the Clintons demonstrate a serious lack of any kind of moral foundation. It's called situational ethics. Name calling is your strong suit. We're turning into a nation of "reality show" mentality. Just take a poll to see what's really true. Yeah, right. What balderdash. You cannot "read" or prove another human being's motives or intentions. You believe your own opinions as if they are proven fact.

[meboard]

Amen getcentered!

[tejasdemo]

Get centered......perfect. You are completely correct. All republicans can do is spread hate. And they are supposed to be the " moral ones " ? What a pathetic group.

[meboard]

I'm very proud not to be grounded to someone else's "moral foundation." I've found that those who imply they hold the "moral ground" end up having issues on soooo many levels. None of us are perfect...God knows W proves that on a daily basis...but I think history will show Pres Cinton in a favorable light. Move over WG Harding make way for GWB!

[diverinnl]

I still want to know where Colin Powell is in this. As the Secretary of State during Bush's first term, anything that came from the National Security Advisor or the outgoing cabinet with regards to national security should have come accross his desk.
Why is the left wing press not raising his name or asking him any questions? Probably because they know that he will most likely not lie and all their current he said/she said arguments will crumble.
Get Mr. Powell on the podium and ask him some direct questions! What would Hillary know about it anyway and why does she even matter? I don't remember her name beside Bill Clintons on the ballot.

[safoster47]

This is typical Clinton behavior. It's funny how the 9/11 Commission Report is interpreted to everyone's favor. How about the documentaries that interviewed CIA agents that had Bin Laden in their sights during the Clinton Administration and he/his administration pulled the plugged on taking him out. How about interviewing the soldiers who were in Somalia and were held back in doing what they needed to do?

[tonnie45]

All of the comments made here today are stupid to me, because we are all while attacking our highest positions in this country, are showing the people all over the world including the terrorist, that our government ****. Why would any of you bother saying all these things, knowing that this is all over the World Wide Web.
Be real and stop showing the terrorist where to strike next.

[diverinnl]

Wait a minute there tonnie45, a transparent government is one of the things that make our country so great. Whether you REP, DEM, CON, LIB, ***, straight, black, white, etc., you have the constitutional right to express yourself and desent from government in opinion. I may not agree with all the opinions stressed in this or any forum but I certianly respect the rights of these folks to express themselves.

[rickjones22]

Just as Cheney had "other priorities" when called to serve in the Viet Nam War, the Bush Administration had priorities other than attention to terrorists threats during their first 8 months in office from January, 2001 to 9/11 (a time when the threat of a terrorist attack was flashing red). Those "other priorities" - an energy plan to help Big Oil get richer; tax cuts to help their already rich friends; limits on stem cell research to appease their conservative fundamentalist base and keep important life-saving research from taking place; oh, and lots of vacation time to rest from all that hard work (especially an August vacation that could not be interrupted by a PDB entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Within US").

[tonnie45]

I'm not saying people don't have the right to express themselves, I'm saying I think people should re-evaluate what and how they express things that are known to be all over the world. Why in God's name would you want to give the U.S. enemies more ammunition than they already have. If the enemy knows where the weak points are, don't you think that is what they will use next. This is common sense. The enemy always goes for the weak spot. In order for this country to get anywhere, the American people will have to come together as one.

[energyecon]

The policies of the Bush White House are making Americans less safe and our future more insecure - in terms of national security and economic security.

The people who speak up against the incompetence, corruption and utter lack of moral compass in the Bush White House are real American patriots.

[diverinnl]

I agree with that point tonnie45. My counter point is that the weakest spot is the lie itself, from whatever side. It is very hard for citizens to unit behind a government they do not trust. One of the things that make terrorist a formidable foe is that they have undying faith in those that govern them. You are right on target when you satet that we must unit, but we have to believe in those that govern us to do that.

[energyecon]

tonnie45 what in God's name makes you think that the incompetent and corrupt leadership in the White House has ANY interest in uniting this country?

They have spent the last five and a half years clinging to power on a strategy of polarization, division and demonization of anyone who dared speak truth to power. It is a colossal betrayal of the trust of the American people if this indeed the clash of civilizations that it has been portrayed to be.

[energyecon]

Read the 9/11 Commission testimony and report for yourself:

BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/

[wardparkway2]

you can not be a patriot and not question what is not correct.... you can not be a Christian and profess to hate any group. It just proves the bumper sticker I saw the other day. It read

"The Religious Right is actually neither"

I am proud to be a FORMER Republican... patriotic and a Christian. I support our Bill of Rights, especially the First Amendment that Corporate Media mega-ownership (which is VERY Republican) is diluting every day. When was the last time any news story said something much different than "President Bush, speaking today in front of a FRIENDLY audience..." The president doesn't support the First Amendment, otherwise he'd be listening to the rest of us... and he'd be a Christian if he supported love, tolerance and peace over hate & war.

I support Bill & Hillary's position in this situation and leave whatever feelings I have about their personal lives to the 2 people impacted... Bill & Hillary.

[tonnie45]

I agree that at this moment in time our weakest link is in our administration. This country is so screwed up and it will take one heck of a person at this point to gain the American's trust. It kills me to see and hear the news everyday.. I am in my 30's and have never heard as much about fighting, kidnapping and killing people as I have in the last 10 years. I wish that we all could wake up and see that the change in reality begins at home, with our own thinking and how we raise our children. Thanks to all of you who have responded to what I have posted. I needed more insight.

[angryliberal-2009]

I thought we wanted to avoid bringing up the war on terror? That is our weak spot and everyone knows it. As mush as I like Bill and Hillary, they are hurting the Deomocratic party with the elections right around the corner. Lets hurry up and get past this episode.

[diverinnl]

Tonnie45: Poignant and true. That is why I so strongly wish to hear from Powell on this. Partly because he is one of the few people to know the real truth and partly because, having served under him in the military, I know him to be a man of honesty, integrity and courage. If he says that no documents crossed paths, I would believe him. On the same hand if he says that the information was passed between administrations and Bush didn't give it due weight, I would believe him. I don't think he would lie to curry favor from any particular political party.
I have to admit that I'm a life long Republican but if he were to run for President as a Democrat, I would strongly consider casting him my vote.

[shutupmurtha]

nikosk1, You are right MOST AMERICANS can not Afford health care that is why we have HEALTH INSURANCE. And, anyone can afford health insurance IF THEY HAVE A JOB. If you dont want to pay for that you can always get medicare. I think the problem is that people dont want to get a job, they are to lazy to get up and get healthcare, and they want the government to spoon feed them. Our government already gives us to much and regulates to much. People have been spoiled by our government handout as it is. And the elderly should be taken care of by their children or church not by the government. Sure the government can help out, but it is ludacris to say the government should take care of them. There are plenty of organizations in this country to help people like that, but they are not going to know that the elderly need help unless they contact them. Duh. How do think the government should solve this problem???? Are you sure you know all the facts? Are even sure if their are "MILLIONS" of dog food eating elderly? Do you know what is being done on the problem now? And how does tis invalidate every one elses opinions on morality?

If "MILLIONS" of elderly are eating Cat and dog food to survive, than may be they should spend the money they used for the pet food.......for...um HUMAN FOOD??!??!?? Maybe the "MILLIONS" of elderly should give their pets to the humane society so they can pay for food.

[maxig55]

Hilary Clinton is a joke and so is her husband Bill. Neither one of them has them is or was capable of running this country. Clinton did absolutely nothing to protect this country from terrorism. He accomplished nothing in Somalia. He accomplished nothing at catching the ones responsible for the bombing of the USS COLE. He would like all of the world to believe he did so much while he was president but that is just so much ***!!!!As for the person who is mortified by the news and the constant barrage of killings, kidnappings,etc. Take a good look around-it's a part of our world and it has nothing to do with the Bush Administration. Do you think the killings and kidnappings will stop if we had a Democrat in the White House? GROW UP!!!! At least Bush is not a coward and he does have the guts to take the evil-doers to task. I am proud of him and the job he has done. Everything he's done might not have been a success but hey he gave it one HELL of a TRY. All of the ones who get on the web to down the Bush Administration are so quick to criticize however not a one of them has any better ANSWERS and neither do the Democrats.

[wardparkway2]

ShutUpMurtha.... when teachers (who have a job) have to pay anywhere from $400-1000/month for health insurance, they can't afford it. Are you telling me that the millions of jobs created (HA!) during this administration come with affordable health insurance????

The bottom line is, do some research... you'll find that the service industry jobs that are being created may have insurance, but totally unaffordable at the wages paid. And even the professional jobs such as teaching and lower level corporate business jobs have policies that eat more out of the employee's pocket than the employer's. Why? Because it's a very expensive benefit and to improve bottom line profits it's an easy way to cut operating expenses.

The days of 100% employer supported insurance and retirement benefits have gone the way of the Edsel. Wake up and smell the coffee.

[wardparkway2]

the USS Cole happened 2 weeks before the 2000 Presidential (S)Election.... not exactly a lot of time for an out-going president to take any action other than to order an imediate bombing of the entire Middle East, Afghanistan, and half od Europe. Was corrective action for the "incident" on President-select Bush's agenda? No. Was Osama even on his Radar in Aug 2001? Just a tiny blip compared to the huge agenda-setter problem of encapsulated Saddam's "threat".

Opening a can of "Whoop-A$$" is easy... doing it for the right reason is hard and requires the ability to think, and the ability to accept opinions that may not correspond with our own.

This administration has made the bed that our troops are sleeping in now, and for that I hope our troops can forgive us... because 50.7% of the nation is too egotistical to admit they may have made a mistake... TWICE.

Oil prices are down, because the people that can manipulate the prices (and benefit the most from status quo) are hoping to BUY our happiness so they can put the screws to us for another 21 months. There will be another terror attack in the next 6 weeks because those that are trying to recruit new members are benefited by people quick to open the "whoop-a$$" (again, the status quo).

Vote for reason.... vote for peace... vote for inteligence...

[observertrue]

Bill's List:

1. Confabulate with Monica
2. Confound Congress
3. Cuckold Hillary
4. Conspire Cover-up
5. Contrive Plausibility
6. Contraindicate Culpability
7. Collect Contributions
8. Cancel Capitalism
9. Concoct Contrition
10. Capture Bin Laden

[nynative1340]

George's list:

1. Start fight with father over hitting trash can while drunk;
2. Get drunk;
3. Stay drunk for 20 years;
4. Join Texas National Guard to avoid Vietnam duty;
5. Leave Texas National Guard early to avoid completion of obligation;
6. Get drunk;
7. Start failing businesses using Daddy's friends%u2019 money;
8. Sell stocks early (Harkin business failing) and get slap on wrist from SEC for insider trading (sound familiar);
9. Get drunk;
10. Successfully run for gov of Texas so he can screw up Texas;
11. Screw up Texas;
12. Unsuccessfully run for US President so he can screw up the US;
13. Get bailed out by brother Neal's state and right-wing supreme court and be appointed as president;
14. Screw up US;
15. Get %u2018Bill%u2019;
16. Plan a war with Iraq to avenge father's failings;
17. Act like a moron who can't read or speak proper English;
18. Ignore warnings that allow al Qaeda to attack US;
19. Ignore al Qaeda, start war with Iraq;
20. Spend billions on Iraq war while al Qaeda enjoy safe haven in Afghanistan;
21. Run for re-election so he can continue *** up US;
22. Continue *** up US;
23. Get %u2018Bill%u2019:
24. yada yada yada...

[energyecon]

Link to info showing the do nothing Bush attitude in 2001...

snip

The January 25, 2001, memo, recently released to the National Security Archive by the National Security Council, bears a declassification stamp of April 7, 2004, one day prior to Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission on April 8, 2004. Responding to claims that she ignored the al-Qaeda threat before September 11, Rice stated in a March 22, 2004 Washington Post op-ed, "No al Qaeda plan was turned over to the new administration."

Two days after Rice's March 22 op-ed, Clarke told the 9/11 Commission, "there's a lot of debate about whether it's a plan or a strategy or a series of options -- but all of the things we recommended back in January were those things on the table in September. They were done. They were done after September 11th. They were all done. I didn't really understand why they couldn't have been done in February."

snip

Clarke asked on several occasions for early principals meetings on these issues, and was frustrated that no early meeting was scheduled. No principals committee meetings on Al Qaida were held until September 4th, 2001.

snip

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB147/index.htm

[energyecon]

From the transcripts of 9/11 Commission testimony:

BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/08/rice.transcript/

[tonnie45]

To maxig55: Take note. I am a republican. I have very strong beliefs. I think the our wonderful President has done about as much good as he can in office though and it is time for him to take a step back, to re-evaluate his situation. OH excuse me I the situation we are all in. Our troops are being killed constantly, our wonderful construction crews are over there right now, some of them my family members rebuilding that country, only for them to bomb it again. Think about all this and tell me that our administration is right. That's right you can't do that. Our country right now is an open target. And to fool yourselves thinking that this war will be over is crazy. It will not be over in my life time. Get real and wake up. I voted for republicans myself and I still stand behind my beliefs, but if you know you are fighting a war you will not win, why not try to back track and see if there is another option, another way to resolve the issue.

[oleander8]

To "ShutupMurtha" -- come on, are you being paid to post comments just to stir the pot?

[texaskos_com]

Dear Maxi, ShutUp(please), and Angry"Liberal"(quote-unquote): Maxi, you're wrong on all fronts. Bush IS a coward or he would've fought in Vietnam. Seems he ok with sending others to fight his fight it seems. And was Bush trying while he STAYED on vacation during Katrina? Was Bush trying when he sat in his chair for 7 minutes reading My Pet Goat after learning about the 2nd plane (he already knew about the first before the photo op)? Was Bush trying when he spent a month on vacation prior to 9/11 despite growing noise in the intelligence community of a terror attack? And has been Bush TRYING to kill Bin Laden - or has he been stuck in Iraq? Oh, wait. He's not in Iraq. He's onto Iran or his next vaction or fundraiser. It's OUR TROOPS who are in Iraq. Pathetic. All of you. And AngryLiberal, who is a conservative, really, stay confused. This is just a PR game for you guys & no one's playing anymore. Keep lying, keep being ugly - it's only helping us. ShutUp, well, Murtha hasn't & I'm sure you won't either. Thank god, ONE of you knows what he's talking about.

[annsteitz]

seems to me you're all just around the corner of the facts... Clinton did exactly what he needed to do to when he needed to do it unless you guys have deliberately choosen to forget or have had surgery to remove the parts of your brains when he reported to the nation on television that he was trying to kill Bin Laden... and every President leaves the next President reports of international activities so Rice is out of her mind denying it, but this being an election year what else can be expected... Bush is doing what he should be doing although the lies getting there and Afganistan being more important..., we can all agree upon that, so during these elections lets just get rid of the extra LOADS of *** on the hill and maybe we can survive this at home with better words of support for our troops during this time and have a better democracy worked out for them to come home to!!!

[pulto1]

MERCY...

[wardparkway2]

tonnie45 -- I am impressed that as a Republican you are wanting to step back and look at other options. That is what the Democratic Party and most of the sane people in America are asking the administration to do only to meet a "gotta stay the course" mentality. No, a cut & run will not work without an implosion in the Middle East... but this administration can't even formulate a plausible plan on how to get out, how to minimize the implosion when it occurs, nor any timeline as to when each of those goals should be reached and re-evaluated.

I don't know about Yale Uiversity (who must have sold an MBA to Dubya), but in other MBA programs around the country (yes, I have one) they teach to constantly re-assess, re-evaluate, and to always search for internal and external impacts on any plan as it is being implemented and executed. This administration has looked at one plan, and failed to comprehend what might happen if something other than what they expected with "shock & awe", and remained steadfast to that plan w/o assessing what has changed. They never anticipated what it would become... and that lack of anticipation is the biggest failure of all.

2003: Mission Accomplished? More like 2006: Mission Improbable

Support peace, and let your vote this fall recognize that the humans dying violent deaths are people, too... and it happens every day in the streets of our own country....