Rice Doesn't Recall Al Qaeda Warning
Secretary Of State: No Memory Of Pre-9/11 CIA Warning, As Woodward Book Claims
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Eye To Eye: Bob Woodward
Only On The Web: Bob Woodward tells "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace that the Bush administration has misled the American public about the war in Iraq.
-
Video
Tony Snow On Woodward, Foley
White House press secretary Tony Snow discusses criticism from Bob Woodward on the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. Snow also comments on the investigation of Congressman Tom Foley.
-
-
Photo
Bob Woodward, talking to Mike Wallace for a 60 Minutes segment, that aired on Oct. 1, 2006. (CBS)
-
Photo
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (AP Photo/Pedro Ugarte)
-
-
Interactive
Bush Presidency
The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
-
Interactive
Global Terror
Major terrorist organizations, the FBI's most wanted and facts and photos from recent attacks.
"What I am quite certain of is that I would remember if I was told, as this account apparently says, that there was about to be an attack in the United States, and the idea that I would somehow have ignored that I find incomprehensible," Rice said.
Rice was President George W. Bush's national security adviser in 2001, when Bob Woodward's book "State of Denial" outlines a July 10 meeting among Rice, Tenet and the CIA's top counter-terror officer.
"I don't know that this meeting took place. But what I really don't know, what I'm quite certain of, is that it was not a meeting in which I was told there was an impending attack and I refused to respond," Rice said.
Speaking to reporters en route to Saudi Arabia and other stops in the Middle East, Rice said she met with Tenet daily at that point and has no memory of the wake-up call from Tenet described in the book.
"It kind of doesn't ring true that you have to shock me into something I was very involved in," Rice said.
There was near-constant discussion of possible attacks overseas, and high alarm, Rice said.
The meeting between Tenet, Rice and Cofer Black of the CIA was not mentioned in the reports from several investigations of the Sept. 11 attacks. But Woodward wrote that it stood out in the minds of Tenet and Black as the "starkest warning they had given the White House" on al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his network.
Tenet asked for the meeting after receiving a disturbing briefing from Black, according to the book.
Black reportedly laid out secret intercepts and other data "showing the increasing likelihood that al Qaeda would soon attack the United States." Tenet was so worried that he called Rice from his car and asked to see her right away, the book said.
"Tenet and Black felt they were not getting through to Rice," Woodward wrote of the session. "She was polite, but they felt the brush-off."
Rice referred to the session as "the supposed meeting" and noted that it is not part of the independent Sept. 11 Commission's report.
"I remember that George was very worried and he expressed that," Rice told reporters. "We were all very worried because the threat reporting was quite intense. The problem was that it was also quite nebulous."
Meanwhile, former Attorney General John Ashcroft said Monday that he should have been notified of any such report dealing with a pending attack on the United States. "It just occurred to me how disappointing it was that they didn't come to me with this type of information," Ashcroft said in an interview with The Associated Press.
"The FBI is responsible for domestic terrorism," Ashcroft said. He said both Tenet and Black of the CIA should have been aware that he had pressed for a more aggressive policy in going after bin Laden and his followers in the United States and should have briefed him as well. Rice knew of this advocacy, he suggested.
"There was no covert action to kill him and we needed one," Ashcroft said.
Rice, who was promoted to secretary of state in Bush's second term, also said she never argued that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be fired. The book's suggestion that Rumsfeld would not take her calls is "ludicrous," Rice said.
Rumsfeld and Rice are not close, and he is often considered her rival in administration decision-making. Woodward wrote that then-White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card twice tried to get Bush to sack Rumsfeld and replace him with Bush family counselor James A. Baker III, and that both then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and Rice backed the plan.
Woodward interviewed Rice for his new book.
©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



- 1
- 2
- next
See all 61 CommentsDr. Rice is a Cold War/Russia specialist so it is not surprising that she might think some obscure Middle East terrorist was worth spending much time on. I believe that Richard Clark gave much the same assessment of his conversations regarding UBL.
She has been the apologist for an inept, miopic federal administration. Condi and crew has set back america to a time when intolerance and blind ambition were the height of united states ambition.
Not that Rumsfield and *** Cheney, did not know.
They willfully ignore what they know to be the truth. They knew this attack was coming. They did nothing to protect the american people except to uselessly spend our tax dollars on unproductive warfare and corrupt rebuilding efforts.
They are profitting from fear and war. They knew the 9-11 Highjackers had nothing to do with Iraq. They knew that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
It is time to talk about impeachment.
Better, she thinks, to play for total lack of recall, without actually saying, "Tenet never told me." But to claim lack of recall is still more than curious, since much information about al Qaeda planning against the US already had been circulating. Did she need somebody to connect the dots for her? Staying abreast of such reports was the basic requirement of her job-- even without the Tenet report, Rice should have been in full alarm months before 911.
Instead, she made a habit of ignoring Richard Clarke, who also issued such security advisories. Clarke was shunted aside repeatedly in his attempts to get the attention of Bush and other advisers, then completely absorbed with Iraq. In the eight months preceeding 911, Bush did not schedule even one meeting of the anti-terror working group.
Ashcroft attempts a defense, kind of, with the claim Tenet never told him. But Ashcroft, himself, did not report to Tenet, either-- both normally reported directly to Bush. Clearly, the buck stops with Bush.
My E-Mail: www.carlsonraymondh@yahoo.com
Message:
Please get ALL the books by Joel C. Rosenberg and read them! Get a copy of the video and book entitled %u201CTHE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH%u201D by Hal Lindsey! Get a copy of the video of the controversial documentary film by Michael Moore that attacked the Bush Administration! Next, get a copy of a BIBLE (King James or New King James Versions)!
What is the Bush Administration REALLY doing in the %u201CMIDDLE EAST%u201D? First, we attack Afghanistan! Is Bin Laden there? NO! Then, the Bush Administration attacks IRAQ! Were there weapons of mass-destruction? NO! Now, the Bush Administration is looking at IRAN! Does IRAN have ATOMIC WEAPONS? YES! The former Soviet Union sold Atomic Weapons to IRAN; it was in the NEWS! IRAN has about five (5) or six (6) warheads! Now, IRAN wants to acquire %u201CNUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES%u201D to build more weapons. What is NEXT to INVADE? I know, Saudi Arabia! Then, O.P.E.C.! Is it not obvious? The Bush Administration wants to corner the world OIL MARKET! Question: Is certain individuals within the Bush Administration profiting off this so-called %u201CWAR ON TARRORISM%u201D?
Michael Moore%u2019s film shows some evidence that the Bush Administration is possibly connected indirectly to Bin Laden through Bin Laden%u2019s family!
CONTACT ME! Thank You.
Not.
(But it is a good joke. Just remember the next time Tenet tells you something.)
My E-Mail: www.carlsonraymondh@yahoo.com
Message:
BIBLE STUDY:
The correct interpretation of Revelations 13:
The %u201CBEAST%u201D in Revelations 17 is the SAME %u201CBEAST%u201D in Revelations 13! Look to the END of the chapter in Revelations 13. There is a %u201CSECOND%u201D %u201CBEAST%u201D! This is the anti-christ. His, the anti-christ%u2019s, number is 666! Do NOT be confused! The anti-christ is NOT Dameon Thorn! Ha! Ha! The anti-christ is a multi-dimentional majestic angel that has powers and can shape-shift (SEE: %u201CTHE DEVILS ADVOCATE%u201D%u2014Lucifer%u2019s character)! The anti-christ is immortal, and will survive a fatal attack! Furthermore, the anti-christ will make lightning fall from a clear sky!
Can PROPHACY be changed? YES! GOD can CHANGE prophecy if GOD has %u201CJUST CAUSE%u201D! Contact Dan Moore at the %u201CLIVING WATERS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP%u201D in Fountain Valley , Ca.. Also, contact Chuck Missler (contact Calvery Costa Mesa%u2014 Santa Ana , Ca.)! Chuck Missler and I disagree on the %u201C BABYLON %u201D issue; however, both Chuck Missler and I agree that the United States will be destroyed by H-Bombs!
CONTACT ME! Thank You.
The bin Laden and other Saudi families share holdings with Bush in the Carlyle Group, which has its bloody fingers into a variety of extremely lucrative enterprises in the US and abroad.
Ironically, the Carlyle connection also makes members of the Saudi royal family beneficiaries of billions of tax dollars Halliburton and other corporate giants make from Iraq. This little embarrassment is kept appropriately out of the Saudi news.
Moore had his film script vetted, line by line, for documentary support by an independent third-party (legal firm). The GOP/Swift Boat propaganda studio (Disney, again?) tried to counter F911 claims, but did not attempt the same vetting, and the latter half of the video is completely non-rebuttal.
You might say, bin Laden and Bush are part of the same "family". After all, it's only more money to Bush-- the ultimate anti-patriot-- and to bin Laden, any "family" connection to fund his hatred is just fine. Just keep the hatred and money flowing.
My E-Mail: www.carlsonraymondh@yahoo.com
More comments below!
Message:
Please get ALL the books by Joel C. Rosenberg and read them! Get a copy of the video and book entitled %u201CTHE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH%u201D by Hal Lindsey! Get a copy of the video of the controversial documentary film by Michael Moore that attacked the Bush Administration! Michael Moore%u2019s film was out in theaters about a year ago. Next, get a copy of a BIBLE (King James or New King James Versions)!
What is the Bush Administration REALLY doing in the %u201CMIDDLE EAST%u201D? First, we attack Afghanistan! Is Bin Laden there? NO! Then, the Bush Administration attacks IRAQ! Were there weapons of mass-destruction? NO! Now, the Bush Administration is looking at IRAN! Does IRAN have ATOMIC WEAPONS? YES! The former Soviet Union sold Atomic Weapons to IRAN; it was in the NEWS! IRAN has about five (5) or six (6) warheads! Now, IRAN wants to acquire %u201CNUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES%u201D to build more weapons. What is NEXT to INVADE? I know, Saudi Arabia! Then, O.P.E.C.! Is it not obvious? The Bush Administration wants to corner the world OIL MARKET! Question: Is certain individuals within the Bush Administration profiting off this so-called %u201CWAR ON TARRORISM%u201D?
The PROBLEM: The Russians, The Chinese, and The European Union are pissed-off at the Bush Administration concerning the United States involvement within the "MIDDLE EAST"!
CONTACT ME! Thank You.
And, while we're on the subject of the Good Book, it says that you shall know the true prophets from the false ones by their fruits. I believe this line has been misinterpreted. You shall know the false prophets because they *are* fruits.
With GOP "adjustment" of electoral districts to an absurd degree to help reelect their pols, tinkering with electronic voting machines to skew any election results to their people, and by de facto control of committee chairmanships in both House and Senate, the GOP is anything but a unifying and patriotic force in American politics. The GOP is, instead, a one-party wannabe dictatorship equal to anything the Mexican PRI attempted-- the kind of rule Peruvian conservative ideologue Mario Vargas Llosa called "the perfect dictatorship".
Under that one-party rule, the Constitutional concept of "checks and balances" was the first target of Karl Rove and the NeoCon cabal-- freedom of information, power sharing and equal access to instruments of power is the enemy of the GOP.
But what would you expect? LIke the PRI, Bush and the GOP have an abominable record to defend, so they must turn off public debate and welcome any distraction. Understandably, Iran is already turning into a prime topic on the GOP/Bush distraction menu.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/04/september11/main520830.shtml
natlawson said, "They willfully ignore what they know to be the truth. They knew this attack was coming. They did nothing to protect the american people except to uselessly spend our tax dollars on unproductive warfare and corrupt rebuilding efforts.
"They are profitting from fear and war. They knew the 9-11 Highjackers had nothing to do with Iraq. They knew that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction... It is time to talk about impeachment."
------------
Normally, impeachment is the first recourse of the people when all other measures fail. The problem-- as Bush, Rove, Cheney and every fluttering little GOP heart knows-- is the GOP has bolted shut the doors of the judiciary and the legislative branches already.
In Washington, DC, working for Bush and the NeoCons.
(Which, I insist on saying, is quite different than a clear plurality of patriotic, and politically mainstream Jews working for peace in the USA, Gaza and Lebanon. Olmert is not universally popular, even inside Israel.)
Indeed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washington/03ricecnd.html?ex=1317441600&en=5b2729634605a9e1&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
...what's going to be the next excuse? Really, the Bush Administration is amazing in its ability to avoid taking responsibility for its tragic, blundering, deadly mistakes in judgment.
lol, that's really funny. I don't like Rice much, but good point
Remember the aluminum tubes, mushroom clouds, WMDs "we know where they are", "last throes" of the insurgency, "mission accomplished", 'bring them on", Saddam had "a relationship" with Al Queada (sure, a relationship of mutual hate! In fact he was one of our good-buddy brutal dictators while he was "killing his own people")....
Do you enjoy being ripped off by the rich? Do you like to watch our middle class and poor kids die in Iraq for this needless war for power and profit? Do you like massive tax cuts for the super wealthy while working families struggle harder and harder for less and less...
Wake up Sheeple of America! Stop being such complete CHIMP CHUMPs!
This administration either ignored the warnings, due to stupidity, or they wanted 9/11 to happen.
Why would a person with a Phd claim that she did not remember such an important detail. Can't buy that one Condie. The old Nixon 2-step.
She probably said she doesn't recall a warning because none was given.
www.politipoll.net
I am sure that there are plenty of people out there who believe her.
The evidence: King George II got re-elected.
Bush makes Clinton look like a Saint!
Actually, this is one of her better pictures-- which has little to do with her political beliefs, by the way. But you are correct that Rice and her behavior are a poor image for the GOP.
Good point, and "ShutupMurtha" perhaps will learn to be more observant... even to "Shutup" rather than expostulate in public. (A misdemeanor.)
About the warning you say "probably none was given". You are living in a Bush fantasy land, or in total FOX/CBS News ignorance.
Do you not believe the White House, when they say they have records of the meeting. Do you not believe AP wire service, who checked with several former and present members of the administration? What will it take ??
Don't you realize that these Neo-Con criminals have hijacked your precious GOP? How much total death, destruction, deficits are you willing to take?
Yes, she DOES look rather evil, doesn't she? But, don't blame it on the photographer. This is simply a photo of her. BAD one at that, but, hey, they can't all be good, now can they???
As for propaganda? PLEASE. This woman, cannot 'recall' warnings, that resulted in the killing of thousands of our people. Her lack of 'recall', only means she is lying. What an easy way out for her.
And now, they will get on to something else, to try and divert attention from her. This administration is so very predictable.
Michael Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father
International Herald Tribune JIDDA, Saudi Arabia
A review of White House records has determined that George J. Tenet, then the director of central intelligence, did brief Condoleezza Rice and other top officials on July 10, 2001, about the looming threat from Al Qaeda, a State Department spokesman said Monday. The account by Sean McCormack came hours after Rice, the secretary of state, told reporters aboard her airplane that she did not recall the specific meeting on July 10, 2001, noting that she had met repeatedly with Tenet that summer about terrorist threats. Rice, the national security adviser at the time, said it was "incomprehensible" she ignored dire terrorist threats two months before the Sept. 11 attacks.
exusmcsgt here...White House records and both of the gentlemen who advised Rice show there is no doubt that the meeting took place. What does it say about a National security Adviser when she blows off such a threat? In my opinion, it shows total incompetence.
"I don't know that this meeting took place. But what I really don't know, what I'm quite certain of, is that it was not a meeting in which I was told there was an impending attack and I refused to respond."
Is she saying:
A) But what I really don't know is that it was not a meeting in which I...
B) What I am quite certain of is that it was not a meeting in which I...
First she's saying she doesn't know, then she's saying she's quite certain, all in the same sentence nonetheless! These intentionally ambiguous choreographed responses have so sadly become such a common practice among politicians that we, the American public, will never know the black and white truth. We're forced to derive our own interpretations out of statements that are so intentionally delivered to be gray.
The CIA and FBI would not certify that Al Qaeda and Bin Laden were responsible for the Cole attack. Before that Al Qaeda was not known to be the threat they are today. Both Administrations underestimated the capabilities of this group. Just like Pearl Harbor we were sucker punched by Al Qaeda on 9/11. Finally knocked us out of our stupidity.
The reality of the situation is not who did or didn't do what.
But what do we do now?
So your statement means nothing stopneofatbs.
"Bill Clinton and his National "Security" team had 8 FULL YEARS to confront Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. They did absolutely nothing."
That doesn't matter.
The information they passed on at the end of there administration was ignorded by the Bush Administration too.
8 years is not really fair as the attacks didn't really pick up until 1994 and the first World trade center. That's 2 years into Clintons first term. So 6 years and a few months less for the investigation to tip off the administration that there was a real problem.
Probably less then 6 years to put together the pieces.
Again that does nothing for what we should do now.
Or what we should have been doing post 9/11.
I'll give you a clue.
It's not Iraq.
Don't know why we attacked the serbs except for the ethnic cleansing thing going on.
However that has been taking place in many countries.
That is not important to the situation we are in now.
Same for Clinton and his fun with Monica.
(Reality is most men would have done the same thing, History and surveys show cheating happens more then most are willing to admit)
The interfearence of Ken Starr's investigation might have had something to do with Clintons decision making. (Most Republicans said those missle attacks were trying to take the focus away from Ken Starrs investigation)
However the information you state is not accurate.
"What we did though was have solid evidence that Saddam was seeking WMDs (if he didn't have them), that he DID have ties to terror groups, and he was torturing and killing his people."
This has already been shown to be false information regarding ties to Al Qaeda and WMD's.
As far as torturing and killing goes, it is happening elsewhere all the time.
Still does not help us in the current situation with Al Qaeda.
The war with Iraq is about oil and money for the war machine. Also for the money it brings the direct benefactors on the other end of the Government contracts.
It's not about morals, otherwise we would be stepping in in Africa.
It is also not about WMD's otherwise we would be after North Korea, Pakistan, India and Iran.
All developing Nukes.
Again none of this takes care of Al Qaeda.
Just ride the wave of ignorance.
Just like the rest of us! Yea!
I bet you it's gonna work for Abramoff!!
Good call Rove!
For how much responsibility these people have, they sure are forgetful.
That means doing whatever it takes to protect us and win.
* slitting throats on plaines, killing innocents in the thousands, after liberation of Iraq, killing fellow Arabs, targeting women and children, sadistic torture. (Our people jumping out of WTC. - show the pictures everyday media ! --) And..cutting off heads of innocent reporters. What next ? Nuclear bombs, biologic ? We are decent, they are evil. We are "feeling bad" for gitmo prisoners, and their rights, they are planning to dominate the world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/02/washington/03ricecnd.html?ex=1160452800&en=a9fc92094cf1099a&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 61 Comments