Ashcroft Faces Scrutiny on Pre-9/11 Actions

[kskiska]

Tuesday, April 13, 2004; Page A01

On Aug. 9, 2001, three days after President Bush was given a memo outlining Osama bin Laden's intent to mount attacks on U.S. soil, the Justice Department completed a draft of its seven strategic goals and 36 main objectives for the next four years.

The internal document, which mirrored many of the priorities in previous memos and statements by Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, focused on drugs, violent crime and civil rights. Combating "terrorist activities" was mentioned once -- as the third objective under enforcement of criminal laws.

Aides characterize the list as a preliminary report never seen by Ashcroft and say it reflected the priorities of the previous attorney general, Janet Reno. But according to some members of the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and others familiar with its findings, the memo reflects the low priority that Ashcroft placed on terrorism during his first seven months in office.

Ashcroft will face sharp questioning about the period, and whether he was sufficiently focused on the al Qaeda threat, during his appearance today before the commission. The line of inquiry will be unusual in its focus on Ashcroft's actions before the attacks. Most of the criticism aimed at the attorney general over the past 21/2 years has centered on whether his anti-terrorism strategies after the attacks have been too zealous.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6589-2004Apr12.html

[Media_Lies_Daily]

1. Maybe they'll ask him when and why he stopped flying commercial jets.

[DemoTex]

5. That is the #1 question I have of A$hcroft (as an airline captain).

I was an MD-82 captain for a major US airline in July 2001, when the news came out that A$hcroft would no longer fly the airlines for "security" reasons. We already had some heightened internal security precautions in place because of FBI warnings (ask him about that too!), so the news of A$hcroft's decision put me on a very high level of guard. I briefed my crews, from late July until just before 9/11, about a heightened hijack threat with, perhaps, new implications.

On 9/10/2001 I was grounded by the FAA for high blood pressure. On 9/11, during the attack, it hit about 215/105. I am now medically retired from the airline, B/P in check, due to adverse side effects of every class of B/P medication. But that is another story for another night.

Focus for now? Nail A$hcraft.


MD-80

[proud patriot]

7. Mine too n/t

[TexasProgressive]

9. HELL YES, DemoTex

that fact has been driving me insane for two years. i couldn't believe the first time that i heard it. it was late 2001, and i read somewhere that ashcroft had stopped flying commercial for "security" reasons sometime during the summer of 2001. i swear, my BP went up, just like yours. it still gives me fits. what the f***?

good to see you, demotex. you gave me a warm welcome here when i first joined up.

[DemoTex]

10. Thanks TexasProgressive!

Watch that B/P! It will kill you! Joking aside, I am sure you do. As I do. For the record, on 4/30/2004, I will again be ex-Texas. I'm still shooting craps over whether to become a NC or SC resident (I have a mountain cabin in NC and a small condo in SC).

[TexasProgressive]

11. Good for You, DemoTex

if it were me, i'd go for NC. i love asheville and the area around there. i get there as often as i can.

hell, i'd be glad to be anywhere other than dallas.

amazing that you were a commercial pilot at the time this went down. that had to be intense. you're the first pilot i've spoken to about this.

damn. it is so bizarre to think about life before 9-11...

[dusty64]

12. They'd better

ask, it is proof they are ALL lying.

[rwheeler31]

2. Ashcroft is about vengence,

who is going to be tough enough to ask?

[Kool Kitty]

3. Is he going to start off giving a lecture about how

this commission is giving "aid and comfort" to the terrorists? Or will he just serenade them with a chorus or two of "Let the Eagle Soar"?

[underpants]

14. He may ask to begin with a prayer

I wouldn't be surprised.

[leesa]

4. Wasn't he looking for whores in New Orleans?

I seem to remember that was his priority prior to 9-11.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

6. This line is the most telling:

"The internal document, which mirrored many of the priorities in previous memos and statements by Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, focused on drugs, violent crime and civil rights."

Well, at least they're being refreshingly honest about it...

[DemoTex]

8. "Ashcroft Faces Scrutiny on Pre-9/11 Actions"

LOOK! OVER THERE! PORN! Look, there, a tit! Listen, Stern said F-U-C-K. Fire-his-ass! LOOK! IRAQ! Things are GREAT there! Don't believe me? Watch Bu$h Tuesday night.

[TahitiNut]

13. "sharp questioning"?? Color me dubious.

I foresee softballs and posturing. Commission members will have about 5 minutes each. That's nothing. He'll skate. If asked about flying private/charter prior to 9-11, he'll just obfuscate. It's kabuki.