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Many American's were baffled when we learned of the great lengths the "President" would go to in order to avoid testifying before the 9-11 commission. Our modern day Pearl Harbor was clearly perpetrated by the sadists of al Qaeda, but it was made possible, in part, due to failings of our government agencies and leaders.
Certainly, the truth is important. And certainly the American people have a right to know how the attack happened, what we could have done to prevent it, and what we should be doing to prevent further attacks. With all the pain and loss that the attack caused, surely we can look inside ourselves in search of the necessary answers.
The search for those answers finally began when the 9-11 commission started their investigation. As painful as it may be, the questions must be answered. Certainly, no one is in a better position to answer those questions, than those in charge of our government agencies, such as: Counter-terrorism Chief Richard Clarke, FBI Director Mueller, CIA director Tenet, Defense Secretary Rumsfield, WH Counselor Condi Rice, George Bush and Dick Cheney.
Instead of open communication and "sunlight", we got a cover-up.
At first, the White House opposed the very creation of a 9-11 commission. When they couldn't stop it's creation, they decided they wouldn't participate in the investigation.
Condi couldn't testify, we were told, because it would set a bad precedent. Bush & Cheney couldn't testify either. That would probably "set a bad precedent" too.
Finally, after mounting public pressure, it was decided that Condi could in fact testify.
To accompany her testimony, the White House unleashed a taxpayer funded smear of Richard Clarke. Apparently, they decided that shooting the messanger was a perfect companion to their new found openness.
Then Bush and Cheney also decided that they too could testify. Of course, they had a different definition of openness than the rest of us. For one, they decided that they would only testify in front of 2 of the commission members, and not the whole body. They also told us that they were so busy that they could only testify for one hour.
...and the testimony couldn't be recorded either.
... oh yeah, and they wouldn't take an oath. (I guess it's because they are both so impeccably honest?)
Of course, the others that testified before the commission were sworn under oath. They didn't get to pick whether they would be sworn or not.
In case they had any trouble remembering things, the President and the Vice President decided that they would testify simultaneously. That way, they could help each other remember things properly.
Oh yeah, the testimony wasn't filmed, or recorded, and commission members couldn't take notes either.
I find the stonewalling of team Bush to be very disturbing. I prefer openness, responsibility for one's actions, and bucks that don't get passed.
Contrast the Republican's stonewalling with their actions during Monica-Gate.
Back then, the Republicans believed in openness. In fact, they unanimously felt that it was important for President Clinton to testify about his sex life. And naturally, they wanted him to testify under oath, again unanimously. Back then, they didn't care if it was a national security issue, or just a personal embarrassment.
The truth was so important, that the American people just "had to know" about Monica, her dress, her panties, and Bill's semen.
So important was the truth (back then), that Ken Starr even wanted to photograph Bill Clinton's penis to see which way it leaned. Ken was quite disappointed when he learned that he wasn't going to get to perform a physical inspection of Bill's penis. If he had, I'm sure that photos of the penis would now be available on the internet, so that we could all "learn the truth".
And after President Clinton was done testifying (for 8 hours) about his sex life? Well, the Republicans thought it was so important that we know the truth, that they immediately released the entire transcript of his testimony about his and Monica's body parts.
Yes, they felt it was extremely important that Bill Clinton testify, that he testify for as long as THEY wanted, and that he be sworn under oath when he did testify. They also filmed the testimony.
However, when it comes to our modern day Pearl Harbor, the Republicans have suddenly lost all interest in openness.
I guess I really can't blame them. They made countless mistakes, and they are now trying to cover them up. It's not their actions that bother me, because I would expect nothing less from Republicans. What really does bother me, is that they seem to be getting away with it.
Have they no shame?
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