Bush's "communications problems" on September 11? BULLSHIT

[Cocoa]

Kean should be ashamed of himself for this.

We have proof recorded on video that Bush had no clue what he was doing. What did Bush have to "communicate" to anyone, would he read them the goat story?

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1087542873179390.xml

WASHINGTON -- President Bush was out of touch with the White House during critical moments on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, because of a breakdown in the communications system on Air Force One, according to the national commission investigating the terrorist attacks.

"America was under attack and the commander in chief can't get through to the nation's capital: I mean, that's a serious problem," said Thomas Kean, the commission chairman.

"The president was periodically cut off from communication with the people who had to carry out his orders," said Kean. "It took place in a crucial period of time. ... It was in that early period when communication was essential."

<snip>

The panel also found that the White House order to shoot down hostile airliners, approved by President Bush and relayed by Vice President Dick Cheney, did not reach the air defense command until 28 minutes after Flight 93, the last of the four airliners to be hijacked, had crashed.

more...

[molly]

1. Baloney!

[Ivote]

2. The Real Reason

That something like this could have happened is if there was a coup and the pnacers and neocons were really in charge. imo.

[robbedvoter]

3. First is the cell phone, then AF-1 communication - dang bad luck!

How pathetic is that for the fearles leader? "Goat ate his homework"

[HootieMcBoob]

6. Yeah, Right

Somehow the passengers on the plane that was downed over PA were able to reach their loved ones "let's roll" but the commander in chief (it makes me nauseous to type that) wasn't able to get a call through on air force 1? What a pathetic piece of shit.

[doni_georgia]

24. Just have an image of a chimp trying to use a banana as a phone

[DemonFighterLives]

11. Goat ate his cell phone too

Are we supposed to believe that a billion dollar? plane with state of the art communications systems couldn't reach out and touch someone.
Can ya hear me now? < Caption

[Eurobabe]

23. LOL!

[Bridget Burke]

4. Then, who's he talking to?

This is the famous photo sent to campaign contributors. Caption added by a Buzzflash contributor.

[Jivenwail]

9. Yowza!

Thanks, this makes one hell of a terrific point!!

Keep it going.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. Oh this picture is SO FAKE

Notice how the yellow lighting behind bush perfectly matches the color of the peach and banana at the bottom of the frame? And isn't it convenient that they have all that nice water and fruit right there to balance the composition while our country is under attack?

This bullshit picture wasn't taken that day. This is more crap from the Orwellian crew in the whitehouse.

[doni_georgia]

25. This photo was taken after Bush left Offut - shortly after 4 p.m.

The time line is well documented if just now getting national media attention. Go to Cooperative Research's web site http://www.cooperativeresearch.net/timeline/main/essayaninterestingday.html for the complete play by play.

Here's a photo taken on Bush's trip to the Sarasota airport - so his cell phone didn't work?

[soup]

15. Same question -

As Director of Communications Dan Bartlett points to news footage of the World Trade Center Towers burning, President George W. Bush gathers information about the attack at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Fla., Sept. 11, 2001. Also photographed are Director of White House Situation Room, National Security Council, Deborah Loewer (directly behind the President) and Senior Advisor Karl Rove (right).
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/september11/



Vice President Dick Cheney talks with President Bush as senior staff listen from the National Presidential Emergency Operations Center Sept. 11, 2001.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/september11/02.html


President George W. Bush, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card (left) and Admiral Richard Mies conduct a video tele-conference at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Sept. 11, 2001.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/september11/03.html

[venus]

17. Great caption. Anyone remember that A&E special on Air Force One,

about how totally advanced the plane's communications system is? It was too obvious Cheney was running the country at that critical time.

[Wind Dancer]

5. Pathetic!

It's an insult to our intelligence.

[displacedtexan]

7. My photo caption contribution...

"Hello? What's the number for 911?"

[bluedog]

8. Air Force 1

Didn't the panel try to get the records of the communications from his plane on 9-11?

[molly]

18. It seems to me that I remember hearing or seeing

something that said that Air Force 1 has the most sophisticated communications systems around.

[CrispyQ]

10. What is wrong with the American people????

The administration lies to us, but they place the blame on something else. "Communications failed." "We had bad intel." I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a constituency that tolerates lying also allows incompetence. What happened to our standards?

[truth2power]

13. This panel is a sick joke!! Worthless!

Whatever happened to that group in Canada that was investigating 911?

[Devils Advocate NZ]

14. Here's a question for you...

The article makes it clear that Bush lost communication with the White House from Air Force One. However, the communications facilities on Air Force One are multiply redundant, and include:

The airplane's mission communications system provides worldwide transmission and reception of normal and secure communications. The equipment includes 85 telephones, as well as multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground and satellite communications.
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/af1/af1info.html

The point is, Air Force One is supposed to act as an airborne command centre. The chances of ALL of its communications facilities being down at once is NILL!

I also believe that ALL information that is sent to the White House is duplicated on Air Force One, so that, for example, if the White House was destroyed in nuclear attack, there would be no loss of capability.

So why the need to contact the White House? Who was actually in charge that day? Dick Cheney? Couldn't Bush make his decisions WITHOUT Cheney's help?

If you read the article you will see it says this:

"The president said false information he got came in from a number of directions and he had to try and sort it all out to make these decisions," said Kean. "He was told at one point there was plane headed toward his ranch. He was told another plane was going to Camp David."

This makes it clear that Bush WAS receiving information from sources other than the White House, and was having trouble figuring out what to do.

It is clear Bush FAILED in his duty that day, and failed miserably.

[venus]

19. I didn't hear any credible evidence that a plane could remotely

have been headed toward his ranch or Camp David. Who was calling in - Imus? Someone's making this up!

[bluedog]

22. also this reference..........

This area also contains some highly advanced electronic gadgets. The wiring and all the electronic devices in the Air Force One are shielded for protection from electromagnetic pulses which can be generated by thermonuclear blast or any other such thing.

The communication system on the plane provides worldwide transmission and reception of normal and secure communications. The equipment includes about 85 telephones, multi-frequency radios for air to air, air to ground and satellite communications which can connect president with anyone who is even thousand of miles away from him. There are some secure and encrypted telephone lines among the 85 telephone lines; it also has radio communication devices other than telephone lines, faxes, many television sets and computer connections which connects the plane with outer world.

Air Force One is world’s most advanced plane which carries systems that are not known to many. It has aerial refueling capability which provides it with indefinite fly time during emergencies, and virtually unlimited range. The aircraft has state of the art navigation, communication and defense system.

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/text6-15-2004-55503.asp

[htuttle]

16. So where was the nuclear football?

I've sort of been under the impression that the Marine with the doomsday button hasn't been far from the current President, nor out of touch, since 1962.

Am I wrong?

[ClassWarrior]

20. Fine.

Let's investigate the communications breakdown. Sit back down, Mr. Kean. You have more investigatin' to do...

[readmylips]

21. Motorola should be sued.....

Motorola builds all the Secret high frequency communications equipment used by US government and military. Give me a break! This is the same equipment used by NASA. Communications equipment which is still in operation and working 300% accurately, even in programs that are over 20 years old. Stupid excuse george. Besides, US has special military satellites and backups, and if those failed, communications can be re-routed to our famous Space Station....dah....public knowledge is a bitch george.