By Marjorie Cohn
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
The families of the people killed in the September 11 attacks had to fight tooth and nail for a commission to investigate why their loved ones died. George W. Bush opposed an investigation, but finally relented in the face of public pressure. He then dragged his feet when asked to provide information to the commission.
Four days before the start of the Democratic National Convention, the 9/11 Commission released its 567-page report, replete with recommendations for reform of a government that allowed the deaths of 3000 people. The chairman and vice chairman of the commission then appeared on myriad media outlets warning of the possibility of an imminent terrorist attack.
As his opponents took center stage this week, Bush secluded himself at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. But in a classic example of "when you're being run out of town, get in the front of the crowd and make it look like a parade," he's taking a break from chopping wood to sign executive orders implementing some of the recommended reforms. "The president said he wants this on a fast track," a Bush aide told reporters down at the Crawford ranch.
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Many of these recommendations are so common sense (a favorite term of the Bushies) that * could have started issuing executive orders on 9/12/01. If they needed to be modified because of subsequent information, at least something would have been put into motion. Now we're nearly three years behind the power curve.
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