Senator Graham Pledged Not to Play Blame Game After 9/11

www.gopteamleader.com ^ | various dates | Bob Graham

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In Attempt To Boost Faltering Campaign, Candidate Graham Abandons Senator Graham’s Promise Not To Politicize 9/11 Report

“[T]here are significant portions of the report which have been classified, meaning that they will not be available to the American people. I--I think in many of those most important sections, the classification had more to do with the agencies wishing to avoid embarrassment by the disclosure of their actions or inactions rather than the protection of some national security interests.” (CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” 7/20/03)

Said 9/11 Inquiry’s Goal Was Not To Assign Blame. “We don’t start this with the object of assigning blame to one person or one institution. If the facts that we develop indicate someone is deserving of blame they will speak for themselves.” (Paul De La Garza, “Ex-CIA Official Resigns Role In Attack Inquiry,” St. Petersburg Times, 5/1/02)

Said He’s Not In “‘Gotcha’ Business.” “‘We’re not in the “Gotcha!” business,’ agrees Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), [Rep. Porter] Goss’s friend and, as head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, co-chair of the investigation. Both say the crucial issue isn’t what the president knew before 9/11 but why he didn’t have more precise intelligence to act upon.” (Richard Leiby, “A Cloak But No Dagger,” The Washington Post, 5/18/02)

Was “Well Aware” Of “Intelligence Community Weaknesses” Before 9/11 Attacks. “Those of us who have served on the Intelligence Committee … had been well aware of our intelligence community weaknesses, and the necessity to move to fill some important gaps.” (Senator Bob Graham, Remarks At National Press Club, 10/25/01)

Said Neither White House Or Congress Could Be Held Responsible For Not Knowing 9/11 Would Happen. “[S]ome of the comments that have been made, which I think overly place responsibility on members of the executive branch for what they did or did not do, or maybe comments which do the same for those of us in the congressional branch, I think fundamentally misunderstand what our respective obligations are.” (Senator Bob Graham, Press Conference, 5/16/02)

Thought Finger-Pointing Was “Unfortunate.” Fox News’ John Gibson: “[W]hat is your take on all of the public finger-pointing by the FBI and the CIA and back and forth?” Graham: “Well, I think it’s unfortunate … [T]his is a time in which the American people need to have a sense that their government is being conducted in a competent, adult way for their interest.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 6/4/02)

Said Administration Was Giving “Full Cooperation” To Address Intelligence Agencies. “Today the Senate and House Intelligence Committees are moving to try to rectify these areas of necessary change within our intelligence community, and doing it with the full cooperation of the administration and the intelligence community itself.” (Senator Bob Graham, Remarks At National Press Club, 10/25/01)

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It appears B***hole Bob is using the classified material angle to deflect attention from the fact that the report highlights 1994-2001 as the timeframe within which much information was gathered on Al Qaeda. He saw all the info referred to in the report and did nothing.