9/11 Fireworks Between Condi and Ben-Veniste

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/08/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Democratic party attack dog-turned 9/11 Commissioner Richard Ben Veniste adopted a harsh prosecutorial style Thursday morning during his questioning of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, repeatedly cutting her off as she attempted to give detailed answers to his questions.

The fireworks began when the abrasive Washington lawyer, a one-time attorney to DNC chief Terry McAuliffe, grilled Rice on whether she told President Bush about Richard Clarke's warnings that al Qeada cells had penetrated the U.S.

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president at any time prior to Aug. 6, [2001] of the existence of al Qaeda cells inside the United States?

RICE: First let me just make . . .

BEN-VENISTE: If you'd just answer that question. I only have a very few . . .

RICE: I understand, Mr. Commissioner, but it's important that I . . .

BEN-VENISTE: Did you tell the president that . . .

RICE: It's also important that I address the other issues that you've raised. So I will do it quickly but . . . .

BEN-VENISTE: Well, my only question to you is whether you told the president.

RICE: I understand but if you'll just give me a moment to fully the questions that you've asked. [End of Excerpt]

Fireworks erupted minutes later as Ben-Veniste continued to badger Rice over the President's top secret daily CIA briefing:

BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the Aug. 6, [2001] PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you if you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." Now the PDB . . .

BEN-VENISTE: Thank you. [attempting to cut her off]

RICE: No, Mr. Ben-Vensite, I would . . .

BEN-VENISTE: I will get into . . .

RICE: I would like to finish my point, here.

BEN-VENISTE: I didn't know there was a point.

RICE: You asked me whether or not it warned of attacks.

BEN-VENISTE: I asked you what the title was.

RICE: You said, did it not warn of attacks. It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting. There was no new threat information. And it did not, in fact, warn of any coming attacks inside the United States. [End of Excerpt]

Ben-Veniste continued his contentious tone, pressing Rice about the Aug. 6 PDB, to the applause of the politicized 9/11 victim families in the gallery.

BEN-VENISTE: [Wasn't it true that the PDB said that al Qaeda] preparations were being made consisted with hijacking inside the United States?

RICE: What the Aug. 6 PDB said - and perhaps I should read it to you . . .

BEN-VENISTE: We would be happy to have it declassified in full at this time [gallery applause], including its title.

RICE: I believe, Mr. Ben-Veniste, that you had access to this PDB . . .

BEN-VENISTE: But we have not had it declassified so that it can be shown publicly, I believe you know.

RICE: I believe you had access to this PDB, exceptional access. But let me . . .

BEN-VENISTE: Nor could we, prior to today, reveal the title of this.

RICE: May I address the question, sir? [End of Excerpt]

[BushCountry]

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: (202) 331-4060
Fax: (202) 296-5545 info@9-11Commission.gov

New York Office
Tel: (212) 264-1505
Fax: (212) 264-1595
info@9-11Commission.gov

Family Liason Office
Tel: (212) 264-1505
Toll-Free: 1-888-862-0556
Fax: (212) 264-1595
familyliaison@9-11Commission.gov

[antivenom]

Listening to RUSH, this will be interesting...he always has a great observation...

[bobjam]

The democratic questions could be summed up as "Why didn't you stick with the Clinton Administration's failed policies."

[Support Free Republic]

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[Adrastus]

The dems dedicated themselves to pissing on fence posts and exposed themselves for exactly the opposite of the avowed spirit of the commission, to arrive at a nonpartisan conclusion. Mr Ben-veniste saw to the death of that idea.

[AmericanMade1776]

I love that picture comparison , Leader or Loafer. Thanks.

[William Martel]

Calling for that report to be publicized is pure politics.

It is the Commission's job to look at the evidence in order to make suggestions to help in the prevention of future terrorist attacks. It sounds that they have full access to that report, and can thus already base their decisions on it. The public does not need to see it. The only reason they want it is because they know it contains classified information most likely pertaining to national security and that the administration will never reveal it. They want to turn it into their "silver bullet", not because it contains damning information, but rather because it will not and should not be released to the public.

It scares me at times that we have a party in power in this country that is willing to play pure politics with such serious matters. We cannot let these people win.

[alloysteel]

Ben-Veniste got his butt kicked so hard this morning his nose was practically bleeding. Clearly, it was a mistake to even attempt to filibuster Dr. Rice. She pointed out that he had asked a question, and she intended to answer that question. The applause told everybody how much she had kicked his legs right from under him.

And even with that example before him, Bob Kerrey tried the same thing, but managed only to look still more foolish. Particularly when he persisted in addressing her as "Dr. Clarke" until she gently reminded Kerrey that was not her name. The laughter that time just took all the wind out of Kerrey's sails.

"Rope-a-dope" has taken on a very highly polished meaning.

[bobo1]

BEN-VENPISSANT is nothing more than rat POS.

It is a sorry state of affairs when a "commision" is formed to fix security lapses and accumualte knowledge to address future problems and it turns into a rat freak show. Condi kicked butt. Rat = butt. Along with clarke, ben-venpissant, kerrey and the other worthless rats that put their sorry party ahead of the American people.

God save America.

Blessings, Bobo

[anonymous_user]

Q: Mr. Ben-Veniste, have you stopped beating your wife?
A: Well, I haven't ever...
Q: Just answer my question, I have very few.
A: I can't answer that question with a yes.
Q: So, "no," but you admit beating your wife in the past?
A: NO!
Q: Exactly. Was that while you were an recovering alcoholic?
etc.

[Enterprise]

"Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the Aug. 6, [2001] PDB warned against possible attacks in this country?"

LOL - this was too funny! In other words, Commissioner Richard Ben Veniste, you've HAD the damned document for a while now, and if you had READ it and UNDERSTOOD it you would know what it SAID, and you wouldn't be harassing her with your NIMROD questions! FOOL!

[nuconvert]

I didn't get to see that. Thanks for the description.
Sounds like she did a great job with both of them.

[Enterprise]

"Particularly when he persisted in addressing her as "Dr. Clarke"

Rice: "Uh, Kerry, you're confused, like the other dumbass Kerry."

[PhiKapMom]

IMO everyone needs to write the Republicans on this Commission and tell them to resign immediately over the partisan attacks on NSA Condi Rice and the Bush Administration. The RATs have gone totally overboard as usual in their attacks, rudeness, and lies.

The Republicans need to grow some backbone and walk out of the hearings telling the RATS that their partisan commission is nothing but a witchhunt and accomplishing nothing except supporting John Kerry and the Clintons. There is nothing bi-partisan about this Commission!

Just wrote Keene and told him and the Republicans to resign immediately -- they need to hold a press conference and say why they resigned.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - GO Condi!

[RightWhale]

It was a beautiful thing.

[finnman69]

Condi saw right through what Veniste was up to and would not let him get away with his soundbyte crap. He was squirming more than her.

[WOSG]

Thanks... firing off a sharp note ...

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I was totally and thoroughly disgusted by the behavior of
Richard Ben Veniste in the public hearing today.
He treated Condi Rice like she was on trial and was totally
disrespectful. It was appalling.

He is trying to turn this into some kind of gotcha 'show trial'
and I for one am LIVID that taxpayer money is being wasted
on such partisan hijinks, when in fact there is much to learn
- including from NSC advisor Rice - about how to fix things in the future.

Do your job and quit grandstanding and playing to the partisan
peanut gallery!