CONDI IN THE COOKER: A PICTURE OF POISE

April 12, 2004 -- Condoleezza Rice's performance before the 9/11 committee was exemplary and showed coolness under fire ("Rice thrives in the cooker," April 9).

One can understand now why President Bush was reluctant to send his national security adviser into what was sure to be an ambush.

"As scary as it is, it probably wouldn't take much planning for terrorists to slip under the radar again and do more damage in the United States."

I can't quite get my thoughts into the right words, but my husband and I were discussing:

Do any of the 911 families, who are out bashing/blaming President Bush, still live in New York City? If so, why? Surely they have heard that terrorists may have suitcase nukes. New York City is a logical place to use one; why does anyone live in New York City?

What about subways? Isn't there concern about biological agents being dispersed there? Or a bomb? Why would anyone take the subway?

In light of what happened in Spain, why would anyone take a train today?

In light of the first bombing of the WTC, why would anyone have continued to work there?

Why are people still working in the Sears tower? and on, and on the questions could go.

The point being ... we are still an open and free society. Our government cannot protect us from everything. Those who are screaming that something should have been done to prevent 911 ... well, here is where I lose my words. I don't know how to express that I understand the grief and frustration, but I'm also sick and tired of (insert numerous unflattering thoughts here).

I don't believe someone is going to blow up my house today, so I am not taking any steps to prevent it. But it *could* happen. A tornado could take it away this spring, yet I still live here. We make choices all the time and there is no way to know what could happen ... what will happen.

No one knew that planes would be flown into those towers that morning. No one but the evil minds who planned it.

if you'll indulge me a minute here:

The Democrats wanted so desperately to burn Bush by 'interrogating' Rice and implicating them on 9/11. But instead of cooking RICE these Democrat partisans ended up with eggs on their collective faces and the whole country saw that whole '9/11 commission' for the political hatchet job it was.

Bob Kerrey and his fellow Democrats showed themselves to be partisan hacks and a disgrace to this country.

How can Kerrey say, with a straight face, that Rice was underprepared for 911?

After all, Kerrey failed to do such a simple thing as take duck tape with him on his mission as a Navy Seal. The Navy had been using duck tape since WWII.

Kerrey could have used the duck tape to bind and gag the Vietnamese civilians, instead of rounding them up and killing them to keep them quiet.

Even Boy Scouts know they should, "Be Prepared."

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