Giuliani describes 9/11 rescue efforts (Gorelick blames glitches in machines, messages)

CNN.com ^ | 5/19/04 | Phil Hirschkorn

[Libloather]

Giuliani describes 9/11 rescue efforts
Giuliani: 'Could not conceive of the entire tower coming down'
Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Posted: 1541 GMT (2341 HKT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- One day after former New York fire and police department officials drew criticism over communication problems that plagued rescue efforts during the World Trade Center attacks, the boss of both agencies has told the 9/11 commission Wednesday that the rescuers' performance demonstrated a "superb command structure."

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is speaking on the second of two days of public hearings at Manhattan's New School University looking at how the emergency services performed on September 11, 2001.

Giuliani described the heroic rescue efforts immediately after the attacks and the recovery effort, which he said took place in "the most dangerous recovery site probably in the history of this country."

He the praised the rescuers' "superb command structure."

"I would urge you in evaluating their performance, to put it in the context of (the fact that) no one ever has encountered an attack like this. No one has had to have dealt with a recovery and search effort anywhere near this dimension," Giuliani said.

SNIP

Glitches in machines, messages Panel commissioner Jamie Gorelick said many of the communication problems could be blamed on the "sheer magnitude" of the attacks.

CNN producer Phil Hirschkorn contributed to this report.

[Libloather]

Would testimony from Gorelick help or hurt this investigation of the truth? She needs to be sworn in as a witness...

[mewzilla]

I'd like to ship her off to Gitmo.

[Klaus D. Deore]

Gorelicker had more to do with the failures of 9/11 than ANYONE that's been called thus far.

[noscreenname]

I can only hope she chokes on her own spittle. Snake!

[samadams2000]

she's a dirty squirrel.

[The Great RJ]

Criticizing the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center shows no knowledge of understanding of disaster situations. Despite the glitches thousands in fact survived and it is doubtful that those on the top floors could have been rescued due to the fires that proceeded the building's collapse. Better communication might have helped some, but in a disaster you can expect things not to go as planned and you must improvise on the spot.

Did things go perfectly? No, nor do they in any disaster. These critics fail to see the success and cheapen the sacrifice of the brave men and women in the emergency services who gave their lives so that others might live.

[McGavin999]

I can't stand people who follow after something and then criticize things they know nothing about. They are utterly worthless.

I think the commission is so tainted now nobody is even interested in what their final report says. File it under "U" for useless.

[Reactionary]

You have to admire the audacity of liberals. Here we have Congressional hearings into who's to blame for 9/11, and liberals have the balls to put the person chiefly responsible for it in charge of pointing the finger at innocent people who risked their lives for fellow Americans.

Liberals have one thing right. In politics, like love, the best defence is a good offense. Attack! Attack! Attack!

[Libloather]

Criticizing the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center shows no knowledge of understanding of disaster situations.

At the time, the World Trade Center towers were the largest communication devices going. TV, radio, and probably emergency services, depended on them being there.

I'm pretty sure Gorelick is smart enough to figure that one out. If not, she shouldn't be on the commission...

[CyberAnt]

And her "wall" did more than isolate us from seeing 9/11 - it kept us from seeing the real truth behind the Clinton fundraising SCANDAL with China.

[nopardons]

bttt

[NYCVirago]

Panel commissioner Jamie Gorelick said many of the communication problems could be blamed on the "sheer magnitude" of the attacks.

Ya think?

[noscreenname]

She shouldn't be on the commission at all!!!

She needs to be in front of the commission (not that that would do any good considering the tone of the commissioners!!).