I'm sorry, I think Jordan is standing next to Donnie!
Posted on 09/10/2006 9:36:29 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - ABC aired its miniseries "The Path to 9/11" on Sunday but made editing changes after former Clinton administration officials complained it contained fabricated scenes about their actions prior to the terrorist attacks.
ABC's editing of the five-hour movie, airing on two successive nights starting Sunday, was evident from the very beginning. Twice, the network de-emphasized the role of the 9/11 commission's final report as source material for the film.
The version that aired Sunday also changed a scene that, in a copy of the movie given to television critics a few weeks ago, indicated President Clinton's preoccupation with his potential impeachment may have affected an effort to go after Osama bin Laden.
In the original scene, an actor portraying White House terrorism czar Richard Clarke shares a limousine ride with FBI agent John O'Neill and tells him: "The Republicans are going all-out for impeachment. I just don't see in that climate the president's going to take chances" and give the order to kill bin Laden.
But in the film aired Sunday, Clarke says to O'Neill: "The president has assured me this ... won't affect his decision-making."
O'Neill replies: "So it's OK if somebody kills bin Laden, as long as he didn't give the order. It's pathetic."
The critics' version contained a note in the opening scenes that the film is "based on the 9/11 commission report." That was omitted from the film aired Sunday. A disclaimer aired three times emphasized it was not a documentary.
"For dramatic and narrative purposes the movie contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, as well as time compression," the note that ran before the movie said.
The note said the material is "drawn from a variety of sources including the 9/11 commission report and other published materials and from personal interviews." That differs from a note in the critics' version that said the dramatization "is based on the 9/11 commission report and other published sources and personal interviews."
Critics, such as historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., said it was "disingenuous and dangerous" not to include accurate historical accounts in the movie.
A scene in the movie depicting a team of CIA operatives poised in darkness outside of bin Laden's fortess in Afghanistan, ready to attack, was substantially cut down from the original. Pictures of the waiting Afghanistan operatives are interspersed with those of officials in Washington, who had to approve the mission.
The original version depicted national security adviser Samuel R. Berger hanging up on CIA chief George Tenet as Tenet sought permission to attack bin Laden. The movie aired Sunday did not include Berger hanging up.
The affect of the changes is to deflect specific blame. It ends with actor Donnie Wahlberg, head of the CIA team in Afghanistan, saying, "Are there no men in Washington?"
Another scene in the critics' cut pictured O'Neill asking Clarke on the telephone: "What's Clinton going to do (about bin Laden)?"
Clarke replies, "I don't know. The Lewinsky thing is a noose around his neck."
This was cut entirely from the film that aired Sunday.
Editors left intact a scene that had angered former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, portraying her as being behind a move to inform the Pakistani government in advance of a U.S. missile strike against bin Laden. The movie indicated that was a key factor in bin Laden getting away.
The movie, scheduled to air from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., finished at 10:40 p.m. ET.
ABC has said little about the controversy, and said Sunday it would not comment.
Thomas Kean, head of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks and a backer of the film, said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday that he hadn't seen the final cut of the movie but urged Americans to watch it.
"If people blame Bill Clinton after seeing this, then the miniseries has failed," said Kean, the former Republican New Jersey governor. "That's wrong and it shouldn't happen."
John Lehman, another Republican commission members, said on the ABC News show that he's told the film is equally harsh on the administrations of President Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush.
"And if you don't like the hits to the Clinton administration, well, welcome to the club," Lehman said. "The Republicans have lived with Michael Moore and Oliver Stone and most of Hollywood as a fact of life."
___
AP Television Writer Frazier Moore contributed to this report.
IOW, after the 1.2 day buzz from this is gone and we're back to the glorifying the standard emptyheaded American Idol mentality level of things....what will be the "sound bite", the no-more-than-eight-word description that remains from this miniseries?
To me, and I'll admit I'm not very good at predicting the future, there is going to remain the very stark contrast between an administration of buck passers, equivocators, and ass-kissers and an admin of doers. Who aren't afraid of mussing some greseball's hair. And I think we have to be happy about that. Not grudgingly happy, but happy. That works. "Buck passers vs. doers." On a sound bite level, that bloody well works.
Even so, it's a great quote! And, yes, I think you are right. I'm going to check my quote website right now! I think Teddy talked about the big stick. ;)
I thought that line was particularly damning! ABC may have made some edits, but the overall picture from tonight's show is that the Clinton Administration screwed up royally in the run up to 9/11. ABC might put some digs in there about the Bush Administration in tomorrow's show, but with the timeline being what it is, people will SEE that the 8 months the Bush Administration had was NOTHING compared to the previous 8 yrs. of the Clinton administration.
I hope you are correct.
Yes -- especially when, in truth, President Bush displayed great calm under pressure. His staff was in the back room, fully aware of everything that was happening and in control, and he didn't want to alarm the children. People just don't get how much great of a leader and administrator George W. Bush. He may sound goofy when he talks sometimes, but he is a brilliant guy -- all business and in control of things. He reminds me a lot of my father. No matter what happens, I have great affection and admiration for our President and His great lady.
I'm sorry, I think Jordan is standing next to Donnie!
I like you're way of thinking!
Now think of Rush when you read this: "Right awn, Right awn!"
A caller to Drudge cited a federal law that makes it a felony for two or more persons acting under the color of authority to deny the civil rights of another person. That is exactly what Reid and the Democrat leadership did in the letter to ABC threatening their broadcast license if they didn't pull the mini-series. I hope there are some lawyers ready to jump on the opportunity.
I just checked and you are right - it was Truman! He had some great quotes, like "It's amazing what you can accomplism when you don't mind who gets the credit." Reminds me of one of my favorite presidents - GWB.
This is what I love about the Internet -- the fact checking. Thanks!
what are you really trying to say?
i KNOW that! But remember, this docudrama was based on a lot of facts! Otherwise, then why would the left get so upset?!
Could you imagine interviewing these people on camera, watching them weasel out of everything, each of them blaming everyone but themselves? It would be humorous/pathetic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.