I have read some of the engineering reports that used the personal telephone, cell phone, and blackberry communications of those about to die to determine the exact time and sequence of each portion of the collapse of both towers. It is from that communication that mostly fills me with disgust towards Rudy and his ‘hero’ claims.
The whole thing is so sad. I actually wouldn’t have had as harsh of words to say about Rudy and the planning team had it not been for their attitude after. They so enjoyed the limelight that arrogance took over where humility should reside. Many of them used 9/11 to create a myth about their great success and launch a business based on that myth (Rudy, Kerik, Von Essen, et al). To now stand center stage as a “hero” on the campaign trail is where my disgust hit its limits. That along with trying to push Bernard Kerik into the DHS slot.
The testimony from Rudy and Kerik was also disheartening. It seemed that neither would acknowledge mistakes clearly evidenced in hundreds of other places. Von Essen was a whole lot more honest when it came to that.