Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer [TRANSCRIPT]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/print/20020517-6.html ^ | May 17, 2002 | Ari Fleischer

[RobFromGa]

Psssst...
I heard they might use a "suitcase nuke". If they do, can we say that we were warned.

New Top Secret US Defense Plan:

1. Make a list of all the possible weapons that terrorists could use
2. Make a list of all the cities they could attack.
3. Get a calendar and make a list of all the days they could attack.
4. Prevent them all. (but you can only spend what the Dems will allow after paying for their stupid crap)

OK, go to it... we can now disband the CIA.

[God-fearer]

Where are all the "peaceful" Muslims in America. We've got plenty of soap boxes ... they should be denouncing these rediculous acts of terrorism. We need to see American Arabs making citizen's arrests! We need to hear from local Law enforcement that the collaborators are being rooted out by fellow American Arabs. Even if there are only a few extremists in each city in America. We know they are there, and Arab Americans know who they are. The country cannot stand to see the left defend people who won't defend themselves.

[RobFromGa]

OK, half-dog, you really believe that anyone thought that towel-head nutcakes would suicide-bomb buildings prior to 9-11. Even the *$%^#)(&*(* ^ hijackers didn't know. Hijacking yes, Missiles no. There is a huge difference.

Do you think just because we knew that Russia had nukes back in 1982, that was enough to defend against them.

You are using MurryMom logic on this issue.

[hchutch]

Might I add that the lobbyist in question is one Linda Hall Daschle? Senator Daschle may have some explaining to do himself...

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

Where did Time's information come from? The government.

WHO in the government was Time quoting? Was this another anonymous source? If not, name names here, if so, how do you know how reliable they were? Because of how 9/11 happened? It is possible that this person or these persons actually inspired the events of 9/11, rather than predict them.

[Demidog]

Hijacking yes, Missiles no. There is a huge difference.

Explain the difference between hijacking and hijacking.

[Demidog]

Because of how 9/11 happened? It is possible that this person or these persons actually inspired the events of 9/11, rather than predict them.

No it isn't. The plan was uncovered in 1993 by Philipine officials.

[Demidog]

All those happened, by the way, on Clinton's watch and he did absolutely nothing to prevent them, or even in response (which is inexcusable).

I completely agree. Even worse was when Clinton, who had an opportunity to have bin Laden delivered on a silver platter by Sudanese officials in 1996, he refused.

Yet you slam Bush for not doing something to stop al-Qaida terrorists when he was given no "specific" details of anything. All we knew was that terrorists under the leadership of Osama bin Laden were out to get us.

The plans were known back in 1993. That's 9 years. Bush of course is not responsible for failing to act back then. But to say that there was no ability for the Bush administration to reduce the likelyhood that such an attack would succeed is simply spin.

The trend in government (to their eternal shame and discredit) is to reduce freedom in the name of "security."

The opposite has always resulted in more safety. Allowing pilots to carry arms, dropping restrictions on law abiding citizens would have been a great way to start.

You can yell "no way!" all you want but that single act would have undoubtedly put the odds in the favor of innocent American citizens who payed the price for such restrictions on their liberty.

This administration and others previous have decided that when you and I are faced with terrorists, we should be relegated to using our seat cushions to fend them off rather than our legally owned firearms or knives.

[GUIDO]

Refreash my memory who does that opinionated liberal bitch helen thomas work for. We need to bombard them with emails. She is so old and ugle she forgets that she is a reporter and is to report the news not give her opinions on the news. grrrrrrrrrrrr

[Utah Girl]

Helen Thomas is a syndicated columnist for the Hearst Newspaper Corporation.

[RobFromGa]

Explain the difference between hijacking and hijacking.

I shall try to explain to the most closed-minded among us the difference between these TWO terms:

Hijacking (pre-911) was mainly a scholarly pursuit, taken up by wackos who wished to negotiate a deal by taking hostages and creating an international incident;

Hijacking (post-911) is a previously unbelievable act in which turban-headed misfits willingly give their lives in order to murder innocent civilians who are living the very life that if they had any idea what life could be like, they would leave the hellhole they are presently living in, and move to the USA in a heartbeat.

Understand the difference, half-dog?

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

You are dodging my main question.

WHO was being quoted by Time magazine? You are avoiding the most important question and just accepting what was quoted without knowing, or at least revealing to everyone else here, who made the statements so that we can determine whether or not that person is credible.

[RobFromGa]

You are dodging my main question.

Halfdog is not dodging your question, he is simply too busy sticking voodoo pins in his Uncle Sam doll. Give him time.

[RobFromGa]

Where is the Half-Dog??? Can he come out and play?

[Demidog]

I have explained to you that Time quoted intelligence agents and officials. Named or not, to say that the information was bad, would be to ignore how accurate it was. That kind of thing doesn't happen by chance.

[Demidog]

The fact that nobody had initiated a suicide attempt using a commercial airliner is a non-issue relating to hi-jackings.

Getting control of the airplane is the issue. Whatever works in preventing hijackings is what the government should have done. In the 70's the fact that a hijacker had no idea which aircract might have an armed citizen was a strong deterrent. Box cutters are alot more lethal than seat cushions which is why they were so successful on 9/11.

[RobFromGa]

Whatever works in preventing hijackings is what the government should have done.

So, you (Half-Dog) are fine with 100% searches of all "Swarthy Muslim Males" prior to 9-11; in order to prevent 9-11;

After all, that represents 100% of the threat.

[Future Useless Eater]

...Mayor Bloomberg of New York said that suggestion was ridiculous. He contacted the White House, he listened, heard what information the White House had. He called it ridiculous. He united New York City, and he led.

I have to say, with disappointment, that Mrs. Clinton, having seen that same headline, did not call the White House, did not ask if it was accurate or not. Instead, she immediately went to the floor of the Senate, and I'm sorry to say that she followed that headline and divided.

Without a doubt, this is the highlight of the entire press briefing!!!
...(FreedomLoving_Engineer)

[Demidog]

That wouldn't have prevented 911. Furthermore, it would have been extremely intrusive.