It was a `routine' memo

The Mercury News ^ | 05/25/02 | Mona Charen

[What Is Ain't]

Critics have been quick to seize upon the ``Phoenix memo'' as evidence that the Bush administration may have had foreknowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks. The memo purportedly warned of ``Middle Eastern men'' taking flight training at American schools.

Not so fast Woodward and Bernstein wannabees. In the first place, we cannot evaluate the administration's or FBI's handling of this memo until we know better how many similar reports and memos the government was receiving at the time. This memo stands out now because it turned out to be correct. But just as the government received many -- often conflicting -- signs of a possible Japanese attack before Pearl Harbor, picking out the accurate warning from amid the chatter is often possible only in retrospect.

[What Is Ain't]

Welcome back, Mona.

[SkyPilot]

``What did the president know, and when did he know it?'' (That last was Rep. Richard C. Gephardt, D-Mo.)

The Democrats are Patriotic Americans too...right? They love our country too...right?

Sure, Uh-huh! And Brittney Spears.......

didn't get breast implants............

[aruanan]

Have you heard any updates on her son's condition?

[Eroteme]

From the article: In the first place, we cannot evaluate the administration's or FBI's handling of this memo until we know better how many similar reports and memos the government was receiving at the time.

We now know about The Minneapolis Moussaoui memo. Interesting that the Kenneth Williams Phoenix memo is reported to have been stalled by a "unit chief" at FBI Terrorism headquarters. (

Then, with the Moussaoui memo, we again have a unit chief with a black hole inbox. Indeed, the Mpls. agent now charges that this unit chief rewrote her report, omitting key evidence that resulted in denial of a search warrant.

Just a little too coincidental for my tastes. I suspect these unit chiefs are not two separate individuals, but one in the same.

[Tacis]

Think back over recent years! When was the last time that we got good news about something in which the FBI was involved? When was the last time you said, "Damn, they did exactly what they should have; boy, am I glad the FBI was alert and in position." Never happened!

They are government bureaucrats whose only job is to justify personal bonuses and awards and a larger organizational budget for next year. We know about he capture of Richard Jewell, the thousands of files to Willie's White House sewer, the murders at Waco, the secret files re the government's advance knowledge of OKC, and, most depressing, those are only some of the failures we KNOW about. Would the FBI report any failure that it could conceal?

[RJCogburn]

the agency would have risked a public relations disaster

Mona, what are you saying? Men of integrity do what is right regardless of "public relations".

[What Is Ain't]

GOOD NEWS [Kathryn Jean Lopez] Jonah, I think it is safe to say that the prayers are definitely appreciated by Mona Charen and her family, in the most sincere way. Word is that Jonathan is walking and talking and that his prognosis is now optimistic. They are indeed wonderful people and that is wonderful news.

[Random Access]

When your greatest source of pride is nonjudgmentalism...

What happens when a nonjudgemental person meets a judgemental person? Does the nonjudgemental person judge the judgemental person or does the nonjudgemental person not judge the judgemental person.

[David]

There is a significant effort under way to analogize the September 11 facts with those in December of 1941. In fact, the record is quite different. There is abundent real documentary evidence that FDR knew that a Japanese operation directed against Pearl was under way by the 5th. There is also a strong political record demonstrating that FDR was motivated to get the US into WarII in Europe and was looking for an excuse to do so.

Situation here is different--there is no one (not even Cynthia Mckinney) who can make any kind of reasonable argument that will withstand any kind of review that had Bush known, he would not have acted.

[NerdDad]

If the FBI had started questioning flight-school students merely because they were of Middle Eastern origin, the agency would have risked a public relations disaster.

So what's stopping them now? I read a thread here a few days ago about how many Middle Easterners are still being allowed into the US for flight training. What's stopping them from hauling these people's butts back out of the US? What's stopping them from hitting the truck driving schools? The nuclear engineering schools? The federal baggage screeners schools? I know there isn't such a school. I'm making a point. We are overrun with Middle Easterners, mainland Chinese, and other people who should be considered our enemies. They are taking classes in our universities, learning skills that they will take back home and translate directly into danger to the safety of Americans. I'm sick of it.

[NerdDad]

It was a natural teenage growing spurt. It just happened to come at the same time she was in the hospital for knee surgery. (/sarcasm) It was also and excellent and welcome diversion from an article that had me steamed (see #10). Thanks.

[aruanan]

FANTASTIC!!