Posted on 04/08/2004 1:06:36 PM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - Some relatives of Sept. 11 victims responded in anger on Thursday to what they described as the White House's failure to accept responsibility for the 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Family members were among those in the crowded hearing room to listen to national security adviser Condoleezza Rice tell the 9-11 commission that bureaucratic structure was to blame for the administration's inability to counter the attacks.
"No one wants to take any responsibility. Three thousand people died, and all they want to talk about is structural problems," Bob McIlvaine of Oreland, Pennsylvania, whose son died in New York's World Trade Center.
"They should be ashamed of themselves," he said.
Many 9/11 relatives said the general public should have been warned about the potential for attack during the summer of 2001, when intelligence officials were said to have detected a surge in communications between suspicious operatives.
But during three hours of testimony before the bipartisan commission, Rice denied the Bush administration was negligent, countering testimony of former White House anti-terror czar Richard Clarke. Clarke told the commission on March 24 that the Bush White House ignored the urgent threat from al Qaeda.
"I am angry at the lack of accepting accountability -- that's what the president should have done, accepted responsibility," said Beverly Eckert of Stamford, Connecticut, whose husband Sean died at the World Trade Center.
"Instead, it's been outwardly directed, not just at the terrorists but at previous administrations."
Added New Jersey widow Patty Casazza: "I think it made her look incompetent in her position."
Clarke began his testimony by apologizing to victims and their families for government failings that allowed the attacks to occur.
Carie Lemack, whose mother also died in the attack on New York's World Trade Center towers, told CNN Rice should have admitted errors were made.
"We did not hear that today. I'm hoping we are going to hear that because it is clear that 3,000 people don't just get murdered. There were mistakes made and we need to fix them to make sure Americans are safer."
"... We're glad that she came forward and spoke. We're glad that it was in public, under oath, and we were able to get that information. But there is a lot more truth to be told," she added.
Well said...but keeping in mind these are just the "professional whining widows" and not ALL victims families. I do wish equal time would be given to nonBush haters.
You and me both.
"I am angry at the lack of accepting accountability -- that's what the president should have done, accepted responsibility," said Beverly Eckert of Stamford, Connecticut, whose husband Sean died at the World Trade Center.**** BEVERLY ECKERT ALERT!!!! ****"Instead, it's been outwardly directed, not just at the terrorists but at previous administrations."
Beverly Eckert, Teresa Heinz Kerry's Rent-A-Activist, strikes again. Yesterday, Good Morning America, today Reuters. No citation of who she is or what organization she heads or whose money bought her in any case. She's on the steering committee of "Peaceful Tomorrows," which protested the Bush Ads earlier. Their money is Heinz Endowments money, slightly laundered.
Yeah, how DARE they mention the Clinton administration, as if the immediately preceding eight years of non-feasance and malfeasance had anything to do with what the Bush administration didn't do in less than eight months.
Yep. See the immediately preceding post on Beverly Eckert.
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.