911 Commission delivers report LIVE THREAD

[NonValueAdded]

Bob Kerrey did make one statement that I thought was revealing: "What we know today about Bin Laden, we knew in '95...90% in '98." Of course, it could also be a criticism of the Bush Administration (who else?) for not learning the other 10%. (Arm-chair "generals" want perfection.)

"Long before 9-11, a lone voice warned President Clinton about OBL ... Congressman Bill McCollum" opening of Bill McCollum's radio advertisement. (ex-Congressman running for Senate here in Florida)

[Howlin]

Bill Nelson on Fox saying that anybody who doesn't to put this report into action is against the report!

As if these are the Ten Commandments.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, duh.

[Chad Fairbanks]

So, Bill Nelson thinks the 911 Commission came down from the mountain with the Word of God? What a putz.

[McGruff]

"Protesters arriving at the Republican convention cannot have their bags examined"

It's true, some liberal judge in NY City prohibited police from searching protesters backpacks unless they have reason to believe they are a threat.

[keysguy]

Limbaugh sipping kool aid saying "there was nothing we could do" nothing anyone could have done about 911"--Bubba could have arrested OBL, that would have helped.

[OldFriend]

They bash the Patriot Act which is designed to ferret out evildoers and then they rant and rage about what exactly?

All this posturing is making me sea sick.

Blah blah blah........from those who want to REMOVE segments of the Patriot Act.

Time for them to SHUT UP!

[Chad Fairbanks]

It could have helped, OR it could have just put the plan in motion sooner... There are so many ways this could have played out...

Everyone has 20/20 Hindsight.

[NonValueAdded]

Bill Nelson on Fox saying that anybody who doesn't to put this report into action is against the report!

Open question to Bill Nelson ... was the commission staffed with our best and brightest experts on security and intelligence? From the report itself, almost half of the Commission staff is listed as "counsel." Isn't it more prudent to take the general recommendations of the Commission and then charge the "best and brightest" to turn the recommendations into action plans that may or may not match the general recommendation from this political Committee???

[OldFriend]

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Who made that idiotic statement?

[Howlin]

He has now set up the line; listen to the rest of the Democrats to say the same.

[OldFriend]

It is my understanding that every cockpit has an ax to be used in the event of emergency egress.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Yeah, but hopefully the republicans will have the cojones to stand up and say "Well, since we were missing a lot of evidence that disappeared down Sandy Berger's pants, we don't know yet how accurate this report really is..."

[NonValueAdded]

Unattributed ... but pre-9/11 most males would acquiesce in the face of a threat to a female.

[keysguy]

Yeah, that's true but why is it always overlooked how many time Bubba had the opportunity to bust OBL.
"I tried but the Saudis just didn't want him, he was a hot potato".
BS bill!

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Bob Kerrey did make one statement that I thought was revealing:
"What we know today about Bin Laden, we knew in '95...90% in '98."

And then he became an infomercial for Amazon.com and Tom Clancy books.
Why do so many Democrats act like they are on the lam from the guys with the white jackets and tranquilizer darts ?

I only caught about half hour of the presser, but, by the sour looks on the faces of the reporters and anchors-they seem very disappointed that the report did not blame President Bush for 9/11.

John Kerry looked so bad, I was actually hoping he would get some Botox.
Not having the time to read all the posts at this time, I assume that others have made the point that the Report should have graded both presidents on a curve.
Because how can you assign equal blame to both administrations, when one was in office for eight years and tolerated multiple terrorist attacks and the other had just been in office for about 240 days ?
John Kerry had the power to affect national security long before George Bush came to DC.
In sum, I think the Report helps President Bush by reinforcing that we cannot let our guard down-they're coming for us again.
In comparison to Kerry, who has said that the threat of terrorism is exaggerated.

[OESY]

Some questions to be asked by the press of Panel members:


1. What changes to the USA Patriot Act did the 9/11 Commission recommend? Should terrorists be treated better than mob chiefs?

2. Did the last Longshoreman's strike in California help or hurt attempts to strengthen port security and container tracking automation?

3. If letting 9/11 hijackers travel through Iran was a collaborative operational relationship, had Iraq provided safe harbor to any al-Qaeda operatives?

4. Given the quagmire that developed obtaining the Senate's consent to presidential appointees in early 2001 and subsequently, are Americans well served by subjecting a new intelligence chief to the same politics?

5. Given the failure of the Senate to pass legislation passed by the House, is there any reasonable expectation that the Senate could move on the Panel's recommendations this year before the election? (Refer to editorial "Daschle's Dead Zone" in today's Wall Street Journal.)

6. What responsibility does the Congress assign itself for the Church Committee and Torricelli "reforms"?

7. What Panel recommendations had been proposed by previous commissions?

8. How much did this commission cost? What are the expected costs estimates for implementation of all proposals?

9. How was the Gorelick conflict of interest resolved with respect to the "Wall" between the FBI and CIA and within those agencies and other intelligence units?

10. What did Sandy Berger not want the 9/11 Panel to see in the 4-6 drafts of the Millenium After-Acrion Report and related port security documents?


Additional questions solicited. Send to Livefrom@cnn.com and elsewhere.

[keysguy]

"How can you assign equal blame to both administrations"--sneak into the Nat. Archives and load up your slacks with the evidence and throw it away. Then claim you were sloppy. That's how.

[cyncooper]

I'm light. Light and optimistic!

[Sea2ShiningSea]

It may be despite themselves, but I agree.