[independentmind]

Covering it up after the fact would be a national security judgement call.

That is an amazing statement. The same kind of national security that failed to detect critical weaknesses in airline security?

If TWA800 was a terrorist incident, the reason for the cover-up was probably to prevent the same kind of economic tremors that the more recent bombings have caused. By avoiding confronting the truth, however, the damage has only been magnified.

Lies have this funny way of boomeranging. Too bad more of our brilliant bureacrats and politicians don't understand that.

[laureldrive]

Didn't Rush Limbaugh dismiss the theory that 800 was a terrorist hit, or brought down by a bomb, because Kallstrom was his friend, he trusted Kallstrom, and Kallstrom assured us it wasn't a bomb or a missile? Is it time to pressure Rush to show some credibility and ask some questions?

[Harrison Bergeron]

I didn't say it would be a good, or even acceptable judgement call. It would have been a Clintonesque judgement call, and, unfortunately, within his authority.

[Robert Lomax]

The current administration does not need to critisize the Ex-"doesn't know how to smoke a good cigar" President. Looks like it all will eventually come out in the wash.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"That is an amazing statement. The same kind of national security that failed to detect critical weaknesses in airline security?

I'd amend that comment as follows:

"That is an amazing statement. The same kind of national security that failed to detect act on critical weaknesses in airline security?"

There. But I hesitate to sieze on this issue given that it's now moot and we face a long bloody war as a result. We now have only to act and let the historians sort out the recriminations.

[erkyl]

"If TWA800 was a terrorist incident, the reason for the cover-up was probably to prevent the same kind of economic tremors that the more recent bombings have caused."

EXACTLY! Clinton couldn't let the economy fall on his watch...after all, he knew he had absolutely nothing to do with the economic boom this country experienced during his term. But, he was happily taking the credit for it. He had to keep the economy booming, because he sure as heck didn't know how it got started and wouldn't know how to fix it if it broke.

IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!