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Cheney says U.S. faces threat of worse attack
Rueters ^

Posted on 05/16/2002 5:52:25 PM PDT by Dallas

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday raised the specter of a new, devastating terror attack on the United States and said Democratic Party criticism of the White House's handling of pre-Sept. 11 terror warnings at such a time was "thoroughly irresponsible".

Cheney said in a speech in New York that an investigation by Congress into possible intelligence failings ahead of the Sept. 11 attacks, in which about 3,000 people were killed, should be handled with great circumspection.

"An investigation must not interfere with the ongoing efforts to prevent the next attack, because without a doubt a very real threat of another perhaps more devastating attack still exists," Cheney said at the start of the speech at a dinner marking the 40th anniversary of the New York State Conservative Party.

"The people and agencies responsible for helping us learn about and defeat such an attack are the very ones most likely to be distracted from their critical duties if Congress fails to carry out their obligations in a responsible fashion," Cheney said.

The vice president attacked Democratic Party critics of the White House's handling of pre-Sept. 11 terrorism warnings, saying that suggestions the attacks could have been prevented were "thoroughly irresponsible and totally unworthy of national leaders in a time of war."

Key members of Congress had demanded earlier to know if the U.S. government had had enough information to head off the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Was there a failure of intelligence? Did the right officials not act on the intelligence in the proper way? These are the things we need to find out," said House of Representatives Democratic leader Richard Gephardt.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said he was "gravely concerned."

Administration officials said President George W. Bush had been warned in August of a possible hijack plot, but the intelligence was too general to act upon.

In his speech Cheney said he wanted to tell "my Democratic friends in the Congress is that they need to be very cautious not to seek political advantage by making incendiary suggestions".

"The president and I believe that one of our most important responsibilities is to do all that we can to ensure that an attack like 9/11 never happens again," he said.

"We believe that a thorough investigation of the events that led up to 9/11 is entirely appropriate and at the president's direction I've worked with the leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees to ensure that they get the necessary cooperation...

"There is an obligation on the part of the Congress to make certain that any investigation is conducted in a professional and responsible manner by members who are knowledgeable and are committed to improving our ability to defend the nation, not those who would seek short term political advantage," Cheney said.


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To: Dallas
This is obvious, blatant, pre-election bull-sh!t.

The Senate Security Committee, in which many Democrats are seated, received the exact same vague terrorist threat warnings as the Executive Office at the time.

What concerns me even more is that people posting on Free Republic would actually give credence to anything that Daschle and Gephart would say.

21 posted on 05/16/2002 6:31:34 PM PDT by 2111USMC
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To: independentmind
"independent mind"

Why is it that liberals can't admit they're liberals anymore? This "independent" costume fools no one.

You know full well that this discussion has nothing to do with national security, and everything to do with another failed attempt by the left to take a bite out of W's approval ratings.

Enron, "the picture", and now "He knew!". This is like watching a blind boxer at work.

22 posted on 05/16/2002 6:32:53 PM PDT by cgk
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To: Dallas
We are going to be attacked, again. And again and again. It is unfortunate, but it's a price paid for being so "open and free". There will probably never be specifics presented as to who, what, when, where, why and how any attack will be perpetrated. If there were such knowledge, the attack(s) would never happen because security forces would squash it/them. Even the Israelis can't stop every attack. The Left's polemics are designed for political gain. Not for illumination. The Left-the Democrats-are the focus of treason in the modern United States. Not only did Democrats not do a damned thing regarding national security during the ribald reign of Bubba the BJ King, they are solely responsible for the emasculation of the CIA and other domestic and foreign intelligence agencies. If Americans haven't already been "moronized" by the so-called "education" system, they'd realize that.
23 posted on 05/16/2002 6:35:36 PM PDT by Thumper1960
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To: cgk
"independent mind" Why is it that liberals can't admit they're liberals anymore? This "independent" costume fools no one.

So I'm a liberal? Well, better to be a liberal than a moron, I guess.

24 posted on 05/16/2002 6:35:59 PM PDT by independentmind
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To: independentmind
There are legit questions and the need for quick answers is critical. But the way these slim-bucket copperheads in the senate and the media are spinning the issues makes me wonder if it isn't time to repeal the first amendment!(jus' kiddin', y'all). I've never been so mad at the press and the demoncrats as I am right now! If the people fall for their lies this time and lose faith in the President as a result, I may have to strangle something!
25 posted on 05/16/2002 6:36:53 PM PDT by cartoonistx
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To: galt-jw
Would you rather have our leaders going around saying they CAN and WILL prevent another terror attack when we all know it isn't humanly possible? What kind of credibility would they have?
26 posted on 05/16/2002 6:39:08 PM PDT by Trust but Verify
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To: independentmind
better to be a liberal than a moron

That's true. But it must suck to be both.

27 posted on 05/16/2002 6:41:30 PM PDT by cgk
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

To: cgk
Quite possibly, but I don't know for sure, as I am neither. Can you offer this forum some special insight on the matter?

And now that I've had my daily dose of trivialities, it's time for me to bake my brownies....

29 posted on 05/16/2002 6:47:45 PM PDT by independentmind
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To: independentmind
if your a liberal your a piece of garbage
30 posted on 05/16/2002 6:47:50 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: Dallas
I just heard Tom Dasschle say on C-Span "...Well yes we would want it to be,we'd make it a bi-partisan comission,a non-partisan commisson..." then in the next breath,he started naming Democratic Names(Gephardt,Lieberman) to head it up.This Devil is a piece of work and that holier-than-thou,smug look on his face---I only watched 3 minutes of him,it's too much for me to bear listening to him.I think,Dick Cheney needs to get in Congress' faces a little bit more.
31 posted on 05/16/2002 6:48:38 PM PDT by Pagey
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To: independentmind
Careful. Those EZ Bake ovens can be tricky.
32 posted on 05/16/2002 6:49:10 PM PDT by cgk
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To: TLBSHOW
if your a liberal your a piece of garbage

Okay, I will put my brownies on hold for a few more minutes...

Have you ever considered taking a remedial course in grammar?

33 posted on 05/16/2002 6:50:17 PM PDT by independentmind
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To: cgk
lol but its the best a piece of trailor trash can buy
34 posted on 05/16/2002 6:50:36 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: independentmind
Have you ever thought of moving to cuba?
35 posted on 05/16/2002 6:51:25 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: independentmind
"Sorry but they are legitimate questions."

Oh, for the love of God. Legitimate questions of whom and where ? Pod People ? Mars ? Tell me, do bright, shiny objects fascinate you for hours ?

36 posted on 05/16/2002 6:52:39 PM PDT by Darlin'
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To: Thumper1960
Not only did Democrats not do a damned thing regarding national security during the ribald reign of Bubba the BJ King, they are solely responsible for the emasculation of the CIA and other domestic and foreign intelligence agencies.

Bears repeating. Bears repeating by the current POTUS on national television. Otherwise, he fully deserves what they're dishing out today!

37 posted on 05/16/2002 6:53:07 PM PDT by Revolting cat!
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To: cgk
FOFLOL. My choice for quote of the day
38 posted on 05/16/2002 6:54:08 PM PDT by Darlin'
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To: Darlin'
bump for a classic post
39 posted on 05/16/2002 6:56:16 PM PDT by TLBSHOW
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To: Dallas
If the Democrats really were concerned about national security... Leaky Leahy would have been removed from his Senate seat a long time ago.
40 posted on 05/16/2002 6:57:15 PM PDT by piasa
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