Rice to Give Testimony.........

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Rice to Give Testimony.........
93
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 10:05am
Bush aide gives 9/11 testimony.

 



President George W Bush understood the threat from al-Qaeda well before 11 September, his national security adviser Condoleezza Rice has said.

Ms Rice is appearing before the body looking into the 2001 attacks.

"President Bush understood the threat, and he understood its importance," she told the commission.

Ms Rice is testifying in public about policy in the months before the attacks after Mr Bush reversed a decision to refuse the commission's request.


In her opening statement she said: "(President Bush) made clear to us that he did not want to respond to al-Qaeda one attack at a time.

"He told me he was 'tired of swatting flies.'"


Ms Rice told the commission: "There was no silver bullet that could have prevented" the devastating attacks on New York and Washington.


The US "simply was not on a war footing", she said.

"For more than 20 years, the terrorist threat was growing, and America's response across several administrations of both parties was insufficient," Ms Rice said.

Observers say Mr Rice's evidence could be vital for Mr Bush's re-election chances.

It is also being seen as a key moment in her own political career, with some tipping her as a future secretary of state or even president.

Her testimony is being covered by all the main US television networks.

She is expected to face intense questioning by the 9/11 commission - a panel of Republicans and Democrats charged with examining all the circumstances of the 2001 attacks, and setting out the lessons to be learned.

They will put to her accusations made by the former White House counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke two weeks ago.

In his testimony - and in a book on the George Bush presidency - he accused the administration of ignoring his warnings about al-Qaeda, and of being fixated with Iraq.

When he appeared before the commission he made a dramatic apology.

"Your government failed you, and I failed you," he said.

Ms Rice did not offer an apology as the White House said the administration felt it had done all it could to prevent the attacks, based on the information available.

But she said: "As an officer of government on duty that day, I will never forget the sorrow and the anger I felt."


The White House had originally refused to let Ms Rice testify, arguing that she was in a privileged position as a presidential adviser and that it would set the wrong precedent.


However it relented after a political row.

The White House has also hinted it may change course and release a speech Miss Rice was due to give on 11 September 2001, but which was never made because of the atrocities.

The speech apparently stressed the need for missile defence, rather than a war on terrorism.

Mr Bush's national security credentials, which are central to his re-election campaign, may depend on Miss Rice's testimony.

Patty Casazza of New Jersey, whose husband died in the World Trade Center attacks, said she hoped the appearance would make things much clearer.

"Her testimony will either undermine our confidence in this administration or bolster it," she told the Associated Press news agency.

cl-Libraone~

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 11:15am
I agree.

Avatar for independentgrrrl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-11-2004 - 1:58pm
<>

Contrast this behavior when Clarke was questioned. As a person of color, I was insulted and disgusted by his display. I guess you have to be a white male to be treated with respect by this idiot.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 9:49am
<>

I don't recall any calls for Clinton to apologize for the 93 WTC, OKC, embassies, and Cole attacks.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:03am
Great post, but I think we are seeing the results of holding these hearings in the middle of a war and during an election year.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:06am
Apparently you didn't understand my question. You made this statement, "I wondered at the time if she was the right person to head the NSA."

At the time she appointed National Security Advisor, all we knew of her was that she was well educated black woman who had impressive credentials. What was it at that time that made you "wonder" if she was the right person for the job?

The rest of your post referred to her job *after* she became National Security Advisor. And I wonder what you would propose that she do with this vague memo. Would you have gone to war in Afghanistan then, after the memo? What action would *you* propose?

She does not deserve your disrespect THEN OR NOW.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:09am
<>

The whole memo including the title was classified.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:17am
<>

She's not 'bright,' she's brilliant.

<>

Her job is to advise the president, not ride heard over 50 some terror investigations. It is assumed that the FBI & CIA are competent enough to do their job.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:26am
Did you see him yesterday??? One of the broadcasters asked him if (paraphrasing) he would be as aggressive with the president and v.p. next week and he looked sheepish and said no!!! What does that prove??? I wanted to throw something at the TV.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:31am
From her response, she agreed to 'declassify' the title at that point...nothing more, however.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 11:05am
<>

By "at the time", I meant at the time I was watching her testify. I had no objections to Dr Rice before that time. I am not a national security advisor, so I have no idea what I would have done. What I do know is that her responses reflected a passivity that is inappropriate for a person in power, reflecting her academic training. If you don't understand this I can't help you. Are you familiar with the difference between a college and a corporate hierarcy?

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