Bush's Incompetence
Regarding 9/11
Copyright © 2004 Bob Persons
September 12, 2004
James Oliver Campbell's letter of September 12 ("Nationalized
hypocrisy") appears to be a collection of adjectives attached to nouns,
in the end amounting to "Bush is good, Kerry liberals are bad." What is
one to make of that? Let's look instead at some real evidence concerning
the Bush presidency, regarding a single topic - 9/11.
- When informed of al Qaeda's intent to attack the American homeland,
Bush's administration deemed the threat to be of secondary importance.
It didn't even try to prevent attacks on our soil.
- Despite bally-hooing the anti-missile defense for protection of our
nation, on 9/11 a mere two jets roamed the DC skies while four airliners
were on courses of destruction. The jet pilots were given no clue what
was going on. Except for the brave passengers over Pennsylvania, defense
was completely absent.
- The administration's immediate reaction to the attacks was confusion,
hesitancy to the point of inaction, and too little too late.
- After a stirring speech that roused America to action, Bush took two
months to take on bin Ladin. So bin Ladin got away.
- Not long after that Bush decided bin Ladin wasn't as important as
Saddam Hussein, who had nothing to do with 9/11. So he reverted to the
attitude of my first point - al Qaeda wasn't that important.
- Three years later homeland security remains inadequate and vast
amounts of resources - money and soldiers - are being used in Iraq
instead.
- The administration continues to refuse to release documents related
to 9/11. Wouldn't any reasonable person ask for the reason - national
security or evidence of ineptitude? and demand that a third party review
them?
- Bush consistently refuses to discuss issues on the basis of facts,
numbers, and logic. He prefers to say "Trust me" on everything,
including his terrorist preparations and 9/11 response.
- Now he is running on his record, touting his response to the calamity
as the major reason we should elect him. Let's look at that record. I do
that and say, "Why should we?"
Except for his address to the nation rousing the nation to act, his
response to 9/11 clearly is a hallmark of his ineptitude. For almost 4
years the Bush administration has squandered all opportunities and has
completely failed to protect America.
- Lone Coyote Calls
