The sad thing is that for all of the new stories about Bush and 9/11 he will still probably end up winning the damned election. Richard Clarke has written and spoken about something that has pointed the spotlight back onto Bush and his administration's handling of terrorism and the aftermath of 9/11. But for some of us there isn't much news to what he says. A good deal of his criticisms and events that he points out have actually already been written about. Check out Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right He details how Sandy Berger tried to impress upon the incoming Bush administration and Condolezza Rice in particular the great threat posed by Islamic fundamentalist terrorism and Al-Queda specifically. As well as Bush's perverse interest in a missile defense shield. This poor sap is all about finishing other works started by other Republican presidents. Namely Reagan and Bush Sr. This obession with Star Wars defense is silly. I would say I have never understood it, but that's not true. I do understand it. Mostly it is about some macho sense of protecting the country and making money for defense contractors.
While I think wasting money on nuclear weapons beyond count is insane and $600 toilet seats are a waste, I didn't mind the idea of a large military. One of the worst things we did was the reduction in American forces and the many base closures. The need to save money was there, but the focus on the 'peace dividend' was a mistake. One of the things that Bush and Rice did get correct was the growing threat of China in taking the place of the old USSR.

For all of the bullshit I don't like about Bush and as much as I agree with Clarke's assessment, I can't for one minute believe that 9/11 could have been prevented. And that is where I feel disgust for Bush. Clarke had the good decency as well as political sense to apologize for the administration's and his failure to stop it. Bush is doing what Clinton did with Monicagate. He hides and denies. When he should have the balls and leadership to do what Clarke did and say "Hey the buck stops here. I just entered office, I was told that terrorism was a major concern, I was worried about the economy, China, etc...We could have done more, we should have done more and I am truly sorry for that." I don't blame him. I don't see how it could have really have been prevented given the circumstances at the time. Even with secure cockpits, skyjackings don't end in such ways. The pilots would have waited for the demand that they fly to Algeria or Cuba like skyjackers are supposed to do.

But I think it is of great importance that once you determine how to limit your risks, every effort should be made to do so. I read recently that there are American troops in Iraq that don't have body armor and their families are buying it from private companies here and sending it to the troops there. It is unconscionable to me that we would commit troops without proper equipment.
I wonder if the Texas Air National Guard has any to spare?