March 25, 2004

• Salon interview
• What makes this seem to transcend "politics as usual" is this: Four successive US presidents have picked Richard Clarke to defend the country against terrorists. That's Reagan, Bush the First, Clinton, and Bush the Second. Certainly Clarke has the connections to get a lucrative job. Despite his title, no one so far (that I've read or heard) has held him accountable for 911. First question: Is he trying to protect his historical reputation at the expense of Bush the Second? Opinion: 1. If he is then fuck him. 2. If he isn't then I want him rehired to his old job. Second question: How do we tell?
• A story that is getting lost with all the attention Richard Clarke is getting is that of whistleblower, FBI translator, Sibel Edmonds. I wrote a blog post about her. She told Tom Flocco that Attorney General John Ashcroft made her change pre-9/11 terrorist transcripts. She testified in front of the 9/11 Commision yesterday ad said that the FBI "real, specific" that offered clues to the 9/11 attacks. She also states that Ashcroft invoked State Secret Privilage and National Security to keep her from going public. Flocco asked her if the raise the FBI gave her was a bribe. She replied, "You can interpret it as that."
• Hey, this is the White House talking points against Richard Clarke.
• Salon article on Edmonds.
• Thanks homunculus. I can use that link. I'm going to write another entry about her. She's a big story that is not getting exposure.
• The Independent has picked up Edmonds' story.
• Ezra Klein wrote a good article on why the Bushies are attacking Clarke so hard.
• Sibel Edmonds is going to be on 60 minutes on Sunday.
• Or not. It looks like her story was bumped by the Reagan retrospectives. I don't know when they'll replay it. Here a recent TNR article about Edmonds, though. Sounds like the DOJ is still playing games.
• Richard Clarke: 'Iraq could be much more of a problem for America than if Saddam had stayed in power'.
• 911truestory.com This information focuses on the theory that the World Trade Center buildings were demolished by internally placed bombs. This is called a "controlled demolition". Many people believe this possibility has not been adequately investigated.
• F.B.I. Agent Testifies Superiors Didn't Pursue Moussaoui Case
• A Secret the Terrorists Already Knew
• Richard Clarke Blasts Key Scene In ABC’s 9/11 Docudrama
• For those of you too busy to take a hit off the H-dogg joint: ABC is planning to air a “docudrama” called Path to 9/11, billed by writer Cyrus Nowrasteh . . has a dramatic scene where former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger refuses to give the order to the CIA to take out bin Laden . . . Rush Limbaugh, who refers to Nowrasteh as “a friend of mine,” . . . In short, this scene — which makes the incendiary claim that the Clinton administration passed on a surefire chance to kill or catch bin Laden — never happened. It was completely made up by Nowrasteh. thanks, ABC! Now the people I know who believe the standard dittohead bullshit will bring this up. Along with Saddam bringing down the towers.
• Clinton officials to ABC: Fix or pull 9/11 miniseries "While ABC is promoting 'The Path to 9/11' as a dramatization of historical fact, in truth it is a fictitious rewriting of history that will be misinterpreted by millions of Americans... Given your stated obligation to 'get it right,' we urge you to do so by not airing this drama until the egregious factual errors are corrected, an endeavor we could easily assist you with given the opportunity to view the film." Finally! Get it right... yeowwza!
• 2nd paragraph: But in a statement released Thursday afternoon in apparent response to the growing uproar, ABC said, "No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is not yet complete, so criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible." No one's seen the final version of the film? Criticism is premature? Then what the fuck are you sending the movie to fascist-friendly bloggers and critics for, and why are they breathlessly promoting it if it's incomplete and criticism is premature and irresponsible you lying hypocritical public-airwave-using FUCKS *pant* *pant* sorry.
• *feels pete's pain* Um, just which one, I'm not sure
• *feels pete's panties* Is that silk?
• *looks askance at homunculus* *raises eyebrow*
• Fresh! As I've mentioned, it's strictly a comfort thing.
• Let Sibel Edmonds Speak!
• Richard Clarke: Bush made them stronger. New intel report ignores 3 inconvenient truths about terror.
• FBI Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Will Now Tell All - and Face Charges if Necessary - to Any Major Television Network That Will Let Her
• Good for her. She's got guts and she deserves a hell of a lot of respect for this.
• Paul Reveres or Benedict Arnolds?: Whistleblowing in the Post 9/11 Age
• Didja know Paul Revere stopped for about an hour and a half to pound some liquor and then got pulled over at a drunk riding roadblock? s'true. Um, I dunno what Bennie was on.
• A Hizbullah Mole?
• Bush legacy: Setting a standard in fear-mongering
• Clarke, Other Experts Contradict Administration Line on Wiretapping