Witnessing the Meltdown

From the LA Times, August 13, 2004 (registration required):

COMMENTARY

Rumsfeld and Bush Failed Us on Sept. 11

COMMENTARY

By Gail Sheehy

Donald Rumsfeld, one of the chief opponents of investing real power over purse and personnel in a new national intelligence chief, told the 9/11 commission that an intelligence czar would do the nation “a great disservice.” It is fair to ask what kind of service Rumsfeld provided on the day the nation was under catastrophic attack.

“Two planes hitting the twin towers did not rise to the level of Rumsfeld’s leaving his office and going to the War Room? How can that be?” asked Mindy Kleinberg, one of the widows known as the Jersey Girls, whose efforts helped create and guide the 9/11 commission. The fact that the final report failed to offer an explanation is one of the infuriating holes in an otherwise praiseworthy accounting.

Rumsfeld was missing in action that morning - “out of the loop” by his own admission. The lead military officer that day, Brig. Gen. Montague Winfield, told the commission that the Pentagon’s command center had been essentially leaderless: “For 30 minutes we couldn’t find” Rumsfeld.

For more than two hours after the Federal Aviation Administration became aware that the first plane had been violently overtaken by Middle Eastern men, the man whose job it was to order air cover over Washington did not show up in the Pentagon’s command center. It took him almost two hours to “gain situational awareness,” he told the commission. He didn’t speak to the vice president until 10:39 a.m., according to the report. Since that was more than 30 minutes after the last hijacked plane crashed, it would seem to be an admission of dereliction of duty.

Rumsfeld’s testimony before the commission last March was bizarre. Asked point-blank by Commissioner Jamie Gorelick what he had done to protect the nation - or even the Pentagon - during the “summer of threat” preceding the attacks, Rumsfeld replied simply that “it was a law enforcement issue.” That obfuscation - was the FBI expected to be out on the Beltway with shoulder-launched missiles? - has been accepted at face value by the commission and media.

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	Witnessing the Meltdown Home Get Email Updates What I Do for a Living Email Me Admin Password Remember Me 13510 Curiosities served Share on Facebook				2004-08-14 2:11 PM Rumsfield's accountability for 9/11 response Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) From the LA Times, August 13, 2004 (registration required): COMMENTARY Rumsfeld and Bush Failed Us on Sept. 11 COMMENTARY By Gail Sheehy Donald Rumsfeld, one of the chief opponents of investing real power over purse and personnel in a new national intelligence chief, told the 9/11 commission that an intelligence czar would do the nation “a great disservice.” It is fair to ask what kind of service Rumsfeld provided on the day the nation was under catastrophic attack. “Two planes hitting the twin towers did not rise to the level of Rumsfeld’s leaving his office and going to the War Room? How can that be?” asked Mindy Kleinberg, one of the widows known as the Jersey Girls, whose efforts helped create and guide the 9/11 commission. The fact that the final report failed to offer an explanation is one of the infuriating holes in an otherwise praiseworthy accounting. Rumsfeld was missing in action that morning - “out of the loop” by his own admission. The lead military officer that day, Brig. Gen. Montague Winfield, told the commission that the Pentagon’s command center had been essentially leaderless: “For 30 minutes we couldn’t find” Rumsfeld. For more than two hours after the Federal Aviation Administration became aware that the first plane had been violently overtaken by Middle Eastern men, the man whose job it was to order air cover over Washington did not show up in the Pentagon’s command center. It took him almost two hours to “gain situational awareness,” he told the commission. He didn’t speak to the vice president until 10:39 a.m., according to the report. Since that was more than 30 minutes after the last hijacked plane crashed, it would seem to be an admission of dereliction of duty. Rumsfeld’s testimony before the commission last March was bizarre. Asked point-blank by Commissioner Jamie Gorelick what he had done to protect the nation - or even the Pentagon - during the “summer of threat” preceding the attacks, Rumsfeld replied simply that “it was a law enforcement issue.” That obfuscation - was the FBI expected to be out on the Beltway with shoulder-launched missiles? - has been accepted at face value by the commission and media. ... Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top