The Art of Politics

Commission Off Mission

The 9/11 commission is more interested in being seen asking questions, than in getting answers...

National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 commission today brought into stark relief how very wrong this commission has gone.

Listening to the normally sane Sen. Bob Kerrey rant and rave on Iraq to open his questions to Rice, then bleat about his lack of time, is outright laughable. Richard Ben-Veniste acted as if he was a cross examining a street thug:

BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6th PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

Now, the...

BEN-VENISTE: Thank you.

RICE: No, Mr. Ben-Veniste...

BEN-VENISTE: I will get into the...

RICE: I would like to finish my point here.

BEN-VENISTE: I didn't know there was a point.

RICE: Given that -- you asked me whether or not it warned of attacks.

BEN-VENISTE: I asked you what the title was.

RICE: You said, did it not warn of attacks. It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting. There was no new threat information. And it did not, in fact, warn of any coming attacks inside the United States.

Uncle Ben-Veniste can't handle his Rice. He is yet another 9/11 commission questioner more engaged in grandstanding rhetorical questioning than in hearing an answer.

Why on Earth are commission members appearing on TV talk shows opining on the testimony? The unfortunately named Jamie Gorelick is on Hardball this evening throwing Rice under the bus. This should be intolerable. This commission should have two spokesmen - the chairs - and no talking heads. It is outrageously prejudicial to have these members spinning their views before all of the testimony is complete.

Who can honestly say that the members of this commission aren't politically driven to their positions? The unseriousness of the commission is further reinforced by the amatuerish, inappropriate applause from the gallery. This isn't Springer, folks. Kerrey had the good sense to try and quiet it. The families in the audience are in danger of transitioning from figures of tragedy to simply tragic figures.

It seems apparent that nothing will come out of this commission except a partisan report that attempts to blame the opposite party for 9/11, rather than the murdering thugs who are truly responsible. From Hell, they spitefully cackle with glee as the political backbiting and attempted opportunism devolves into a spectacle worthy of the Roman mob.

This commission has become a feast of Atreus.

Posted by MEC2 at April 8, 2004 07:04 PM