New Film Exposes How Rudy Failed Firefighters On 9/11

Filmmaker Robert Greenwald has released another explosive short documentary film about Rudy Giuliani, this time highlighting the former New York City mayor's controversial handling of radios used by the city's fire department on Sept. 11. Greenwald is also petitioning the New York City Council to launch an investigation into the matter.

The web video, released Monday by Brave New Films, alleges that during his administration Giuliani failed to equip the FDNY with adequate, let alone functioning, communication equipment. That in turn created massive problems on 9/11 and may have contributed to the unnecessary deaths of dozens of servicemen.

"What did Mr. Giuliani do [about faulty radios]?" Al Santora, the retired Chief of Safety for FDNY whose son died on 9/11, asks in one of the film's most poignant moments. "He had eight years. He did nothing to correct that situation... We got people dead as a result."

As Greenwald documents, the radios used by the FDNY on 9/11 were precisely the same ones that malfunctioned during the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center. Eight years after that attack, Giuliani did replace the defective equipment. But the new radios he bought under a no-bid, $14 million contract from Motorola (the previous contract was $1.4 million) were never field-tested. The "upgrade" proved disastrous. Within a week, the just-purchased radios were recalled after a firefighter's mayday went un-heard. Giuliani was forced to reissue the old, faulty batch. And on 9/11 when a police helicopter warned that the North Tower could collapse, more than 120 firefighters remained inside.

"The radios failed them and that was Giuliani failing them," says Roseleen Tallon, whose brother Sean was an FDNY member killed in 9/11.

In addition to releasing the film on www.therealrudy.org, Greenwald is petitioning New York City Councilman Eric Gioia to initiate a public investigation into Giulaini's handling of the FDNY radios.

"No investigation has ever taken place," Greenwald told the Huffington Post. "People were killed because he screwed up... and family members want questions answered."

Giuliani's office did not return calls requesting comment.

This is the second Giuliani film made by Greenwald. The first explored the former mayor's decision to ignore the advise of his own security experts and locate New York's terrorist command center at the World Trade Center, despite its centrality as a potential terrorist target.

Comments

[Dansden]

10:06 AM on 10/16/2007

Democratic Party can only hope that Guiliani gets the Republican nomination....
Won't that be fun COMPARING how New York has faired under the leadership of RUDEy and Hillary....?
Won't that be fun comparing the two leadership lifestyles of 'Von Reicht' RUDEy and visionary Hillary,,,,?
Won't that be fun COMPARING how the ethnic leadership in New York relate their relationships with RUDEy GETALLYOUWANTEE to Hillary...?
Won't that be fun COMPARING how RUDEy ('ramp up BUSH's WAR') and Hillary approach this devastating and despicable war in Iraq?

[progresemulo]

08:17 AM on 10/16/2007

There are only 19 people with a worse 9/11 record than Rudy Guiliani.

[sinnerjizm]

03:25 PM on 10/16/2007

That was good, and maybe someone will use it in their campaign

[ThomasDoubting]

02:05 AM on 10/16/2007

How did this fool become a hero on 9/11? He appeared on the street and acted like he knew what he was doing, while the President stayed up in the air, and Cheney went to his bunker When the truth is known regarding what really happened on that day, there will be a few less heroes. I have sent a link to a summary of Corporate News items regarding 9/11.. .http://www.wanttoknow.info/911information

[bushmocker]

09:27 PM on 10/15/2007

I don't understand what everyone is worried about.Honestly,if you had to make a choice between Ghouliani and a dog Turd,who would win?Now I know you're sitting ,looking at the screen and truly mulling this over.Case closed.

[Zhonni]

09:03 PM on 10/15/2007

Quite frankly, Rudy has no chance in Hades to be the Republican nominee.

I believe that the only candidate that Hillary can actually beat easilly is Rudy. Any other nominee would be a problem.

He failed in his Leadership and judgement when he put the comm equipments in the world trade center after the first bombings.

I believe most 15year olds, even if pressed, would say NO, IT'S BEEN BOMBED BEFORE LETS PUT IT ELSEWHERE.

But the terrorism GURU did not listen to sound advice. Now he wants to be in charge of the military. Forget it!!!

[esquire07]

06:07 PM on 10/15/2007

9/11 was the best thing to ever happen to Rudy.

His brand of Facism is as bad if not worse than Bush's.

A President Guilliani will be the hammer to pound the nails into the coffin that Bush has built for the United States of America.

Question Rudy's intentions. Question 9/11.

WWW.911Truth.org

[jefcos]

06:02 PM on 10/15/2007

Yes what America needs is another Corporate Ass Kissing, War Mongering Little Troll who will do nothing for the people and anything God Money tells him to do. He was so important during 911 that he stood by while nothing was done for the victims, the Fire Fighters had gag orders placed on them, evidence was dismantled and all evidence of corporate corruption miraculously fell to the ground in WTC7. American workers were laid off by the subjugated masses, stock portfolio's crumbled and K's were destroyed. You better bet your sweet ass Rudi is their man.
Remember we'll get what they give us or they will release the Boogie Man to slap us back to our senses. Who can remember who darling Rudi was before FOX made him a star? He was a washed up fraud and now he has emerged as the Great White Hope. We are DOOMED!!

[Ipanema]

02:50 PM on 10/15/2007

The Repugs are specilialist on No-Bid Contracts. They know all the ins and outs on how to dole out corporate welfare to their corporate buddies at the expense of the taxpayer. They remind me of the Mafia.

[5oclockshadow]

02:35 PM on 10/15/2007

Rudy will be the anointed nominee. Get used to the idea.

Just watch FOX opinion media for 5 mintues, and you'll see. They can't praise Bloody Rudy enough, and every critique is seen through the lens of a Bloody Rudy candidacy.

He will be hailed as the savior of 9/11 and the guy who saved NYC from evil liberal Democrats.

Forget the intra-party battles. Any Dem will be better than the newest neocon savior, and remember this. He's more brutal than Bush, but he's also competent.

[ProgressiveChange]

02:10 PM on 10/15/2007

History will determine if it was his actions and omissions as Mayor or Lobbyist which proved more harmful to Americans.

After he left office in New York, he organized a consulting firm and among others, served the interests of the pharmaceutical industry in at least 2 contexts:

1. Tried to take the heat off the makers of Oxycontin

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/05/10/giuliani-firm-advised-oxy_n_48143.html

2. Conducted a study concluding that less expensive medications imported from Canada would be unsafe

http://todaysseniorsnetwork.com/guiliani_sells_out.htm

As President, he will be primed to be a cash monsoon for corporate interests of all stripes.

[bushdoescrack]

01:56 PM on 10/15/2007

gee whiz, it seems that not every body thinks the ex mayor is a hero, only the republifools do.

[JewishJesus]

01:27 PM on 10/15/2007

Rudy Mussolini failed EVERYONE on 9/11...only the 29%-ers don't get it yet!!! He Also failed his wives and kids....but NOT his wallet!!! This little fascist would make a dime on is mom's casket if he could re-sell it!!! Fuck you ,Ghouliani!!!!

[SensibleAmerican]

02:03 PM on 10/15/2007

I have always maintained that the Repugnants are going to implode in 2008. There is a similar post on this Board as well

Guiliani is a classic example for why they will do so. Farcical, criminal, hypocritical, insane are just some of the adjectives more than appropriate to describe his ilk

9/11 helped them cover up all their pustulated scabs under the grabs of "patriotism". Those garbs have been lifted and these lepers are out in their true colors

[Mark Bernadiner]

05:50 PM on 10/15/2007

Clinton and Gore failed to protect this country from global islamofascism, but nobody from the left would like to aknowledge this fact.

[bushdoescrack]

08:42 AM on 10/16/2007

Clinton and Gore failed to protect this country from global islamofascism, but nobody from the left would like to aknowledge this fact.



ummm, 911 occured on bush's and rudy's "watch".

[lthuedk]

01:10 PM on 10/15/2007

http://www.light-to-dark.com/rudolphs_twins.html

Rudolph's last bastion of political hope is in his fashion sense and uncanny ability to help firefighters and the less fortunate. What a guy.

[BeamMeUpScotty]

01:07 PM on 10/15/2007

The fact that Giuliani hasn't tried to get all those First Responders who are dying because of concrete and metal particles lodged in their lungs is disgraceful.

Christine Todd Whitman of EPA blames Giuliani and Giuliani blames the Whitman. In the meantime, these heros of 911 are suffering and dying.

Both of Giuliani and Whitman are morally bankrupt.

[esquire07]

12:51 PM on 10/15/2007

What a sick fuck Rudy truly is. Rudy lied about 9/11. What is the criminal Gulliani not telling the rest of us ?

Question 9/11. Bush lied about everything - what makes you think he was honest about 9/11 ?