Bush's Most Fateful Day

As we ponder George W. Bush's final week as president, what was his most fateful day in office? One is that day in August of 2001 when he got word in a national security intelligence briefing that terrorist Osama Bin Laden was planning a major attack. Thirty six days later the warning came true.

A censored copy of the intelligence memo that Bush saw on Aug. 6 at his Texas ranch was released by the White House three years later. It was entitled, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US," and provided many details about his activities, including that members of his organization, Al-Qa'ida, "have resided in or traveled to the US for years, and the group apparently maintains a support structure that could aid attacks." At least 70 FBI investigations were underway to find them, the memo reported to the president.

There was even a reference to Bin Laden's desire to hijack U.S. aircraft, although the memo did not foresee that hijackings would be used to crash into buildings, as happened a little over a month later to the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington.

Craig blogs daily at CQ's Trail Mix

Bush shuffled the CIA's warning over to his National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice -- and went bass fishing. He never called a meeting or followed up on the matter until nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on Sept. 11, 2001. The day after the intelligence warnings in August there was more recreation time, as Bush played golf and joked around with reporters.

"No mulligans, except on the first tee," Bush said to laughter as he hit a second drive on the first fairway. "That's just to loosen up. You see, most people get to hit practice balls."

Although Rice later tried to claim in testimony to Congress that Bush had put the government on "battle stations" during that time, even a close Bush adviser wouldn't go along with that, calling her characterization an "overstatement." No evidence ever surfaced that Bush did anything, said anything or even thought about the matter between that briefing and 9/11.

Comments

[tompoe]

Any mention of 9/11 must include the indisputable fact that the three buildings collapsed in their footprints, which cannot happen without deliberate demolitions in place, or by defying the laws of physics. Please inform your readers of the facts.

[realpolitic]

"Although Rice later tried to claim in testimony to Congress that Bush had put the government on "battle stations" during that time, even a close Bush adviser wouldn't go along with that, calling her characterization an "overstatement." Rice has always been just a Bush sycophant. Bush has never let acts of terrorism get in the way of one of his many vacations.

[mommadona]

His epitaph.

Bush lied.
People died.

[joycehelene]

So many people had to die on 9-11 because of such terrible bungling on the part of everyone, it is frightening.

[LITNUP]

Pres Bush' most fateful day?,,, Election day 2000 when he had the audacity to beat Al Gore ( yes he did) and from that day on the hatefilled foaming rabid liberals attacked and never let up

[sightseein]

And aren't you glad G Dubya won? Glad you voted for him I bet. Twice I bet even.

GW Bush = Utter failure.

[ThinkCreeps]

Yeah yeah... you go with that explanation, MAKITUP.

But you are right, as days in infamy go, Nov 7 2000 was a good one.

[JazzSax UT]

So, by your logic, Bush did nothing wrong... ever. He was just a victim... a poor blathering victim because the "LIBERAL" media didn't like him... Are you a victim too?

[Gidster]

So liberals are to blame...not GW?
Facts be hanged!!!

[realpolitic]

You guys stole that election with the help of the Supreme Court.

[vegas9999]

9/11 took months and months of planning but we never hear Clinton's name mentioned.

[CubanDem72]

I have heard Clinton's name mentioned... But the point is here that Bush received a pretty clear warning and... went on vacation. If someone told you someone was planning a home-invasion burglary on your house, wouldn't you do something to prevent it?

[Henry]

"At least 70 FBI investigations were underway to find them, the memo reported to the president."

The statement above is the one that gets me, because the FBI Agent in Minneapolis who wrote a memo about Muslims training in flight schools only to have her questions pushed back. I know we have bad intelligence inthe U.S. but this sounds not only insane but inconsistent with what was communicated in the briefing (in that there were 70 ongoing FBI investigations).