Ashcroft smears Gorelick & 9/11 comission

[Trigfunctions]

Freaking shameless.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/...comm/index.html

Spearheading the assault was Attorney General John Ashcroft, who determined before testifying that taking the offensive was the only strategy that might save him from sounding totally defensive. He was painfully aware, in the days before his appearance, that the commission's staff had collected copious evidence showing his neglect of counterterrorism issues during the administration's first nine months. Thomas Pickard, the former acting director of the FBI, had told the commission that in 2001, Ashcroft omitted terrorism from the Justice Department's top priorities, rebuffed his pleas for increased counter-terror funding and directed Pickard to cease briefing him on terrorist threats.

Blustering denials might not be sufficient to suppress such bad publicity. So while the attorney general pompously assured the commissioners that their work "can serve a noble purpose," he sought to intimidate them by launching a broadside against the Clinton administration, in the form of a bitter personal attack on former deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick. His tool was a hastily declassified 1995 Justice Department memorandum, written by Gorelick, that limited communications between intelligence agents and criminal investigators. According to Ashcroft, that memo stopped the FBI and the CIA from apprehending the al-Qaida agents lurking in the U.S. during the "summer of threat" as they prepared for the Sept. 11 hijackings. He didn't explain why his own deputy attorney general, Larry Thompson, endorsed precisely the same 1995 guidelines on Aug. 6, 2001. Neither did the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which swiftly seconded Ashcroft's attack on Gorelick, whom it accused of a conflict of interest.

[moedrabowsky]

The irony is that Gorelick is probably the least partisan member of the commission.

[Damtoft]

Culpability tends to limit partisan fervor.

[moedrabowsky]

Culpability tends to limit partisan fervor.

Somebody should tell Ashcroft and the rest of the Bush Administration.

[madyaks]

He's a piece of crap.

[Trigfunctions]

Originally posted by Damtoft@Apr 16 2004, 12:50 PM
Culpability tends to limit partisan fervor.

Looks like you're flip-flopping from when you posted an article saying Gorelick was terribly partisan and responsible for the screwed up state of the FBI and CIA.

[Bleacher Creature]

Ashcroft is the MAIN reason not to vote for Bush.

I couldn't stand his ass as governor or senator. He's a disgrace to Christianity.

[Iowa_Card]

Originally posted by The Kev@Apr 16 2004, 12:55 PM
Ashcroft is the MAIN reason not to vote for Bush.

I couldn't stand his ass as governor or senator. He's a disgrace to Christianity.

I didn't know Ashcroft was gay.

[Bleacher Creature]

Originally posted by Iowa_Card+Apr 16 2004, 02:02 PM-->

QUOTE (Iowa_Card @ Apr 16 2004, 02:02 PM)

Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #10 04-16-2004, 01:24 PM Another nugget from the article: That old impulse may backfire, as it did on Ashcroft. In his opening remarks -- after pompously reminding his audience that he had sworn to tell the truth -- the attorney general made a startling assertion that turned out to be false. He insisted that the Clinton administration had never ordered the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, he claimed to have reviewed the previous administration's authorizations against bin Laden almost as soon as he took office in February 2001. "Let me be clear," said Ashcroft. "My thorough review revealed no covert action program to kill bin Laden." In other words, all the former Clinton officials who had sworn otherwise, including Clarke, must be lying. A few minutes later, members of the commission dryly informed Ashcroft that he was badly mistaken. Without saying so directly as to compromise classified material, Richard Ben-Veniste and Fred Fielding both indicated that the commission had obtained a 1998 Clinton "memorandum of notification" specifically targeting the al-Qaida chieftain. Evidently the commission staff found this important document among the Clinton papers withheld by the White House until very recently (and disgorged only after a public complaint by Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey). It would be interesting to find out why that particular item was held back from the commission by White House lawyers. After being told that the "MON" contradicted his accusation, Ashcroft was forced to swallow his words. He ended up promising that "we'll work to understand that more thoroughly." 2005 Mandatory Loyalty Oath: I love America, our troops, baseball, Moms, and certain pies. I want no harm to come to any of those institutions, nor do I take any glee in their demise. Comment Post Cancel Damtoft Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7867 Share Tweet #11 04-16-2004, 01:24 PM Tell me another one Salonfunctions. Take it up with Rich Lowry. And, frankly, it has never occured to me that "winning" a debate is important, or that I should be hurt when someone like Airshark or kah, among others (for whom winning a pseudo debate or declaring intellectual superiority over invisible others is obviously very important) ridicule me. -The Artist formerly known as King in KC Comment Post Cancel Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #12 04-16-2004, 01:28 PM Originally posted by Damtoft+Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM--> QUOTE (Damtoft @ Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM) Tell me another one Triggy. Take it up with Rich Lowry.[/b] http://sportlounge.net/forum/index.php?sho...=90&#entry96123 Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #13 04-16-2004, 01:28 PM Nice work JD - you edited your own post two times after submitting it. Indecisive? 2005 Mandatory Loyalty Oath: I love America, our troops, baseball, Moms, and certain pies. I want no harm to come to any of those institutions, nor do I take any glee in their demise. Comment Post Cancel dv6y Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 59978 Share Tweet #14 04-16-2004, 01:28 PM Originally posted by Trigfunctions@Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM Another nugget from the article: That old impulse may backfire, as it did on Ashcroft. In his opening remarks -- after pompously reminding his audience that he had sworn to tell the truth -- the attorney general made a startling assertion that turned out to be false. He insisted that the Clinton administration had never ordered the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, he claimed to have reviewed the previous administration's authorizations against bin Laden almost as soon as he took office in February 2001. "Let me be clear," said Ashcroft. "My thorough review revealed no covert action program to kill bin Laden." In other words, all the former Clinton officials who had sworn otherwise, including Clarke, must be lying. A few minutes later, members of the commission dryly informed Ashcroft that he was badly mistaken. Without saying so directly as to compromise classified material, Richard Ben-Veniste and Fred Fielding both indicated that the commission had obtained a 1998 Clinton "memorandum of notification" specifically targeting the al-Qaida chieftain. Evidently the commission staff found this important document among the Clinton papers withheld by the White House until very recently (and disgorged only after a public complaint by Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey). It would be interesting to find out why that particular item was held back from the commission by White House lawyers. After being told that the "MON" contradicted his accusation, Ashcroft was forced to swallow his words. He ended up promising that "we'll work to understand that more thoroughly." Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ... Dude. Can. Fly. Comment Post Cancel Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #15 04-16-2004, 01:29 PM Originally posted by dvyyyyyy@Apr 16 2004, 01:28 PM Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ... Under oath, no less. Isn't that an impeachable offense?! 2005 Mandatory Loyalty Oath: I love America, our troops, baseball, Moms, and certain pies. I want no harm to come to any of those institutions, nor do I take any glee in their demise. Comment Post Cancel Previous 1 2 3 template Next English (US) Deutsch (Du) English (US) French Spanish Help Contact Us Go to top Copyright © 2003-13, TippingPitchers.com Powered by vBulletin® Version 5.7.4 Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. All times are GMT-6. This page was generated at 04:34 AM. Working... Yes No OK OK Cancel X

[Trigfunctions]

Another nugget from the article:

That old impulse may backfire, as it did on Ashcroft. In his opening remarks -- after pompously reminding his audience that he had sworn to tell the truth -- the attorney general made a startling assertion that turned out to be false. He insisted that the Clinton administration had never ordered the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, he claimed to have reviewed the previous administration's authorizations against bin Laden almost as soon as he took office in February 2001.

"Let me be clear," said Ashcroft. "My thorough review revealed no covert action program to kill bin Laden." In other words, all the former Clinton officials who had sworn otherwise, including Clarke, must be lying.

A few minutes later, members of the commission dryly informed Ashcroft that he was badly mistaken. Without saying so directly as to compromise classified material, Richard Ben-Veniste and Fred Fielding both indicated that the commission had obtained a 1998 Clinton "memorandum of notification" specifically targeting the al-Qaida chieftain. Evidently the commission staff found this important document among the Clinton papers withheld by the White House until very recently (and disgorged only after a public complaint by Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey). It would be interesting to find out why that particular item was held back from the commission by White House lawyers. After being told that the "MON" contradicted his accusation, Ashcroft was forced to swallow his words. He ended up promising that "we'll work to understand that more thoroughly."

[Damtoft]

Tell me another one Salonfunctions.

Take it up with Rich Lowry.

[Trigfunctions]

Originally posted by Damtoft+Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM-->

QUOTE (Damtoft @ Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM)

Tell me another one Triggy. Take it up with Rich Lowry.[/b] http://sportlounge.net/forum/index.php?sho...=90&#entry96123 Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #13 04-16-2004, 01:28 PM Nice work JD - you edited your own post two times after submitting it. Indecisive? 2005 Mandatory Loyalty Oath: I love America, our troops, baseball, Moms, and certain pies. I want no harm to come to any of those institutions, nor do I take any glee in their demise. Comment Post Cancel dv6y Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 59978 Share Tweet #14 04-16-2004, 01:28 PM Originally posted by Trigfunctions@Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM Another nugget from the article: That old impulse may backfire, as it did on Ashcroft. In his opening remarks -- after pompously reminding his audience that he had sworn to tell the truth -- the attorney general made a startling assertion that turned out to be false. He insisted that the Clinton administration had never ordered the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, he claimed to have reviewed the previous administration's authorizations against bin Laden almost as soon as he took office in February 2001. "Let me be clear," said Ashcroft. "My thorough review revealed no covert action program to kill bin Laden." In other words, all the former Clinton officials who had sworn otherwise, including Clarke, must be lying. A few minutes later, members of the commission dryly informed Ashcroft that he was badly mistaken. Without saying so directly as to compromise classified material, Richard Ben-Veniste and Fred Fielding both indicated that the commission had obtained a 1998 Clinton "memorandum of notification" specifically targeting the al-Qaida chieftain. Evidently the commission staff found this important document among the Clinton papers withheld by the White House until very recently (and disgorged only after a public complaint by Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey). It would be interesting to find out why that particular item was held back from the commission by White House lawyers. After being told that the "MON" contradicted his accusation, Ashcroft was forced to swallow his words. He ended up promising that "we'll work to understand that more thoroughly." Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ... Dude. Can. Fly. Comment Post Cancel Trigfunctions Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4783 Share Tweet #15 04-16-2004, 01:29 PM Originally posted by dvyyyyyy@Apr 16 2004, 01:28 PM Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ... Under oath, no less. Isn't that an impeachable offense?! 2005 Mandatory Loyalty Oath: I love America, our troops, baseball, Moms, and certain pies. I want no harm to come to any of those institutions, nor do I take any glee in their demise. Comment Post Cancel Previous 1 2 3 template Next English (US) Deutsch (Du) English (US) French Spanish Help Contact Us Go to top Copyright © 2003-13, TippingPitchers.com Powered by vBulletin® Version 5.7.4 Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. All times are GMT-6. This page was generated at 04:34 AM. Working... Yes No OK OK Cancel X

[Trigfunctions]

Nice work JD - you edited your own post two times after submitting it. Indecisive?

[dv6y]

Originally posted by Trigfunctions@Apr 16 2004, 01:24 PM
Another nugget from the article:

That old impulse may backfire, as it did on Ashcroft. In his opening remarks -- after pompously reminding his audience that he had sworn to tell the truth -- the attorney general made a startling assertion that turned out to be false. He insisted that the Clinton administration had never ordered the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, he claimed to have reviewed the previous administration's authorizations against bin Laden almost as soon as he took office in February 2001.

"Let me be clear," said Ashcroft. "My thorough review revealed no covert action program to kill bin Laden." In other words, all the former Clinton officials who had sworn otherwise, including Clarke, must be lying.

A few minutes later, members of the commission dryly informed Ashcroft that he was badly mistaken. Without saying so directly as to compromise classified material, Richard Ben-Veniste and Fred Fielding both indicated that the commission had obtained a 1998 Clinton "memorandum of notification" specifically targeting the al-Qaida chieftain. Evidently the commission staff found this important document among the Clinton papers withheld by the White House until very recently (and disgorged only after a public complaint by Clinton attorney Bruce Lindsey). It would be interesting to find out why that particular item was held back from the commission by White House lawyers. After being told that the "MON" contradicted his accusation, Ashcroft was forced to swallow his words. He ended up promising that "we'll work to understand that more thoroughly."

Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ...

[Trigfunctions]

Originally posted by dvyyyyyy@Apr 16 2004, 01:28 PM
Episode #176,238 of "Member of the Bush Administration Caught in a Lie" ...

Under oath, no less. Isn't that an impeachable offense?!