FLAIT

Originally Posted: Feb. 2004
Final Revision/Posting: Sept. 2004

A snide remark President Bush uses to justify the war in Iraq is that those who opposed it "forgot about 9/11."

But consider:

* Gen. Tommy Franks had said repeatedly in 2002 that bin Laden wasn't the "focus" of our military operations in Afghanistan.

* Bush pulled troops and resources - that were pursuing al-Quaeda - out of Afghanistan in early 2002 to go off on a wild goose chase in Iraq.

* The Taliban and al-Quada have been reforming in Afghanistan, the war lords control most of the country, the opium crop is flourishing, and the Karzai government is a sham.

* Bush never showed any anger, fired anyone, or DEMANDED to know why there was such a breakdown of the nations intelligence that failed to prevent the 9/11 attacks (he's also been indifferent to the colossal intelligence failures regarding Iraq's WMDs; maybe because he knew it was all bogus.).

* Bush opposed creation of the 9/11 committee, he stonewalled the committee every step of the way, and wouldn't testify before the committee unless Cheney appeared with him. Incredibly, neither was put under oath, and no formal transcript of their testimony was taken.

So if anyone "forgot about 9/11" it's President Bush. And that's disgraceful.