Friday, April 09, 2004
'No silver bullet' to prevent 9/11 attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice defended the White House against charges it had not taken the threat from al-Qaeda seriously before Sept. 11, saying there was no "silver bullet" to prevent the attacks.
Testifying at the 9/11 commission hearings, Rice said President George W. Bush understood the threat posed by al-Qaeda and wanted to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the "terrorist network."
"He made clear to us that he did not want to respond to al-Qaeda one attack at a time. He told me he was 'tired of swatting flies.'"
Rice said the strategy, developed over eight months, was the very first major national security policy directive of the Bush administration.
"Not Russia, not missile defense, not Iraq, but the elimination of al-Qaeda," Rice said.
Rice also countered claims that Bush pressured advisers to lay the responsibility of the attacks on Iraq.
"I can tell you he went around the table and asked his advisers what he should do. And not a single one of his principal advisers advised doing anything against Iraq. It was all to Afghanistan," she said.
Hopefully they take them seriously the next time; actually better yet hopefully there isn’t a next time…. World peace, I don’t think so in my lifetime…but one day at a time, maybe we can all live together in peace someday, I hope I am alive for that. *smiles*
Happy Easter everyone…..
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice defended the White House against charges it had not taken the threat from al-Qaeda seriously before Sept. 11, saying there was no "silver bullet" to prevent the attacks.
Testifying at the 9/11 commission hearings, Rice said President George W. Bush understood the threat posed by al-Qaeda and wanted to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the "terrorist network."
"He made clear to us that he did not want to respond to al-Qaeda one attack at a time. He told me he was 'tired of swatting flies.'"
Rice said the strategy, developed over eight months, was the very first major national security policy directive of the Bush administration.
"Not Russia, not missile defense, not Iraq, but the elimination of al-Qaeda," Rice said.
Rice also countered claims that Bush pressured advisers to lay the responsibility of the attacks on Iraq.
"I can tell you he went around the table and asked his advisers what he should do. And not a single one of his principal advisers advised doing anything against Iraq. It was all to Afghanistan," she said.
Hopefully they take them seriously the next time; actually better yet hopefully there isn’t a next time…. World peace, I don’t think so in my lifetime…but one day at a time, maybe we can all live together in peace someday, I hope I am alive for that. *smiles*
Happy Easter everyone…..
