Rumsfeld Kept 9-11 Souvenir (ZOT!!! Staff to troll: your name fooled no one)

Associated Press ^ | Fri, Mar 12, 2004 | JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writer

[ClintonHater]

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department investigation that criticized FBI agents for taking souvenirs from the World Trade Center site also found that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and a high-ranking FBI official kept items from the Sept. 11 attack scenes.

The final investigatory report said the Justice Department inspector general confirmed Rumsfeld "has a piece of the airplane that flew into the Pentagon." The Associated Press obtained a copy of the report Friday.

Investigators learned Rumsfeld had the airplane part after an FBI agent saw a television interview in which the defense secretary was "holding up pieces of building from the WTC and the Pentagon, saying he kept those items on his desk to remember the terrorist attacks."

A Pentagon spokesman did not immediately respond Friday afternoon for comment.

The Justice Department investigation also collected testimony that Pasquale D'Amuro, FBI Director Robert Mueller's executive assistant director for terrorism until last summer, asked a supervisory agent to "obtain a half dozen items from the WTC debris so the items could be given to dignitaries."

Six items that weren't evidence were gathered and sent to D'Amuro, the report said.

D'Amuro, now the head of the FBI's New York office, said that "he asked for a piece of the building as a memento" and that he was aware that agents had taken such items from other terrorist crime scenes over the years.

He said he got a piece of the building in June 2003 but denied asking for items for dignitaries. D'Amuro left the following month from FBI headquarters as Mueller's top terrorism official to become an assistant director in charge of the New York office.

Joe Valiquette, a spokesman for the New York FBI office, declined to comment Friday.

Surviving family members were surprised by the news.

"Unbelievable," said William Doyle, whose son died in the World Trade Center.

A New York woman suing local authorities for alleged negligence in the Sept. 11 attacks said any souvenir-taking by officials was part of a larger failure to keep enough items, like steel beams, as evidence.

"Everybody has things that they probably should not have from the World Trade Center site," said Sally Regenhard, whose firefighter son died in the towers. "I'm sure there's probably all kinds of people that have all kinds of artifacts."

[Samwise]

No double standard here. If I lived in New York, I'd want a piece of the Trade Center. Had I been at Pearl Harbor, I would want something from that infamous day too.

A lot of us are history buffs. We like reading about it and we learn from the accounts. But there is absolutely nothing like touching a piece of history to make it real for you.

As for 9/11, I want to remember what I felt like that day. I want everyone to remember because I don't ever want to feel that way again.

If a little chunk of history helps Rumsfield stay focused, so be it. He's got a lot on his plate and Lord knows he needs all the help he can get.

[_Jim]

Shouldn't the rules apply to everyone equally?

Is he selling it in e-bay for beer money?

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Which gov't program(s) are u on and does Moby touch your privates with his bald head?

[takenoprisoner]

Our "secretary of defense" needs an artifact from 911 on his desk to remind him of 911?

[Skywarner]

"I'm amazed at how many people here see nothing wrong with Rumsfeld taking a piece of the plane while others are [b]criminally[/b] charged for doing similar things at the WTC site. Shouldn't the rules apply to everyone equally?

OK, let's examine the facts, shall we? [We all know that the facts are something in short supply over at DU....]

FACT: Rumsfeld is the Secretary of Defense

FACT: Rumsfeld was physically at the Pentagon meeting with top military leaders about the developing situation in NYC when the Pentagon itself was attacked.

FACT: Immediately after the attack, Rumsfeld and his staff went to survey the on site situation and assited in the initial rescue efforts. They did this despite the risk to their personal safety and to the objections of other staff members.

FACT: In the days after 9/11, Rumsfeld carried out his orders to plan, coordinate and execute military operations against OBL and Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

FACT: As part of that deployment of forces, military units were presented with a few token artifacts from all three attack sites. If I recall correctly, one of the flags found at Ground Zero was sent to Afghanistan just as an example. NYC Fireman send over numerous personal items to remind the troops what this fight was all about.

I would now like to address your comment about civilians being criminally charged for taking items from the WTC site. Yes, IMHO, they should have been charged. If there was no enforcement, then anyone and everyone would have been down there taking momentos from Ground Zero, thus resulting in a potential loss of evidence and study.

I could go on and on, but I hope by now you get the point. These folks were tasked with the ulimate mission of taking the fight to our enemy -- our first response to the start of World War III. If the tables were turned and the Secretary of Defense had been a Democrat, I would feel the same way. It's not like he collected souvenirs to sell on eBay!

[takenoprisoner]

"Is he selling it in e-bay for beer money?"

No but his beneficiaries in later years just might. The point is he has no right to artifacts. And if he needs some to remind him, then were all in major trouble.

[Samwise]

"Our "secretary of defense" needs an artifact from 911 on his desk to remind him of 911?"

As another freeper explained here

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1096690/posts?page=10#10

It's human nature.

[_Jim]

Our "secretary of defense" needs an artifact from 911 on his desk to remind him of 911?

Does he, or does he not, receive visitors, including the public and congressman from time to time?

Do you think has Kerry forgotten?

How many of us keep artifacts and photos to remind us of both good and bad events, successes - and even a failure or two - do these things not help us to frame our thoughts, our thinking, as we contemplate any decisions, large or small, as we go forward?

[_Jim]

No but his beneficiaries in later years just might.

TOOOOOO funny!

My bet is that it stays in the office - stays in the Pentagon ...

[_Jim]

Do you think has Kerry forgotten?

How did I blow that question? Change to:

Do you think Kerry has forgotten?

[takenoprisoner]

I lost my cousin in a car crash. Think I want any part of that car as a momento? a souvenier?

No I don't and that's my human nature. So I don't understand
this need to get close with a washer.

[Psycho_Bunny]

I have a piece of rock I picked up at Dachau.

It's important to remember what Nationalist Socialism leads to.

[lewislynn]

Shouldn't the rules apply to everyone equally?

If the rules they make were applied equally they'd have to change the rules.

[Samwise]

I lost my uncle to a murderer. I cherish with all my heart the badge he was wearing when he died.

Just because you don't understand someone else's feelings doesn't make their feelings wrong.

[Psycho_Bunny]

So you deal with things differently.  BFD.

Stop baiting.

 

[takenoprisoner]

Now who's baiting?

[takenoprisoner]

Cherish it as you will. But surely you don't need it to remind you of him do you? Do you bring it out at dinner parties to show your friends? Like you have done here for example? If so, my human nature believes you are dishonoring your uncle.

[cmotormac44]

I have pictures and a piece of a mined landing craft from D-Day at Normandy 6/6/44--tried to get an air cooled .30 cal machine gun a few days later but was too large for my duffle bag--am I in trouble like Rumsfield??---tell that 'piece of craps to STFU and go back to raving about the brave killer of wounded enemies who got a medal for it--you know who--John F'g Kerry aka ketchup boy-

[Samwise]

You are correct. He is just baiting.

[Not A Snowbird]

Cherish it as you will. But surely you don't need it to remind you of him do you? Do you bring it out at dinner parties to show your friends? Like you have done here for example? If so, my human nature believes you are dishonoring your uncle.

You're almost taking this personally. Why are you so aggressively arguing with other people's values?