Democrats were quick to accuse the Republicans of deliberately leaking this story in an attempt to divert attention away from today’s (July 22nd) release of the Commission’s final report. However, this claim no longer makes any sense. The report is not damaging to the Bush administration, and the president can thank Attorney General John Ashcroft for this.
Ten people were chosen to sit on the 9/11 Commission; five Republicans and five Democrats. The Republicans and two of the Democrats, Lee Hamilton (the co-chairman) and Tim Roemer are honorable people. Unfortunately, the remaining three Democrats, Richard Ben-Veniste, Jamie Gorelick and Bob Kerrey are not.
I don’t believe Kerrey was overly partisan (He gave Clinton’s Secre-tary of State, Madeline Albright, a torrid time). The problem with Kerrey is that he’s a posturing blowhard.
Gorelick should never have been selected to sit on the Commission. It was her famous memo that was the basis of the disastrous “wall of separation” between law enforcement authorities and the intelligence community. Without that “wall” I believe the 9/11 attacks would have been thwarted. Gorelick was selected by Democrat Senate leader Tom Daschle for two reasons: 1) Gorelick would not be required to testify before the Commission (as she should have) 2) She would do everything in her power to deflect as much of the blame away from the Clinton administration and onto the Bush administration.
Richard Ben-Veniste is a notorious figure in Washington D.C. He is one of that city’s top political lawyers. He was a prosecutor during the Watergate scandal thirty years ago and represented the Clintons before the Senate Committee investigating the Whitewater scandal. He is ruthless, aggressive and devious. His role on the Commission was that of an attack dog. The very fact that Tom Daschle would select this odious individual spoke volumes about the Democrats’ intentions: they were going to politicize the Commission. It would be the most important tool in their campaign to defeat George W. Bush.
During the televised portions of the Committee’s hearings, we saw Ben Veniste, Kerrey and Gorelick fawning over whistle-blower Richard Clarke; however, their treatment of Bush’s National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice was disgraceful. Ben Veniste, in particular, was sarcastic, aggressive and prosecutorial. He constantly interrupted her. But Condi Rice never lost her cool in the face of this hostile and disrespectful treatment. She got the better of Ben-Veniste.
Next up was Attorney General John Ashcroft; without doubt the most hated man in the administration, apart from Bush, of course. By the time Ashcroft finished delivering his opening statement, he had changed the course of the 9/11 Commission. Ashcroft achieved two important goals: he “outed” Jamie Gorelick as the person most responsible for the infamous “wall of separation.” I’ll never forget the look on her face.
Ashcroft had effectively neutralized Gorelick. She would no longer pose a threat to Bush. From that moment forward, she was a lame duck Commissioner. Ashcroft also fired a warning shot at Ben-Veniste, Kerrey and every other partisan Democrat. He indirectly referred to the investigation of Sandy Berger. Ashcroft, in effect, was telling Ben-Veniste to watch his step. Don’t push it. From that day forward, the Commission behaved in a far more responsible fashion; but as far as Daschle, Gorelick and Ben-Veniste were concerned it was a case of “Mission NOT Accomplished.” Keep an eye on Ben-Veniste. I have a hunch that he’s somehow involved in Sandy Berger’s “sloppiness.”
Reposted with paragraphs as a public service since the point about Ashcroft's service in this matter is important.
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