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The Path to 9/11--A Postmortem(Victor Davis Hanson)
Real Clear Politics ^ | September 13, 2006 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 09/13/2006 6:11:56 AM PDT by kellynla

Americans who watched ABC's The Path to 9/11 saw a well-crafted dramatic interpretation of what rendered the United States, both under the Clinton and Bush administrations, vulnerable to terrorist attack. Perhaps the producers were conservative, but no more so than most of their Hollywood counterparts are liberal--and not to the degree that their politics slanted the presentation of the narrative.

But why, then, the hysteria?

It's hard to believe that Bill Clinton or the film's numerous critics were objecting on any basis of principle--on anything other than furor at pre-election time because some Clintonites, like many others, were portrayed as either distracted or hopelessly naïve about the nature of Islamic fascism.

First, consider the ignorance about the genre of the "docudrama," which is simply the video version of what journalism has been doing for decades--and even centuries. To read Bob Woodward's "meta-histories" is to intrude into the inner thoughts, mental musings, and private conversations of those few Washington insiders who are willing to talk with him, and thereby ensure that their own whitewashed take on events is privileged and becomes the dominant narrative.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: pathto911; terrorism; vdh; victordavishanson; wot
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1 posted on 09/13/2006 6:11:57 AM PDT by kellynla
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To: Tolik

ping


2 posted on 09/13/2006 6:14:52 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla

I get the impression that the democrats desperately want the world to forget that there was terrorism in the world prior to the election of George Bush.


3 posted on 09/13/2006 6:18:15 AM PDT by cripplecreek (If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?)
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To: kellynla
And what are we to think of Bill Clinton lamenting the movie's supposed deviation from the "truth",...?


4 posted on 09/13/2006 6:22:23 AM PDT by Gritty (America’s first black President is sounding like America’s first Islamist ex-president -Mark Steyn)
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To: kellynla

Great points in this one.


5 posted on 09/13/2006 6:53:17 AM PDT by modhom
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To: kellynla

John P. O'Neil was the only character with his head screwed on correctly , a hero in the end . Everybody else was ozone . . .


6 posted on 09/13/2006 6:56:15 AM PDT by lionheart 247365 (( I.S.L.A.M. stands for - Islams Spiritual Leaders Advocate Murder .. .. .. ))
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To: cripplecreek

"I get the impression that the democrats desperately want the world to forget that there was terrorism in the world"

or maybe.....

"I get the impression that the democrats desperately want the world to forget that there IS terrorism in the world"


7 posted on 09/13/2006 7:00:29 AM PDT by chgomac
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To: kellynla
"When ABC cut portions of the most controversial segments before airing the film, there was no outcry from the American Civil Liberties Union that has so often and so loudly lectured us on the dangers not merely of government censorship, but of insidious self-censorship as a result of public pressures."

How not surprising!!

Hannity & Colmes interviewed a Hollywood type last night concerning a movie that will certainly be a favorite of the Left (the ultimate in anti-Bush), and when Hannity pressed him on whether there were any limits he would set on himself for even self-censorship, he defended the "rights" of movie makers to take liberties with the truth, even if doing so might possibly result in triggering violence against an American President. He ridiculed the concept of filmmakers being held to any standard of "truth."

The hypocrisy of the Far Left that now controls the Democratic Party is mind boggling. How Clintonesque!!

8 posted on 09/13/2006 7:05:21 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: lionheart 247365

True enough. But I really liked Massoud and I hope he is with God.


9 posted on 09/13/2006 7:05:49 AM PDT by SaintDismas (.)
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To: kellynla

Definite Bttt.


10 posted on 09/13/2006 7:07:41 AM PDT by DoctorMichael (A wall first. A wall now.)
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To: DoctorMichael

Do ypou remember when Kerry compared terrorism to prostitution? Something about managable levels? They expect people to keep voting for them who live with bullets flying through the air and drug dealers and prostitutes walking the streets. Terrorism and prostitutes don't affect those who live in gated communities.


11 posted on 09/13/2006 7:15:29 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: All; lionheart 247365

,


JOHN O'NEIL, R.I.P, =

Head of Security, World Trade Center


RICK RESCORLA, R.I.P.


Head of Security, World Trade Center's largest tenant, Tower II's Morgan Stanley Brokerage House's 30 middle stories



RICK RESCORLA, R.I.P. =


The Man Who Predicted 9/11,
selfless 9/11 Lifesaving Hero who saved 1,000's of lives while giving up his own in the process



RICK RESCORLA Website
http://www.RickRescorla.com

RICK RESCORLA 'Follow Me' Statue Pictures
http://www.RickRescorla.com/The%20Statue.htm

RICK RESCORLA Forum Thread
http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361




NEVER FORGET


.


12 posted on 09/13/2006 7:34:15 AM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: kellynla; neverdem; Lando Lincoln; quidnunc; .cnI redruM; yonif; SJackson; dennisw; monkeyshine; ...


    Victor Davis Hanson Ping ! 

       Let me know if you want in or out.

Links: FR Index of his articles:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson 
His website: http://victorhanson.com/     NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp

13 posted on 09/13/2006 7:36:13 AM PDT by Tolik
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To: lionheart 247365

There were others too. Lower down the chain there were those who howled about what was happening and did things to stop it. Immigration agents, FBI agents, Customs agents, CIA agents, even Clarke was right on during the nineties.

The show was devastating wrt the Clinton administration, the CIA leaders, and FBI higher ups. Just devastating.


14 posted on 09/13/2006 7:39:53 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: kellynla

Thanks for the post. Victor Davis Hanson, does it again.


15 posted on 09/13/2006 7:41:26 AM PDT by blam
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To: lionheart 247365

John P. O'Neil is a man this nation was fortunate to have and we're lucky to have such dedication to our country.

He sounded the alarm and understood the nature of the threat but no one would embrace the danger and go beyond the Clintonian law enforcement model.

A damn shame.


16 posted on 09/13/2006 7:46:33 AM PDT by romanesq
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To: blam
you're welcome
between Hanson & Steyn, I can't think of anyone who is more capable of delivering a HUGE dose of reality.
thank goodness, we have the Internet or we'd have to suffer through local news trash daily.
17 posted on 09/13/2006 7:48:50 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: kellynla
If we know one thing about bin laden and Al Qaeda, they hate the truth and love the lie.

Who else does this sound like?

18 posted on 09/13/2006 7:50:01 AM PDT by Bahbah (Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev, we are praying for you)
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To: ALOHA RONNIE

ping


19 posted on 09/13/2006 7:52:57 AM PDT by lionheart 247365 (( I.S.L.A.M. stands for - Islams Spiritual Leaders Advocate Murder .. .. .. ))
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To: Tolik; ALOHA RONNIE; kellynla
Lots of meat here. Good column.

But IMO Hanson underestimates Clinton:

Even Bill Clinton would confess that Fahrenheit 911 was intended to do far more damage to George Bush than The Path to 9/11 was to himself.

No he wouldn't.
;O)

20 posted on 09/13/2006 7:57:40 AM PDT by metesky ("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
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