Bush Administration Took Appropriate Action In Response To General Threats

Republican National Committee ^ | May 18,2002 | RNC Staff

[Lady In Blue]

Bush Administration Took Appropriate Action in Response to General Threats

	Americans know that President Bush when faced with credible information about a threat would act swiftly and strongly. It is terribly unfair to the victims and victim families of the terrible tragedy of September 11 for anyone to suggest anything to the contrary. Such statements are irresponsible and politically motivated. Last summer, President Bush received briefings that contained general information about possible threats. The information was not specific. It did not mention time, place or method. These general threats were also uncorroborated. Any briefings containing specific information were uncorroborated and not credible. The same information was shared with members of the House and Senate.; Senator Diane Feinstein told CNN in July of 2001 ;intelligence staff have told me that there is a major probability of a terrorist incident within the next three months. Yesterday, Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby acknowledged to CNN the briefings on potential threats. In light of the potential threats, the federal government took action including alerts to law enforcement agencies, airlines, and U.S. assets overseas. Bush Administration Takes Action The Counter-terrorism Security group (CSG) - which brings together WH officials with officials from all relevant federal agencies - began to meet several times per week, with telephone contact between key officials several times per day. The FBI was conducting active investigations inside the US, and issuing appropriate warnings: July 2 -- FBI released a warning message about a possible threat overseas. The warning specifically stated that while officials could not foresee a domestic attack, one could not be ruled out. July 18 - FBI issues message on Millennium plot conviction, reiterates 2 July message. Aug 1 - FBI issues alert on upcoming 3rd East Africa bombing Anniversary, reiterating July 2 message. The State Department issued a worldwide caution (June 22). Counter-terrorism Security Group suspends non-essential travel of US counter-terrorism staff (July 6). Five key FAA Information Circulars (IC) were issued alerting private carries to potential threats against airlines: June 22 - alerted carriers to a possible hijacking to free terrorist operatives July 2 - based on the testimony of a terrorist involved in the Millennium bombing plots, who told of a possible attempt place a bomb in an air terminal July 18 - though based on no specific threat information, urges all carries maintain a high degree of alertness. July 31 - reports that some active terrorist groups are known to train for hijacking operations. August 16 - warns carriers to be on alert for disguised weapons. The August 6th briefing to the President that mentioned hijacking was not a threat report. It was an analysis of Al Qadea and Usama bin Laden that their desire to attack the US, and their preferred methods of operation. The analysis was prepared at the President's request, in response to his questions about Al Qaeda's capabilities and intentions to harm US interests. The analysis mentioned hijacking as a possible operation Al Qaeda might attempt. But it did not say anything using aircraft as missiles. Rather, it mentioned the possibility that Al Qaeda might attempt to hijack a plane and hold passengers hostage to force the release of terrorist operatives, including the Blind Sheikh. Since 9-11 President directs the FBI and CIA to begin unprecedented sharing of intelligence and cooperation on investigations. Established the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate a national strategy to protect America and named Governor Tom Ridge as Director. President Bush worked with the House and Senate to improve our anti-terrorism laws and to give law enforcement needed tools to more effectively collect and share intelligence information. The President now receives a daily domestic security briefing from the FBI Director, CIA Director, Governor Ridge with the Office Homeland Security, National Security Advisor Rice and the Vice President. This joint briefing helps guarantee seamless cooperation among law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Despite these facts, Democrats leaders such as Senator Tom Daschle, Rep. Dick Gephardt and Senator John Edwards have tried to play politics with this threat information by making irresponsible statements about President Bush allowing their presidential ambitions get the best of their judgment. Today’s New York Times cautions: “As Congressional Democrats and other Bush opponents rev up the recriminations following this week's disclosures, they should remember that the House and Senate Intelligence Committees received some of the same intelligence reports as the White House. These included public and private warnings from George Tenet, the director central intelligence, that Al Qaeda could strike at any time. The Washington Post states: The tempest seems overblown based on what the White House has revealed thus far, the information Mr. Bush received was very general, and the possibility of a domestic hijacking was far less salient in the briefing he received from the CIA than the possibility of an overseas attack. The administration warned airlines to take precautions. It's easy after September 11 to insist that more should have been done.

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[Lady In Blue]

Thanks,Angelique.I agree,I thought it was pretty good. I think they want us to help getting it out.I e-mailed it to my brother.

[Lady In Blue]

I just had a brain storm.Why don't we help the RNC by e-mailing this to everybody that we know,after e-mailing the President and expressing our full support and appreciation of all that he and his team has done.

[harpo11]

Great information for use in writing democrat sympathizing editors. Thank you for posting.

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks,deport! This is a very encouraging sample! I think there is room for a lot of improvement in the FBI and CIA and I'm sure that there will be.I already heard this week that FBI will be revamped.I really don't see how anybody can blame GWB and his team of this.There was a short transition period,plus not even the terrorists knew that they were going to go into those buildings.There was some kind of report back in 1996 referred to in that 1999 report,so if anybody's to blame,it's the Clinton administration.I hope that when they do have these hearings it is all brought out.I'd rather have a blue ribbon panel to investigate the failure of our intelligence agencies than Congress!

[Lady In Blue]

I completely agree.You brought up some of the same issues I just did.I meant to bring up the lack of funds of the intelligence agencies,no spies on the ground.And what was that bill,Toricelli got passed that severely handicapped the agencies?

[Lady In Blue]

Right now?! I thought it was tomorrow.Oh,shoot,it's too late!It's almost 7:30p.m. here in So.California.

[Lady In Blue]

I misread your thread.I missed seeing "Sunday." WHEW!

[Lady In Blue]

You got that right! And I think it's already starting to stick to them.I've watched a bit of TV today since I didn't go out at all and it seems to me,I maybe wrong,that there is not much on all of this,at least on the Cable.

[Lady In Blue]

You're welcome.You know,I was listening to Hugh Hewitt's show yesterday and he had Fred Barnes and Morton Kondracke on and I couldn't believe I heard what Kondracke said at one point. He said,paraphrasing,"I think the Republicans have over-reacted to this.They should just have ignored it." Can you believe him?!!

[Lady In Blue]

I think I'll bookmark this thread for future use.Not only for the info in the thread inself but for deport's post. Now, just let somebody from the DU try to throw dirt on our President!

[harpo11]

I heard him say that. We have not yet begun to react. The democrat leadership owes President Bush a sincere apology and a retraction.

[harpo11]

Bookmark bump!

[Lady In Blue]

You know something? You're the first person I've heard anywhere saying that the Democrats should apologize to the President.He certainly is owed one!

[sport]

The democrats do not care who they have to hurt or the damage they cause.

Their one and only goal is the destruction of the way of life we now have and power.

To illustrate: They destroyed a large accounting company and put many people out of work.
Why? They thought that they could link the Enron scandel to President Bush.
Illustration # 2: They are perfectly willing to put the nation into a depression in order to regain power.

[blackie]

Yep, the Bush-bashing by rat's and the media is losing steam...it has no legs... :o)

[Lady In Blue]

You're welcome.

[Lady In Blue]

I agree! I noticed that on my all news radio station this morning and coming back from Mass,there was NO talk about this so-called scandal!