Backwards.gov

Here’s a lesson in stupid gullibility. The AFP reported this week that a report constructed from an independent commission looking into counterterrorism activities prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks may not be released until after the November Presidential elections so that White House can vet it. The vetting procedure includes moving through the report line by line, probing the report’s accuracy and credibility. The report came about after former White House employee and counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke scrutinized the President’s efforts to fight terrorism before the attacks. Due to the nature of the report, it’s no wonder the White House wants to take a look at it. However, the Presidential election is a little over six months away. That’s about the time it should take for the leaders of the country to research a shut-in, extorting klan member nominated for Vice President. I don’t think a stack of papers has any historic demons that will be uncovered in the next half a year, especially when the vetting team will include White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and top intelligence officials. Now, don’t get me wrong. I think the White House should get a look at this thing first. I think they need to. If anything, they need to know how to prep for it. More than that, they need to see if this report will compromise intelligence organizations and procedures in the U.S. But why are they keeping it on a back burner so long? Some congressional leaders think it would take a lot of work to get it finished by July, four months before Super Tuesday. So why is there a chance of the public not seeing it until November? Numbers.Think about it-the President’s popularity has been slipping and John Kerry’s grin keeps getting bigger and bigger. If this report has a glimpse of negativity toward the White House’s leadership, President Bush will be joining the two million people who have lost their jobs since he took office. If they can hold that report until after the elections while portraying the kind of leadership shown after the attacks it means four more years of White House muffins for the Bush Administration. It took nearly seven months for the White House to approve a similar report about intelligence activities leading up to the attacks, but this one doesn’t need to take too long. Surely Card and Karl Rove can find a way to speed this up and use it in their favor. The fact of the matter is that the September 11 attacks were devastating incidents that affected a lot of people, and those people have a want and a right to know the status of the government before and after. Where are the people in this process? The republicans are holding on this report for a little while. Maybe it’s legit; maybe not. Democrats are clamoring for it, and want to make sure it’s not edited. Both sides are looking for a little political gain. Fine. Play the game like it’s an episode of Survivor, but don’t neglect the interests of American citizens. I do have to commend the republicans; if the democrats were in the White House I’m sure they would “accidentally” lose the report. I haven’t seen too many Presidential elections, but I know there was a time when it used to mean something. I want to see a race where we vote for the best candidate for President, not pick a captain from each team and decide which one is less evil. It must be less of a chore running for President now than it used to be. Get a lot of money from oil and ketchup, then convince the public you haven’t screwed up too much, then spend four years as the Commander and Chief of the most powerful military that has ever existed. It shouldn’t matter what this report says. If it says something bad admit it and say, “yeah, this was wrong, but we fixed it and this is what we’ve got for you now.” The President serves the citizens of the United States. Shouldn’t the candidates do the same? President Bush opposed the commission’s report. Kerry’s pumping out releases about the President opposing the report. Why are they wasting their time with it? I think the people should see it. I think they should see it now. If the two candidates for President are standing toe to toe, a piece of paper isn’t going to do a thing. It’s time for these guys to start doing something real.