A report out today includes a “highly placed source” as saying that part of the reason George W. Bush is not appearing with President Barack Obama at ground zero is that he feels he is not getting part of the credit in the killing.
The source stated “Obama gave no credit whatsoever to the intelligence infrastructure the Bush administration set up that is being hailed from the left and right as setting in motion the operation that got Bin Laden. It rubbed Bush the wrong way.”
Of course, it was Bush (like Clinton) who ignored warnings of the possible attacks and then it was Bush Administration that let Bin Laden slip out of Tora Bora. Bin Laden was nailed years after the departure of Bush and based on recent intelligence hits on the surveillance net. As noted earlier, I am not sure why there is not more discussion of the alleged failure of this and the prior administration to locate Bin Laden in such a conspicuous setting after alleged leads from Pakistan and India. It appears that much of our intelligence estimates on his location may have been wildly wrong.
Clearly, many of the people outside of the Administration (joining some Obama officials) citing torture as part of the success in this story are Bush officials — trying desperately not only to claim part of the success but to legitimate an act defined as a war crime.
This is all part of the spasm of celebration over the killing. I must confess a bit of unease in the scenes of people dancing in the streets and presidents fighting over credit for the killing. I have the same unease when people assemble outside of prisons with frying pans and signs to celebrate the execution of a murderer. Some scenes this month looked uncomfortably like images we saw in the Middle East after the 9-11 attacks. I am also glad that Bin Laden is dead. I will not deny it. However, all of these celebrations only elevate the importance of the man.
As I stated earlier, I have always found it bizarre that we give presidents personal credit for such operations. Whether it is Bush parading around on the aircraft carrier in his flight suit or Obama at ground zero, presidents claim credit for successes by others. Obviously, this order would have been given by Bush and Clinton once Bin Laden fell into our surveillance net. Ironically, presidents are very successful in basking in such glory of others, but do not feel the full brunt of their mistakes like Tora Bora or, more importantly, ignoring the warnings about an attack using aircraft. Those are simply dismissed as missed opportunities or confused circumstances.
What is equally fascinating is that we continue to define victory by Bin Laden’s death while insisting that nothing will change in light of it, as discussed in this week’s column.
Source: NY Daily News
pete:
Yes, they did:
“And what did some in Congress say?
Exceptions came in the forms of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) — who said “There’s an obvious issue that will be raised internationally as to whether there is any diversionary motivation” — Sen. John D. Ashcroft (R-MO) — who said “there is a cloud over this presidency” — and Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) — who said: “The president has been consumed with matters regarding his personal life. It raises questions about whether or not he had the time to devote to this issue, or give the kind of judgment that needed to be given to this issue to call for military action.”
Here’s more craven and disgusting for you …
http://blog.reidreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/bush-abdullah.jpg
Remember this guy?
http://www.nfltouchdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/tillman.jpg
Gyges,
“If that’s true, allow me be the first to say “Good on you Obama.”
Ditto.
———————————————————
bdaman,
“It will be on Hannity Tonight”
And Hannity is so objective, nonpartisan, trust-worthy and forth-right …
“Debra Burlingame who lost her brother on 9-11 and met with Obama today at Ground Zero … Can you imagine anything more disgusting and craven?”
Why, I most certainly can imagine something more disgusting and craven:
http://m2.wnymedia.net/files/2011/05/05-01-11-Bush-Mission-Accomplished.jpg
http://thesportsunion.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bush-mission-accomplished.jpg
Gyges here’s the interview.
Date Tue 2/3/2009 9:30 AM
From webcapture @ loc.gov
To Beckwith @ TheObamaFile.com
Subject Library of Congress Permission Request
To Whom It May Concern:
The United States Library of Congress has selected your Web site for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to the Presidential Transition during a Time of Crises. The Library of Congress preserves the Nation’s cultural artifacts and provides enduring access to them. The Library’s traditional functions, acquiring, cataloging, preserving and serving collection materials of historical importance to the Congress and the American people to foster education and scholarship, extend to digital materials, including Web sites.
The following URL has been selected:
http://www.theobamafile.com
Some things are not worth responding to.
Oh I wonder if it’s tha same Beckwith that runs….
http://www.theobamafile.com/
If memory serves correctly, the fireman’s name is Beckwith.
You know what they say, Obama is Bush lite 🙂
Ironically your link says BushBeck 🙂
http://www.history.com/images/media/slideshow/george-w-bush/george-w-bush-groundzero.jpg
I just saw that same pic from history.com what a coink a dink.
Bdaman, of course this (see link) was not a photo op and was never used in campaign literature or ads. No gloating there. No sir.
http://www.september11news.com/Sept14_BushBeckwithBullhorn.jpg
9/11 Family Invited To Presidential Ground Zero Visit Snubs Obama
The Vigiano family is just one of fifty families sent the exclusive invitation to meet the President at what is being billed as a historic visit to Ground Zero Thursday. With all that considered, the mourning father says he’s not going.
“I’m honored the President of the United States is coming to New York,” he said. “[But] to me its just going to be a photo op.”
Jeannie Evans, of Elmont, who lost her baby brother firefighter Robert Evans on 9/11 will also not be there Thursday. She wasn’t invited.
“I guess I feel lucky and leftout,” Evans said as she held a picture of her brother. “Its always a select few. Is it fair? No. We all have voices.”
Evans says she will probably watch Obama’s visit on television but wishes she could ask him a few questions.
“Why not show us proof, that Bin Laden was killed? I would like to see that,” wondered Evans.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/wpix-family-unhappy-about-obama-visit,0,4037272.story
No Swathmore Mom. how many times have you seen me link to them.
bdaman, Are you a freeper?
David Beamer, father of 9/11 hero Todd Beamer told FOX News today that “Obama is putting too much credit for Bin Laden’s demise.”
David Beamer, father of 9/11 victim Todd Beamer on FOX News: “I feel some chagrin now, though, about how the rest of it has been handled. And frankly it started May Day, 2011 when the president announced what had happened. The excessive use of the personal pronoun that he used in his remarks, I really felt that was the beginning of the Commander-in-Chief putting too much spotlight on himself, taking too much credit for what the remarkable Americans had done. And of course it’s only now accelerated to a greater degree in the media. ”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/05/05/father_of_911_victim_obama_putting_too_much_spotlight_on_himself.html
Freerepublic is the ultra right wing blog, bdaman.
eniobob
didn’t republicans in congress accuse clinton of “wagging the dog” after that strike?