Gutman, The president's men and women let America down

Thirty years ago, waiting in long lines at the pump, Americans realized for the first time how central a role energy plays in the good life ... and how vulnerable some forms of energy are to the political vagaries of the moment. As the "fuel crisis" deepened, I asked then Defense Secretary James Schlesinger why the crippling shortage hadn't been anticipated and prevented. Mr. Schlesinger, who would later be appointed Energy Secretary, ignored my question and turned to another reporter.

Thirty years later, in the wake of 9/11 --- following National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice's canned exculpations --- Americans have become painfully aware of how crucial a role good intelligence plays in helping avert catastrophe. It has also been given a demonstration of the Byzantine ways of government.

Unambiguous, a recently declassified intelligence briefing memo adds alarming dimensions to what is now being viewed as scandalous myopia, monumental ineptitude and arrogance on the part of President Bush's cabinet. It also adds weight to the spreading perception that, once again, the US has placed itself in the unretractable position of having to justify its failures when it was always in its power to prevent them.

Entitled, "Bin Laden Determined To Attack Inside The US," the August 2001 memo reveals that the FBI had detected "patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings." A heavily redacted copy of the memo --- data about current threats had been excised --- was circulated among senior government officials.

Americans have since learned that:

• Federal agents had been apprised of Osama bin Laden's plan to strike inside America as early as four years before George W. Bush took office.

• Intelligence in May 2001 warned that al Qaida was trying to infiltrate into the US via Canada and looking to hijack US planes to win the release of operatives who had been arrested in 1998 and 1999.

• bin Laden was determined to strike the US as early as 1997. A number of his acolytes, all American citizens, were known to be traveling to and from the US and likely had a support network in place in the country.

• At least 70 FBI investigations were under way in 2001 all focusing on possible al Qaida cells/terrorist-related operations in the US

• The FBI, by its own admission, failed over several years to recognize and respond to a steadily growing threat of terrorism.

• The CIA asked the Federal Aviation Administration in August 2001 to advise commercial airlines that six Pakistanis in Latin America were planning to hijack, bomb or sabotage an airliner.

• The Bush administration was given enough information about bin Laden's intentions and capabilities to have warned the public that an attack was not only possible but probable, if not imminent.

• Attorney General John Ashcroft rejected a request for additional anti-terrorism funding one day before al Qaida struck.

• Founded to "cure the oversights and poor inter-agency communications that preceded 9/11" the Homeland Security Department has done little more than create an inane color-coding alert system that has done more to unnerve Americans than to protect them.

Left hanging dry by her handlers, dodging pointed questions and deflecting persistent criticism with a barrage of words --- not clarifications --- Ms. Rice told the 9/11 commission that no one could have "imagined" the tragic events that plunged America into mourning and, ultimately, war. Overlooking "historical information" --- ignoring the axiomatic verity that past is prelude --- is a chilling admission that America was asleep at the switch. The inability to "imagine" the worst in a world buffeted by political volatility, extremist ideology, shifting alliances and bloodshed is an insufferable explanation --- especially if true. Envisaging and forestalling the unimaginable is the job of intelligence and the prime responsibility of a national security advisor.

Both let America down.

Also in this section:
Fisher, Political dinosaurs
Probidad, University of Panama vs. Miguel Antonio Bernal
White, Our Islamic enemies
Silié, Taking the helm at the Association of Caribbean States
Gutman, Those who let America down
Barrow, The mayor's efforts against discrimination
Jackson, As Election Day approaches

opinion

If blunders can't be explained --- justify them