Book finds plenty to rip Rudy for on 9/11

[rusty charly]

Rudy Giuliani's image as America's Mayor is harshly questioned in a new book that takes to task the city's preparedness on 9/11 - with some of the most pointed criticism coming from current Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
Kelly, who was dismissed from the post by Giuliani in 1993 and later reappointed by Mayor Bloomberg, offers several dramatic and remarkable observations in "Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11," by authors Dan Collins and well-known Giuliani critic Wayne Barrett.

Many of the topics Kelly zeroes in on have been documented in the past: Giuliani's decision to locate the city's command center next to Ground Zero, the site of a terror bombing in 1993, archaic radios that kept the NYPD and FDNY from communicating, and the general chaos of the tragic day.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/442237p-372477c....

But Kelly is unsparing in his critique, saying of Giuliani's decision to place its Office of Emergency Management Command Center at 7 World Trade Center, "It was just unwise."

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Guess who was the Police Commissioner on 9-11

Good ol' Bernie Kerik.

As for then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who spent much of 9/11 at Giuliani's side, Kelly says he's still unsure who was actually marshalling the NYPD's response that day.

"I don't know who was directing," said Kelly. "I literally don't."

I've been looking for info on Kerik and his actions on 9-11 but there isn't much out there. I've heard that he was in charge of communications and a lot of people blame him for the poor communications and coordination that day.

I've also wondered if he may have been the one who ordered the evacuation of WTC7 earlier in the day when the fires were small and could have been brought under control?

Thanks for the link.

[Artdyst]

2. 9/11 was a blessing for Rudy in another way: exposure of Mafia ties

in his past, as written about in an unauthorized biography of Rudy that had been releashed or was about to be releashed when thanks to the timing gods, 9/11 came along, and Rudy's past was no longer considered prologue. That may also help explain why WTC 7 was suicided and gave up the ghost. A sort of James Hatfieldian "accident" don't you know.

[mirandapriestly]

4. The police decided

no roof rescues. It was police who were in the helicopters, FDNY were not trained for that. They say they couldn't land. What were the two helicopters doing right over each tower just before each collapse? The computer system which unlocked the doors on the way to the roof was not "accessible" for some reason, although a worker with a key to the roof was waiting to be buzzed up.

[Grateful for Hope]

3. Thank you for posting this

Should Rudy decide to run in 2008, this is good info to have about him.

When I saw Kerik at that Town Hall meeting pre-2004 election, I wanted to barf. He is a real sleazy character. And, Rudy is no different.

[RedSock]

5. leaked interviews from Commission

The book makes extensive use of never-before-published interviews that Giuliani and other key staffers gave privately to the 9/11 commission - interviews that were supposed to remain confidential until 2009.

[mirandapriestly]

6. ooh, might be interesting..

I might have to put that one on hold at the library...