Reply #77: Afghanistan, Cheney

[Kevin Fenton]

Afghanistan
I am absolutely not disputing that the US intended to step up action against Afghanistan before 9/11, indeed, a (rather watered-down) plan had already gone to Bush. However, the plan was being pushed by the counter-terrorist people (like Richard Clark) - it had nothing to do with oil.

"How can you say it can just as likely be a shootdown order?"
Well, this is what Minetta said. How can you say his testimony is accurate, but then dismiss his conclusions?

"Despite the fact that Cheney was obviously right on top of this, the effort to shoot the plane down was either non-existant or unbelievably incompetent."
It depends which plane you mean. The effort to shoot down American 77 was non-existant. The effort to shoot down United 93 seems to have been more successful though.

"And with regard to your supposition that it could just as likely refer to the demolition of the WTC, how does that make any sense given the relationship of the order to the repeated reports on how close the plane was."
OK, that's a good point. I am suggesting that Cheney was dealing with both of these issues (surely you agree) and that he could have been discussing them with the same staffer. I'm not saying this is the most likely option, but how likely is it that he would have been discussing the order to allow American 77 to hit a building in Washington in front o so many witnesses?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x73789