I guess we all look at it in our own ways. I known what you mean, John when you say your words. You think of our country that wants to help everyone and wishes to live in peace and I applaud you for that. Thank goodness your son was OK. And I can see how others feel the need for revenge against someone whose only wish is to hurt us to the death. What Larry said reminded me of something I heard the other day. As I watched the shows Tuesday, they said that President Clinton wanted to take out Bin Ladin clear back when he had his training camps. And he could have. But all of the politicians blew it off as a diversion to get everyone's mind off of Monica Lewinsky and blew off the whole thing. If onlys....If onlys. Why did Bush let all of Bin Ladin's family get on a plane and get out of the country as quickly as possible? Why did? Why did? It is just sad for the people and familys who have suffered. I couldn't help feeling so sad. I never will.
Jimmy, Clinton searched for "consensus" within his administration. Janet Reno, for one, argued strongly for the arrest of Bin Laden, opposing any suggestion that either the military or the CIA should attempt to kill him. The CIA, which had operated under rules that made assassination illegal since about 1975, sent several "findings" to the White House, with proposed language to give clear direction to their assets in the field. The closest they ever got to a green light to "hit" bin Laden was approval to use force in the course of an attempt to arrest him. On one occasion, Clinton actually scratched out the text and changed the "finding", in his own hand, so that the guidance was less clear.
The bipartisan 9/11 Commission clarified the questions about aircraft leaving this country before air space had been reopened, carrying a number of Saudi nationals (including relatives of bin Laden) back to Saudi Arabia. Their report stated clearly that the FBI interviewed the Saudis prior to their departure and gave clearance for them to leave. And the aircraft did not depart this country until air space had been reopened.
