The attacks against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, could have been thwarted months or years in advance, according to a damning report by the U.S. Congress. But everything from inflexible priorities to a lack of communication let Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network carry out the deadly hijackings, concludes an inquiry by the Senate and House of Representatives. The final report, containing more than 830 pages, has two dozen specific conclusions. But missed opportunities and the failure to protect the U.S. from a terrorist strike is the "single bottom line," said Democratic Sen. Bob Graham, who co-chaired the committee. "The attacks of Sept. the 11th could have been prevented if the right combination of skill, co-operation, creativity and some good luck had been brought to the task," Graham told a news conference. "If people want to place blame, there’s plenty of blame to go around," he added, citing everything from proposed budget cuts at the FBI to the military’s refusal to support CIA operations against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
| I blame Bob Graham, myself. Never would have happened if he'd been holding hearings like he was supposed to. Better late than never, I guess... |
Sections of Thursday’s report remain classified. It’s based on a 10-month investigation by a joint intelligence committee on Capitol Hill.
Live and learn. Everything that is done from now on will have 9-11 as the backdrop. No use blaming anyone but the OBL bastard. |