Educating Condi

(from 60 Minutes, March28, 2004:)

ED BRADLEY::
Will the families of those people who were killed hear an apology from you?
Do you think that would be appropriate?

CONDOLEZZA RICE:
"The families, I think, have heard from this president that - and from me, and from me personally in some cases in that field in Pennsylvania or at the World Trade Center, how - deeply sorry everyone is for the loss that they endured. You couldn't be human and not feel the horror of that day. We do need to stay focused on what happened to us that day. And the best thing that we can do for the memory of the victims, the best thing that we can do for the future of this country, is to focus on those who did this to us. "

......

She just doesn't get it.
Sure, Condi, *everyone* is deeply sorry for the losses survivors of 9/11 endured.

But not everyone was in a position to avert the attacks.

Not everyone was at fault for obsessing about the long-standing family feud between the Bushes and the Husseins, instead of focusing on the clear and present danger Al Qaida presented to America.

Those who had the power to prioritize levels of threat...
Those who established where and how to deploy U.S. military troops for optimal defense...
Those who held the power to protect the homelands from enemy attacks by ensuring appropriate, advance security measures...
Those who should have made national security a priority over personal, political agendas...

Failed.

They failed, and they owe the victims and their loved ones an apology for their failure.
They had the responsibility.
They failed to accept it.
After they failed, they failed to admit they were wrong.
They compound the wrong daily by continuing to fail to apologize.

Condi can wiggle the same words around a thousand ways, but she still won't say the simple words that terrorism expert Richard Clarke said to the survivors of the 9/11 attacks:

"I apologize. I failed you, and our government failed you."

Condi, your foolish pride in refusing to admit a wrong is a cancer eroding whatever prestige or past accomplishments you have achieved.
You will no longer be remembered for your myriad achievements before you joined the Bush administration.
Now, your most memorable act will be the way you equivocated, lied, blamed, spun and otherwise tried to deflect one simple truth: you fucked up, Condi, and we all know you fucked up.

Now quit pussyfooting around and say you're sorry.