Iraq, Political wind

Senator Durbin lied to America about pre-war intelligence

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Senator Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, lied to the American people Wednesday when he said:

“The information we had in the intelligence committee was not the same information being given to the American people. I couldn’t believe it… I was angry about it. [But] frankly, I couldn’t do much about it because, in the intelligence committee, we are sworn to secrecy. We can’t walk outside the door and say the statement made yesterday by the White House is in direct contradiction to classified information that is being given to this Congress.”

Senator Durbin’s oath of secrecy does not prohibit him from stating his opinion.

During the pre-war debate, Senator Durbin could have announced he had seen additional intelligence information and came to a different conclusion than the administration. He would have been committing no crime had he said just that and did not reveal the actual classified information. If that alone is a crime, then why is no one seeking his arrest now for what he said Wednesday?

Senator Durbin cannot prove he saw information that “was not the same” unless he reveals it and the administration cannot confirm or deny intelligence information that is not even named. His statement was just another way of him saying, “Bush lied.”

Yet it is Senator Durbin who is lying to the American people and there is no way for him to prove otherwise.

In other words, “Durbin lied.”

9/11, War on Terror

First 9/11 FDNY Chief in Still Serving

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Chief Joseph Pfeifer was the first FDNY battalion chief to arrive at the World Trade Center on 9/11. This morning, the New York Post reports the FDNY is implementing a new disaster response plan that Chief Pfeifer formulated:

In a report released yesterday, FDNY brass outline plans to avoid repeating the mistakes made on 9/11, when 343 firefighters were killed. The “FDNY Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness Strategy” study comes in response to the scathing 2002 McKinsey Report, which found the department was badly limited by widespread communication failures, poor coordination with other agencies and overall bad planning.

The new strategy includes preparation for multiple disaster scenarios, a buildup of elite firefighters, high-tech equipment development and a procedural overhaul. “These plans are all based from Sept. 11,” Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano told The Post.

The planning effort was led by Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeifer, head of the FDNY Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness and one of the first on scene on Sept. 11. Pfeifer lost his brother, Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, in the attack.

I have met Chief Pfeifer on several occasions. He is unassuming.

The Post actually led off their report with, “This is how 9/11 is not going to happen again.” Chief Pfeifer was there the last time it happened again.

Some might correctly speculate Chief Pfeifer stayed in memory of his brother and the 343. Yet he also stayed for those who will come running the next time.