9/11 Commission Recommendations

[nerdgirl 0]

Does anyone still care about the 9/11 Commission and its recommendations?

The Five Recommendations (endorsed by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission +)

Revitalize public diplomacy in the Muslim world:
1. By rebuilding international scholarship, exchange and library programs.
2. By supporting the International Youth Opportunity Fund for building and operating primary and secondary schools in Muslim countries.

Reorient America’s Foreign Policy:
3. By leading a long-term, multilateral commitment to security and economic development in Afghanistan.
4. By developing international standards for terrorist detention consistent with the Geneva Conventions.
5. By maximizing efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD, especially by strengthening key multilateral security programs.

Do supporters of the current administration and formerly Republican-controlled Congress think that enough effort has been put forth toward accomplishing those endeavors, especially #5? Have the efforts been successful & by what measures?

Do supporters of the post-2006 Democrat-controlled Congress think that the Democrats in the Senate and House have made efforts to see those recommendations implemented?

Or do you just not care … or consider it not worth it at this point?

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[cumplidor 0]

you remember how long it took the administration to put this "investigation" together? Wasn't it like a year or something like that? Only under heavy public pressure did they even begin it, if I recall correctly... Hmm. wouldn't be too surprising that they don't act on the recommendations of that commission.

Speaking of not acting on recommendations...

Has anyone heard about the missiles that China and Iran supposedly purchased from Russia that can take out our Aircraft carriers and there is nothing we can do to stop them (the missiles)? Cant remember what the name of them was, but they are bad ass and the Administration is aware of them, yet has not answered Congressional inquiries as to what the heck they are going to do about it??

[rushmc 23]

Speaking of not acting on recommendations...

Has anyone heard about the missiles that China and Iran supposedly purchased from Russia that can take out our Aircraft carriers and there is nothing we can do to stop them (the missiles)? Cant remember what the name of them was, but they are bad ass and the Administration is aware of them, yet has not answered Congressional inquiries as to what the heck they are going to do about it??

I suppose you think it make sense to report out "what they are doing about it" publicly?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[dan_iv 0]

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Revitalize public diplomacy in the Muslim world:
1. By rebuilding international scholarship, exchange and library programs.
2. By supporting the International Youth Opportunity Fund for building and operating primary and secondary schools in Muslim countries.

1. why waste our money, on other countries? Do they really need new libraries more then we need to take care of our own domestic problems.
2. building and operating primary and secondary schools in other countries... We have enough problems with our own public schools in our own country.
* I have no problems with diplomacy, having talks with other international entities is fine, but using our tax dollars to build infrastructure and education programs in other countries is just downright stupid.

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Reorient America’s Foreign Policy:
3. By leading a long-term, multilateral commitment to security and economic development in Afghanistan.
4. By developing international standards for terrorist detention consistent with the Geneva Conventions.
5. By maximizing efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring WMD, especially by strengthening key multilateral security programs.

3. we should be more concerned about securing our own borders and immigration issues rather then any other countries.
4. no problems here with one exception, international standards are a good thing however when your enemies pose as women in burka's or send kids with bombs out and are not following any international standards of war or detention it is pretty much a useless standard.
5. The attack on 9/11 had zero to do with WMD's i'm not sure why they even made this recommendation, other then the fact that fear is a good way to foster public support for BS.

edit: spelling errors

[cumplidor 0]

Congress is asking publicly what the Pentagon is going to do to protect our sailors. But the WH ignores the requests. If a vulnerability has been identified that could take out thousands of our soldiers, yes, I would like them to publicly state how they plan to address this WEAKNESS in our defences.

I know this must seem weird, but it helps me feel safe when my government lets me know how enemy missiles cannot do any damage to our ships. I suppose you prefer the way they are currently handling the situation? by ignoring it and hoping it will go away? or will sinking 3 aircraft carriers become the next polarizing event that has the population cheering on W as he extends his corporate war to Iran and destroying another million or so lives.

[nerdgirl 0]

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Revitalize public diplomacy in the Muslim world:
1. By rebuilding international scholarship, exchange, and library programs.
2. By supporting the International Youth Opportunity Fund for building and operating primary and secondary schools in Muslim countries.

1. why waste our money, on other countries? Do they really need new libraries more then we need to take care of our own domestic problems.
2. building and operating primary and secondary schools in other countries... We have enough problems with our own public schools in our own country.
* I have no problems with diplomacy, having talks with other international entities is fine, but using our tax dollars to build infrastructure and education programs in other countries is just downright stupid.

1. Exchange is Track 2 diplomacy; to a lesser extent international scholarship could be considered similar or educational cooperative threat reduction.
How about library programs like the Iraqi Virtual Science Library, jointly put together by the Departments of State & Defense?

2. Radical Islamists use militant madrassas to indoctrinate and recruit. Sound like a wise investment to me.

I haven’t seen significant evidence of either.

My interest and motivation is much more with their 5th recommendation

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[nerdgirl 0]

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Has anyone heard about the missiles that China and Iran supposedly purchased from Russia that can take out our Aircraft carriers and there is nothing we can do to stop them (the missiles)? Cant remember what the name of them was, but they are bad ass and the Administration is aware of them, yet has not answered Congressional inquiries as to what the heck they are going to do about it??

No, I haven’t heard anything about them. Do you recall if these were claims put forth from the Putin-approved Russian press? Russia has more than a dozen land to sea missiles designed to damage ships & submarines. Is the issue existence of such missiles or the sale/transfer of technology?

Rushmc is correct that specific vulnerabilities are unlikely to be discussed openly (as opposed to bellicose claims by Russians [e.g., the 'nano-enabled thermobaric bomb'] ... & educated, speculative claims by wonkish US analysts … the Chinese seem to be less likely to make unverifiable claims … in general). It’s gets murky quickly … & speaking very generally, if the Pentagon was to create a specific open program to respond specifically, that would validate such a threat. If the threat is real, once an effective countermeasure is developed or devised, then it will have a deterrence value. Do you have any additional citations?

Thanks.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[dan_iv 0]

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Revitalize public diplomacy in the Muslim world:
1. By rebuilding international scholarship, exchange, and library programs.
2. By supporting the International Youth Opportunity Fund for building and operating primary and secondary schools in Muslim countries.

1. why waste our money, on other countries? Do they really need new libraries more then we need to take care of our own domestic problems.
2. building and operating primary and secondary schools in other countries... We have enough problems with our own public schools in our own country.
* I have no problems with diplomacy, having talks with other international entities is fine, but using our tax dollars to build infrastructure and education programs in other countries is just downright stupid.

1. Exchange is Track 2 diplomacy; to a lesser extent international scholarship could be considered similar or educational cooperative threat reduction.
How about library programs like the Iraqi Virtual Science Library, jointly put together by the Departments of State & Defense?

2. Radical Islamists use militant madrassas to indoctrinate and recruit. Sound like a wise investment to me.

I haven’t seen significant evidence of either.

My interest and motivation is much more with they’re 5th recommendation

VR/Marg

I'm not sure how to interpret your response? Personally while those are nice ideas I don't believe they will have the impact that makes them worth spending tax money on. For example, if Iran funded an "American Virtual Science Library" here in the US how would that be perceived buy the populace and the Gov't? Look how we handled or are handling the Holy Foundation, while I don't know the true extent of that operation, it was perceived as a threat and source of income for the terrorists on our soil by our government as well as a lot of Americans.

It would have been refreshing if the 911 commission looked more into the WHY they attack us.

I don't believe the suggestions made by the commission will happen, nor do I believe that as long as we are attempting to create piece by force and occupation will we ever be safe from terrorist attacks.

I'm pretty much done with this topic, but you asked an interesting question that could be debated for quite some time.