Rice testifies

It's been a busy day and I'll be posting more on this later. John Podesta from the Center for American Progress released the following statement which I think highlights the key issues going forward coming out of Dr. Rice's testimony.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's testimony before the 9/11 Commission today established new and important facts.

Two and a half years after 9/11, the American public learned that President Bush received a memo on August 6, 2001, entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States." It contained explicit warnings that Osama bin Laden was planning to attack the United States including what the FBI called suspicious activities "consistent with preparations for hijacking."

Yet, there was no domestic follow-up by the Bush Administration. No high level meetings. No sense of urgency.

Dr. Rice's claim today that the FBI sent warnings to field offices was directly disputed by Commissioners who said they had conducted thousands of interviews and reviewed thousands of documents.

Their conclusion: no one at the FBI can recall such orders.

Howard Fineman pointed out both issues during an interview with Al Franken after Dr. Rice's testimony and went on to say, "I don't see how hertestimonyy helps the President."

UPDATE:A number of 9/11 commission members, including Co-chairs Kean and Hamilton on the News Hour praised the former President's openness and frankness. They went so far as to say he was very "truthful." This stands in marked contrast to their more careful comments on the Rice testimony.