"God help us if we have another attack"

Tim Grieve quotes the Condiliar in a Salon War Room post:

Just before she boarded a plane for Europe this morning, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought to put a lid on complaints she's going to hear there about the U.S. practice of rendition and reports that the CIA is operating a network of secret prisons overseas. She defended Bush administration policies, and she issued a sort of warning for leaders who might not stay in line. Invoking the threat of another 9/11, Rice said: "I know what it is like to face an inquiry into whether everything was done that could be done."

Rice's warning raises a couple of questions here. First, is it too much to ask that government officials -- in the United States or in Europe -- do their best to prevent a terrorist attack because they want to prevent a terrorist attack, and not because they fear the investigation that might follow if they don't? OK, don't answer that. By framing her warning the way she did, Rice makes it pretty clear at least what motivates her.

But the bigger question is this: As Rice goes around hinting that European officials aren't doing their part to prevent another attack, are Rice and her colleagues back home doing everything they can themselves? The answer to that question is a resounding no, say the members of the 9/11 Commission.

Exactly how useless is the CYA administration? It appears there's no limit. We are being governed by a bunch of sociopaths.

If you find yourself pining for a leader who actually spends time thinking about what's best for the country, check out Kerry's appearance on Face the Nation yesterday. (.pdf transcript here.)