"Clarke was a Presidential Advisor on anti-terrorism, he did not head anything"

i didn't say he headed anything. i said he resided at the top levels of the policy chain thru 3 administrations. i think presidential advisor suits that claim.

"...but as they both disagree with Richard Clarke's up-take on the situation, their credentials, positions and insight are apparently totally dismissed."

i've read tenet's and berger's public testimony and i don't see serious disagreements in facts. there are certainly some differences in opinion. i deal in my own opinions in an internet discussion such as this so i don't think you'll find instances where i have dismissed or to this point even commented on tenet or berger's testimony. point it out if you find such.

"Incidently, out of those "principals" meetings you mentioned, how many did Clarke attend?"

what does that have to do with anything? if the circumstance is true (1 meeting out of 100) and my job and expertise were in that area that was not being addressed why would i want to sit thru a bunch of meetings about, say, "star wars" missile defense systems?
you seem to say that 9/11 occurred due to procedural problems and that it's not really anyone's fault. isn't that the height of beaurocratic buck-passing? people at the highest levels are charged with responsibility to see that procedures are workable and functioning. how can no one anywhere be charged with some responsibility? that smells to high heaven as far as i'm concerned.

"...way of the Patriot Act - which you all rave so much about."

once again, i don't recall raving at all, up to this point, about the patriot act so feel free when addressing my statements and/or questions to stick to my own statements and leave out the sweeping generalizations or putting of words in my mouth. thank you.

"...if that happens to be against your principles and too hard to stomach, well so be it - accept the incidents, the fatalities, the casualties, the damage to your infrastructure, economy and way of life..."

if this picture of surrendering all principles that our country is founded upon or accepting total destruction is true as you state it, i'm afraid we're in a war that we can never win. i can't really see things that way. it seems to me there must be a middle way, as there is in everything else in life.