Thanks, Ron. It's these unanswered questions--I think--that lend credibility to further conspiracy theories. If I'd been in charge (a scary thought), I think I would have gone on TV and told the American public that our intelligence services had screwed the pooch. That we'd had indications before 9/11 that there would be an attack on American soil and that due to the size of the intelligence system, messages did not get passed as quickly as they shoud, that there would be a transparent investigation as to what went wrong and that some folks would be 'counting trees' (to use an old USSR expression).

When the C in C stonewalls in an effort to keep his friends or departments clear of any honest criticism or investigation, it taints the whole administration and all the intelligence services, most of which try to perform their functions with professionalism and on behalf of the American people and to keep citizens safe.

I think if Bush HAD levelled with people, he'd have won the 2004 election in a walk. The American people have never 'deserted' a sttting President when the country has been at war.

Cheney has been and continues to be a different matter. I am amazed at the inability of your congress to get answers from these guys (Bush and Cheney). It all simpley makes me think there will be some sort of attack on mainland USA and that they will grab all the powers they have available through the Patriot Act and the various Executive Orders that have been put in place over the past six years. If, as an American, you are not concerned, then you aren't the kind of American I came to know during the time I lived there. (That is not directed at anyone here. The fact y'all are interested enough to argue for or against tells me y'all are interested.) The US has had its top court gelded, its congress silenced, and two guys have been doing that out in the open AND getting away with it. Where the hell is the US I know?