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VINTAGE rick
It
was nearly unimaginable back then: Israelis and Palestinians
shaking hands on the White House lawn. It's even harder
to imagine now. Remember September of '93 in this Vintage
Rick!
NEW seasonal fave
Why
do they call it "traveling" if you're standing still?
And can't anyone do something about it? Get moving with
this Seasonal Fave!
"The Path to 9/11"
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Scenes
By Rick Horowitz
Scene
1: Somewhere in the Muslim world, somewhere in the 1990s.
"Kirk," a CIA agent: We're picking up dangerous signals from across
the region.
"Sidekick," another CIA agent: Those certainly are dangerous signals.
I wonder who could be behind them.
"Kirk": They call him "The Tall One."
"Sidekick": He's bad news. I sure hope our supervisors in Washington
recognize the danger he represents.
"Kirk": Me, too!
Scene 2: Somewhere
in Washington, later that day.
"John," an FBI agent: Mr. Director, what do you think of those dangerous
signals "Kirk" and "Sidekick" are picking up from across the region?
"George" the CIA director: I don't recognize those signals as dangerous.
Neither does "Madeleine," the secretary of state, or "Sandy," the national
security adviser.
"John": But aren't you leaving the citizens of the United States
vulnerable to a terrible attack right here on our shores someday? "George": Details! I need details!
Scene 3: Outside a training camp in Afghanistan, in the late 1990s.
"Kirk": Is that who I think it is?
"Massoud," a heroic rebel leader: Indeed. That is "The Tall One"
himself -- Usama bin Laden, standing there in the open. We can shoot
him dead right now and make certain that nothing terrible will happen
on your shores someday.
"Kirk": What an excellent idea! I'll call Washington tonight for
permission.
"Massoud": But we may miss this golden opportunity! For what possible
reason would you delay calling Washington?
"Kirk": I'm out of "Anytime" minutes. Those damned Clinton budgets!
"Massoud": I do not understand. Where there is evil, do you not
have the will to confront it? Are there real men in Washington, "Kirk,"
or only cowards? Perhaps someday you will have such a leader -- a man
of action who stands tall, and speaks plainly, from a place like Texas. "Kirk": You are very wise, "Massoud."
Scene 4: The White House Situation Room, the following morning. "Madeleine," the Secretary of State: I say we do nothing
because of petty regional considerations.
"Sandy," the National Security Adviser: I say we do nothing because
of fear of offending international opinion.
"George," the CIA director: Details! I need details! "Madeleine": Then we're all agreed -- we do nothing about the
ever-growing threat to our national security. Meeting adjourned -- I'll
inform the president.
Scene 5: The Oval Office, the same day.
"Bill," the President of the United States: Ooh. Ooh. Now a little
bit higher, OK? Ooh-ooh. Ooh-ooh -- that's better. Ooh-ooh-ah. Ooh-ooh-ah-ah.
Ooh-ooh --
"Madeleine": Excuse me, Mr. President, but --
"Bill": Later! Can't you see I'm busy?
"Madeleine": Sorry, Mr. President.
"Bill": And close the door behind you! Where were we? Ooh-ooh-ah-ah!
Ooh-ah-ooh-ah!...
Scene 6: In Afghanistan, later that decade.
"John": Are you as worried about the ever-growing threat to our
national security as I am?
"Kirk": I certainly am. What are you doing here in Afghanistan?
"John": I had to do something -- nobody listens to me in Washington.
Meanwhile, the danger is growing by the minute. "Kirk": It certainly is. And it may be too late for the next
president to prevent a terrible thing from happening, no matter how
hard he tries. To think of holding him even partly responsible would
be a big mistake.
"John": You are very wise, "Kirk."
Posted 9/12/06. Catch
Rick's docu-columns right here! (And tell your friends!)
Rick Horowitz
