Rumsfeld 9/11 Commemoration

[DudeAsInCool]

Home

Origins: In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., public sentiment ran high for honoring firefighters and their valiant service in a difficult and dangerous job with the establishment of a National Firefighters Day. In fact, a National Firefighters Day had already been proclaimed by executive order at least twice in recent years, in 1991 by President Bush and again in 1993 by President Clinton. Neither of these proclamations established a permanent, annual day of honor for firefighters, however.

The two e-mail petitions quoted above both began to circulate shortly after September 11, the second started out by Connor Geraghty, the son of Edward Geraghty , a Battalion Chief with the New York City Fire Department who lost his life in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11. Both suffered from some of the usual pitfalls of Internet petitions : the e-mail account listed in the first petition was quickly shut down, and the flood of responses frequently filled up Connor Geraghty's mailbox and caused incoming messages to bounce. Connor's petition did serve the purpose of calling wider attention to his cause: his mother forwarded it to New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, who in turn read a tribute to Connor and Edward Geraghty into the Congressional Record.

As far as we know, no legislative effort has yet been undertaken to establish a National Firefighters Day. Also, according to a November 2001 New York Post article, "Connor initially wanted Firefighters Day to be held on Sept. 11, but now he thinks that date should be reserved for all sorts of heroes. Firefighters, he firmly believes, deserve another day all their own."

For those still interested in establishing a National Firefighters Day, sponsoring a petition on the web rather than via e-mail is much more practical. Also, taking a few extra minutes to send letters to Congressional representatives rather than simply adding names to an e-petition would be a worthwhile effort.

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

127-Riquelme De France, Hernando, FL 34442

--- Begin forwarded message:

From: [email protected]

Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 17:30:07 EDT

To: [email protected], [email protected]

Subject: Firefighter Honor

> > What do you think about this.

> > This is an idea from the son of a 9/11 firefighter.

> >

> > Before you delete this, just remember that this is a 14-year-old boy who

>lost his father on September 11th. All you're asked to do is type, point and

>click. He's got a really great idea. Thanks!

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > I lost my Dad on Septe mber 11th; he was Chief Edward Geraghty, Battalion

>9, New York City Fire Department. He lost his life with many other heroes

>that day, victims of the terrorists. Firefighters from all over have come to

>the aid and rescue of the tragedy in New York and Washington, D.C. Many

>firefighters lost their lives to save someone else's; the truth of the

>matter is, they do this every single day. They truly are heroes!!

> >

> > I know many people feel helpless, especially those who live far from NYC

>and D.C. We all want to do something to show our appreciation and our

>support. I think we can. In honor of the bravery, courage and determination

>of American firefighters, there should be a day in our nation to celebrate

>and appreciate their hard work and never ending passion for saving lives. I

>think we should honor all those other heroes who still live today.

> >

> > I'm s tarting a Petition for a National Firefighters day. Will you help

>make every September 11th "National Firefighters Day"?

> >

> > Please join me! Thank you.

> >

> > Connor Geraghty, age 14

> > Rockville Centre, New York

> > (I Love u, DAD!!)

> >

> > PS: When this list reaches 250 names, please send it back to me at

>[email protected].

> >

> >

> > Instructions: To add your name, click forward, add your name the bottom of

>the list. Send it to all you know. Or copy and paste into a new email Add

>your name and then forward it on.

> >

> >

> > 1. Teryl MacDougall, La Canada, CA

> >

> > 2. Theresa Deliberto, Pasadena, Ca

> >

> > 3. Janet Nelson,Glendale, CA

> >

> > 4. Nan Phillips, Glendale, CA

> >

> > 5. Tracy Lee Hanson, La Habra, CA

> >

> > 6. June Delgadillo, Garden Grove, CA

> ; >

> > 7. Vicci Haines. Oceanside,CA

> >

> > 8. Debbie DeBruyn, Corona, CA

> >

> > 9. Harold Beck, Riverside, CA.

> >

> > 10. Maureen L. Desiderio, Boston, MA

> >

> > 11. Jeanne Van Bergen, Riverhead, NY

> >

> > 12. Helen Dohman, Glen Rock, NJ

> >

> > 13. Martha Chioffe. Toms River, NJ

> >

> > 14. Ruth Gruner, Manchester, NJ

> >

> > 15. Maureen F. Kennedy, Manchester, NJ

> >

> > 16. Margaret McConville, Whiting, NJ

> >

> > 17. Kim Cupolo, Farmingdale, NY

> >

> > 18. Marijo Conway, Westbury, NY

> >

> > 19. Eileen Reid, Queens, NY

> >

> > 20. Denise McCormack

> >

> > 21. Chas. Flisser, Mt. Vernon, NY

> >

> > 22. Paul V. Ansbro, Lake Carmel, NY 10512

> >

& gt; > 23. Wallace R. Meeteer Tucson, AZ85749

> >

> ; > 24. Debra Scagnelli, Smithtown, NY

> >

> > 25. Eileen Engelhardt, Kings Park, NY

> >

> > 26. Vanessa Giuliano, Kings Park, NY

> >

> > 27. Holly O'Brien, Kings Park, NY

> >

> > 28. Amy and Terence Roland Port Jefferson Station, NY

> >

> > 29 Kim & Jim Laricchiuta, Patchogue, NY

> >

> > 30. Lorissa Morales, Wantagh, NY

> >

> > 31. Cheryl Parisi, Wantagh NY

> >

> > 32. Melissa Refael , Wantagh NY

> >

> > 33. Nicole Zegel, Wantagh NY

> >

> > 34. celeste spiegel..vero beach, Fl.

> >

> > 35.Gail Seaver, Coeur d'Alene, ID

> >

> > 36. Hilary Chick, Coeur d Alene, Id.

> >

> > 37. Margaret Vasquez, Coeur d Alene, Id.

> >

> > 38. Alan King, Wakefield, NH

> >

> > 39. Janice King, Wa kefield, NH

> >

> > 40. Linda Fields, Houston, TX

> >

> > 41. Vanessa Abahashemi, Houston, TX

> >

> > 42. shirley ronquillo,houston,tx

> >

> > 43. Adrienne Benavidez Houston, Tx

> >

> > 44. Elydia Rosa Benavidez, Houston, Texas *My brother is a firefighter and

>pray everyday that the spirits above keep him safe when he is out serving

>and protecting. I love you Adam!

> >

> > 45. Chris "8BaLL" Amerson Houston Tx

> >

> > 46. Sara Amerson, Houston TX

> >

> > 47. Nina Nunez, Tucson AZ

> >

> > 48. Rhonda Daughtry, Tucson Az

> >

> > 49. Kelly King-McDonald, Tucson, AZ

> >

> > 50. Jay Froehlich, Tucson, AZ

> >

> > 51. Cindy Arthur, Tucson, AZ

> >

> > 52. Jo Anne Grabe, Tucson, AZ.

> >

> > 53. Dayna Brown, Rolla, MO

> >

> > 54. Wendy Stoner, Tucson, AZ

> >

> > 55. Gerry Kelley, Spring Texas

> >

> > 56. Traci Weirich, Stavanger, Norway

> >

> > 57. Madra Ford, Spring, Texas

> >

> > 58. Mary Etta Wood, Houston, Texas

> >

> > 59.Debbie Lockwood, Cypress, TX

> >

> > 60. Lindsay Lockwood, Spring, TX

> >

> > 61. Dave Lockwood Jr., Spring, TX.

> >

> > 62 Michael l. Snead and Family Houston, TX

> >

> > 63 . Jason Bradley, Houston, TX

> >

> > 64. Cami Bradley, Houston, TX

> >

> > 65. Lisa Baxter, Knightstown, IN

> >

> > 66. Michael Baxter, Knightstown, IN

> >

> > 67. John Franklin, Bossier City, LA

> >

> > 68. Debbie Franklin, Marion IN

> >

> > 69. Sherrie Bennett, Marion IN

> >

> > 70. Penny Nellis, Spring H ill, Fl.

> >

> > 71. Mary Stary, Venice, FL

> >

> > 72. Angela Ernst, Powell, Ohio

> >

> > 73. Caroline Decaminada, Alpharetta, Ga.

> >

> > 74. Carol Zen, St. Paul, MN

> >

> > 75. Ardie Gallant

> >

> > 76. Gail Bremner, Flat Rock, NC

> >

> > 77. Kevin Saye

> >

> > 78.Linnsey Stier, E. Flat Rock,NC

> >

> > 79.Rita Gavin, Ft. Myers, Fl

> >

> > 80. Judy Hart-Oliver, Cape Coral, FL

> >

> > 81. Bill Oliver, Cape Coral, FL

> >

> > 82. Lois Blood, Waukegan, IL

> >

> > 83. Terri Barreras, Chicago, IL

> >

> > 84. Dawn Barreras, San Diego, CA

> >

> > 85. Joeleene Brinkley, San Diego, CA

> >

> > 86. Chelsea Johnson, San Diego, CA

> >

> > 87. Erika Alexander, San Diego, CA

> > > > 88. Jackie Alexander , San Diego, CA

> > 89. Wendy Koblick, Los Angeles CA

> >

> > 90.Lisa Fishman, Los Angeles, CA

> >

> > 91.Andrea Armstrong, Calabasas, CA wife of Firefighter

> >

> > 92. Kelly Brumfield Woods, Topanga, CA

> >

> > 93. Kristin Brumfield, Santa Monica, CA

> >

> > 94. Jeff DiCicco, Santa Monica, CA

> >

> > 95.Yvette Ramos, Santa Monica, CA

> >

> > 96. Michael Garcia, Miami, FL

> >

> > 97. Dawn Antinozzi, Union NJ

> >

> > 98. Chris Wodopuja, Bloomfield NJ

> >

> > 99.carmine gebo, blairstown.nj

> >

> > 100.anthony dallegro, belleville, nj

> >

> > 101.cheryl dallegro, belleville, nj

> >

> > 102. Sharon and Andrew Weilandt, Bushkill, PA

> >

> > 103. Willi am T Heineman, Stroudsburg PA

> >

> > 104. Cheryl Heineman, Stroudsburg PA

> >

> > 105.Rich Kruger E. Stroudsburg pa

> >

> > 106. Jeannette Kruger E. Stroudsburg Pa

> >

> > 107. Nancy Kruger E Stroudsburg Pa

> >

> > 108. Kelli Nolan Norwich, CT

> >

> > 109. Ryan Smeltz Norwich, CT

> >

> > 110. Leonor Alves Massapequa, NY

> >

> > 111. Joe Alves Massapequa NY

> >

> > 112. Sergio Acevedo Massapequa, NY

> >

> > 113. Clara Acevedo Massapequa, NY

> >

> > 114. Mario Acevedo Massapequa, NY

> >

> > 115. Salma Acevedo Baltimore, MD

> >

> > 116. Doris Dias Clark, NJ

> >

> > 117. Lia Lehenbauer- New Jersey

> >

> > 118. Mary Ann Smith Kang - NJ

> >

> > 119. Tejashri Patel, Bensalem, PA

>

> 120. &nbs p;Jaklyn Ramos, Sea Isle City NJ

121. Mary Schuler - Dexter, Michigan

122. Loretta Kaber - Stow,New York

123. Wendy Sweeney - Tarpon Springs Fl.

124. Evelyn Whiles- Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

125 Ronald Whiles - Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

126 Jerry Kaber - Stow, New York

127. Joy Lopez - Holualoa, HI

[slum_goddess]

Just curious...can anyone name me the last time a government agency organized a (ostensively) private march and concert like this?

is this like a trick question cause the answer's nazis/hitler/germany?

[DudeAsInCool]

is this like a trick question cause the answer's nazis/hitler/germany?

Like Eric Alterman, Matthew Yglesias is sarcastically conflating intention with (alleged) effect in the war in Iraq (and invoking Nuremberg and totalitarianism):

"FREEDOM" WALK. The Pentagon's planned "freedom walk" to commemorate September 11 on Sunday seems to involve precious little freedom, as Atrios notes. It also seems to have precious little to do with commemorating 9-11. Indeed, while I hesitate to throw this kind of rhetoric around, it seems fair to say that the Defense Department has decided to use your tax dollars to finance a Nuremberg-style rally aimed at bolstering political support for the incumbent party and smearing the opposition as un-patriotic. Not that I think Bush is about to start firing up the gas chambers, but Milan Kundera's thoughts on totalitarian kitsch seem apropos.

http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2005/09/...al_jargon_.html

Apparently so... :reallymad:

[slum_goddess]

didja see the photos? a bunch of white guys, of course.

[DudeAsInCool]

F.A.A. alerted on Qaeda in '98, 9/11 Panel Said

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 - American aviation officials were warned as early as 1998 that Al Qaeda could "seek to hijack a commercial jet and slam it into a U.S. landmark," according to previously secret portions of a report prepared last year by the Sept. 11 commission. The officials also realized months before the Sept. 11 attacks that two of the three airports used in the hijackings had suffered repeated security lapses.

Federal Aviation Administration officials were also warned in 2001 in a report prepared for the agency that airport screeners' ability to detect possible weapons had "declined significantly" in recent years, but little was done to remedy the problem, the Sept. 11 commission found.

The White House and many members of the commission, which has completed its official work, have been battling for more than a year over the release of the commission's report on aviation failures, which was completed in August 2004.

A heavily redacted version was released by the Bush administration in January, but commission members complained that the deleted material contained information critical to the public's understanding of what went wrong on Sept. 11. In response, the administration prepared a new public version of the report, which was posted Tuesday on the National Archives Web site.

While the new version still blacks out numerous references to particular shortcomings in aviation security, it restores dozens of other portions of the report that the administration had been considered too sensitive for public release.

http://nytimes.com/2005/09/14/politics/14t...agewanted=print

Richard Ben-Veniste, a former member of the Sept. 11 commission, said the release of the material more than a year after it was completed underscored the over-classification of federal material. "It's outrageous that it has taken the administration a year since this monograph was submitted for it to be released," he said. "There's no reason it could not have been released earlier."

:reallymad:

[slum_goddess]

nb: anyone feel free to break these off and put in their own topic

did we let osama get away on purpose? 'The New York Times reported this weekend that we sent in 36 U.S. Special Forces troops to get Osama bin Laden when we knew he was in Tora Bora. By contrast, we sent nearly 150,000 soldiers to get Saddam Hussein. In case you're keeping count at home, we got Saddam and we didn't get Osama.

What does that tell you about this administration’s priorities? This goes beyond incompetence. If you send only 36 soldiers to get somebody in the middle of Afghanistan, it means you don’t want to get him.

'It gets worse...' (more at above link)

afghan official says commanders let osama escape: 'KABUL, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Osama bin Laden was provided safe passage to Pakistan in 2001 by Afghan commanders paid by al Qaeda and sympathetic to its cause, a senior Afghan official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Lutfullah Mashal, Afghanistan's Interior Ministry spokesman, said commanders helped the al Qaeda leader escape from the Tora Bora mountains as U.S. warplanes and Afghan forces attacked his hideout near the Pakistan border in late 2001.

"The help was provided because of monetary aid availed by al Qaeda and also partly because of ideological issues," Mashal said....'