Thursday, March 25, 2004
"So Help Me God"
“I welcome these Hearings because of the opportunity they provide to the American people to better understand why the tragedy of 9/11 happened and what we must do to prevent a re-occurence.
I also welcome the hearings because it is finally a forum where I can apologize to the loved ones and the victims of 9/11.
(Turning around to acknowledge the surviving family’s of the 9/11 victims seated behind him)
To those here in the room,
to those who are watching on television:
your government .... failed you,
those entrusted with protecting you .... failed you,
and I .... failed you.
We tried hard.
But that doesn’t matter, because we failed.
And for that failure, I would ask, once all the facts are out,
for your understanding,
and for your forgiveness.” And with that, former White House Counter Terrorism Chief Richard Clarke who served under three Republican presidents, one Democratic president and voted for George W. Bush in 2000, became the first and only government official ever, Democratic or Republican, to apologize to the families of those who lost their loved ones on that tragic morning on Sept. 11, 2001.
[Real Video] CSPAN link titled "Sept. 11 Commission Hearing - Day 2, Afternoon Session"
9/11 families gathering around Richard Clarke to thank him after completing his
testimony at the 9/11 Commission Public Hearings
posted by voxpopgirl |
3/25/2004
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