Stephen F. Kislock, III – 6/16/05

This page was last updated on June 16, 2005.

A matter of timing; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; June 16, 2005.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“The U.S. House and Senate are holding hearings on the renewal and expansion of the powers of the Patriot Act. President G.W. Bush and the Justice Department are telling us how important the Patriot Act is and how we are winning the war on terror with this act.

“How fortuitous that just when Congress is holding hearings on the Patriot Act, the FBI and its terrorism investigation strikes gold. In Lodi, Calif., a father and son are charged with being members of al-Qaida and had planned to attack U.S. hospitals and supermarkets.”

[RWC] Apparently Mr. Kislock hasn’t been paying attention. The FBI has been thwarting terrorist plots on a routine basis for the last several years, and those are just the ones we heard about. Mr. Kislock would like us to believe this get was a rarity and timed for political purposes.

It’s also useful to know the Patriot Act hearings have been going on since at least April.

“Where was the FBI on Sept. 10, 2001?”

[RWC] Perhaps Mr. Kislock needs to read the report by the 9/11 Commission.

Though Mr. Kislock probably doesn’t want to hear this, until June or July of 2001 the FBI Director was also Bill Clinton’s FBI Director. I don’t believe that made any difference, but it’s always a nice tidbit to throw back at folks like Mr. Kislock.

“No one was held responsible for the 9/11 catastrophe. Why?”

[RWC] 9/11 was not a “catastrophe.” An earthquake is a catastrophe. A tornado is a catastrophe. 9/11 was an act of war by a bunch of Muslim terrorists bent on killing Americans. Mr. Kislock’s use of “catastrophe” to describe 9/11 is one indication he doesn’t “get it.”

In case Mr. Kislock missed it, someone was held responsible for 9/11. It was Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. I’m sure Mr. Kislock would prefer to blame an American for 9/11.

“The Bush administration has rewarded failure with medals and fired those who would dare tell the truth.”

[RWC] What is Mr. Kislock writing about? Where are the examples and supporting evidence?