Tough to reconcile these 2 stories:
Ridge accuses Bush White House of political use of terror alert system - National Politics Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com
In his new book, the first Homeland Security chief, Tom Ridge, accuses top aides to President George W. Bush of pressing him to raise the terror alert level to influence the 2004 presidential election.
Ridge writes that there was a "vigorous, some might say dramatic, discussion" about raising the threat level. He says his aides told the White House that doing so would politicize national security.
"I believe our strong interventions had pulled the 'go-up' advocates back from the brink," Ridge writes. "But I consider the episode to be not only a dramatic moment in Washington's recent history, but another illustration of the intersection of politics, fear, credibility and security."
"After that episode, I knew I had to follow through with my plans to leave the federal government for the private sector," Ridge, who resigned soon after the election where Bush defeated Democrat John F. Kerry, writes in "The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... And How We Can Be Safe Again."
Then This:
Ridge backpedals on pressure to raise terror alert level - USATODAY.com
"I'm not second-guessing my colleagues," Ridge said in an interview about The Test of Our Times, which comes out Tuesday and recounts his experiences as head of the nation's homeland security efforts in the first several years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Sounds to me like the first statement was true & now he's trying to weasel out of it with a non-denial...denial..
So I guess we're left with this:
Like almost all other members of the Bush regime, Ridge is a liar.
The only remaining question is: Was he lying then?..... or is he lying now??
(my money is on the "NOW" answer)
