Bushitters can't claim confidence in PDB's "ongoing investigations"

Now wait a freaking minute..!

I was listening to a replay of this morning's O'Franken Factor, when it was stated that the CIA produces the Presidential Daily Briefs (PDBs). Hearing this highlights a major conflict in the Bush admin's statements that they trusted that the investigations would be carried out appropriately and that they would be notified should any investigation produce actionable intelligence.

Here's what I'm having a problem with...

The CIA produces the Presidential Daily Briefs (PDBs), including the August 6th "Osama bin Laden Determined to Strike Within the US" PDB.

The August 6th PDB states, "The FBI is conducting approximately 70 full field investigations throughout the US that it considers Bin Ladin-related." The PDB comments on other FBI and joint-FBI/CIA initiatives, and the subject itself underscores a theat against the US mainland.

Condoleezza Rice, as quoted during 9/11 Commission questioning by Fred Fielding, stated in October 2000 during the Presidential campaign, "... you really have to get intelligence agencies better organized to deal with the terrorist threat to the United States itself. ... There needs to be better cooperation ..." Additionally, the Bush Administration was well-aware of the systemic issues as a result of the Hart-Rudman report.

How then, can Bush et al claim that they were confident that the FBI was properly working the investigations, given that the PDB information had come through the CIA? Wouldn't the basic presumption of poor cooperation between the CIA and FBI make the PDB information suspect, requiring detailed followup? And the PDB only approximates the investigations at 70; given the danger, shouldn't the exact number of investigations have been determined? As well as interrogating the FBI as to the exact nature of each of the investigations?

We're preaching to the choir here, I'm thinking, since any *rational* person would see that the Bush Admin effectively ignored the al Qaeda threat. Anybody not yet convinced of this is just too far gone or obtuse to likely ever be convinced.

They don't know how that made it into the PDB. This is such a confusing mess and I'm sure it is meant to be.

On the one hand, this administration wants to make the case that they were so concerned about terrorists that they ordered up the PDB (light on the facts, please). OTOH, they say they had no actionable information.

I do know this. George didn't warn the American people and he took a month off after the 8/6 meeting. As far as I am concerned he was either totally incompetent or he let the attack happen. Either way, articles of impeachment should be underway in COngress.