Rumsfeld "slip up " ?

[slugman]

Defense secretary's remark to troops fuels conspiracy theories

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A comment Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made during a Christmas Eve address to U.S. troops in Baghdad has sparked new conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In the speech, Rumsfeld made a passing reference to United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to stop al Qaeda hijackers.

But in his remarks, Rumsfeld referred to the "the people who attacked the United States in New York, shot down the plane over Pennsylvania."

A Pentagon spokesman insisted that Rumsfeld simply misspoke, but Internet conspiracy theorists seized on the reference to the plane having been shot down.

"Was it a slip of the tongue? Was it an error? Or was it the truth, finally being dropped on the public more than three years after the tragedy" asked a posting on the Web site WorldNetDaily.com.

Some people remain skeptical of U.S. government statements that, despite a presidential authorization, no planes were shot down September 11, and rumors still circulate that a U.S. military plane shot the airliner down over Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

A Pentagon spokesman insists Rumsfeld has not changed his opinion that the plane crashed as the result of an onboard struggle between passengers and terrorists.

The independent panel charged with investigating the terrorist attacks concluded that the hijackers intentionally crashed Flight 93, apparently because they feared the passengers would overwhelm them.

Interesting ! Me I always questioned whether the plane was shot down. Rumsfeld needs to go now he is killing the credibility of everyone involved with him.

[Aught Six]

I think Rumsfeld's doing an decent job, but perhaps we could find someone better. Unfortunately he's caught in politics, and the media is doing the Left's bidding. We can't afford to ignore that. But like he pretty much said, we have to deal with what we've got. If Bush has someone else in mind, I'm willing to consider him/her.

As far as shooting down UA93, I think it's a very real possibility. If you were in command and watched it head south towards Washington by the same group that blew up three other targets, what would you do? I work inside the beltway, and I've heard all kinds of rumors from those in government and in government contracting. I wouldn't doubt for a minute that we shot the plane down in order to protect those on the ground.

[slugman]

As far as shooting down UA93, I think it's a very real possibility

The Air force had the Presidents authorization to shoot it down. If they did , just tell us. Dont let the public find out thru a slip of the tounge 3 yrs later. I would have had no problem with that plane being shot down , just have a problem with being lied to for my own good , which is what the excuse would be.

[Charlie P]

Same type of thing happened with the plane that went down off Long Island someone slipped and said it had been shot down.

[Aught Six]

I would have had no problem with that plane being shot down , just have a problem with being lied to for my own good , which is what the excuse would be.

I hadn't really consider that point of view (took it for granted that the U.S. government has kept many secrets during wartime over the decades). Perhaps we'll have to deal with the political fallout eventually, but considering how angrily the 9/11 survivors/widows/widowers pushed for the 9/11 Commission and the intel overhaul, I tend to think that secrecy was a good thing. Especially while we're trying to wage war.

[slugman]

I tend to think that secrecy was a good thing

The only good that came out of not telling us that plane was shot down , was the victims family members were able to take solice in that their loved ones were considered hero's for crashing that plane. If it even "crashed"

[Aught Six]

The only good that came out of not telling us that plane was shot down , was the victims family members were able to take solice in that their loved ones were considered hero's for crashing that plane. If it even "crashed"

Exactly. If the families had just lost loved ones only to find out that our pilots brought the plane down, I think it would've caused a major political storm that we'd have to calm down at a time when the focus should be on our enemies.

[slugman]

I think it would've caused a major political storm

So lie about it ? The truth is always the correct & right path to take even if peoples feeling are going to get hurt.

[Aught Six]

So lie about it ? The truth is always the correct & right path to take even if peoples feeling are going to get hurt.

Normally, I would agree. Then I think about how quickly America unraveled and the people split themselves down the middle regarding the war on terrorism. I stand by the Constitution, and I expect our leaders to work for us. But war is war--people die, things look really bad, but we have to put the common goal of victory against our enemies above such minor details, especially when they could compromise that victory. A lot of Americans would consider shooting down a U.S. passenger plane savagery and murder. Americans turning their backs on the cause would ensure our loss.

[DougMD]

Rumsfeld was talking about the hijackers, and probably meant to say "brought down the plane." If we did shoot it down, he wouldn't slip up by mistaking their actions with those of our forces. I believe it was brought down in the struggle as reported, but realize it wouldn't have made it much closer to DC without being shot down.