Hi all; Did Gore take cash for reducing airport security?
'Politics As Usual' and the Terrorist Threat
David Galland, Pravda, November 15, 2001
The Sept. 11 terrorist hijackings, and Monday's tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 587 apparently caused by an unknown mechanical failure, have propelled the issue of airline safety to the forefront. It also resurrects a shameful episode of political malfeasance on the part of former Vice President Al Gore.
After the loss of Trans World Airways Flight 800 on July 17, 1996, President Clinton appointed Gore chairman of the White House Commission on Aviation Safety, charged with a comprehensive overview of airline safety issues. At the time, it seemed that the administration was doing the right thing and moving in positive directions to make airline travel safer.
In early September 1996, Gore and his commission rendered a comprehensive preliminary report that delineated the need for tougher counter-terrorism procedures. But as reported by Washington Times columnist Tony Blankley on Sept. 6, 2000 - just a year before the terror attacks -- the major airlines instantly set upon Gore and the commission, asserting that the panel's recommendations, if enacted, would result in a loss of revenue. After about a week of considering both the ramifications of the commission's actions, as well as the political fallout, Gore acquiesced. He contacted Carol Hallett, a lobbyist for the airline industry, assuring her in writing that the airlines would not lose any of their precious revenue.
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The following day, according to Blankley, the Democratic National Committee received a $40,000 contribution from Trans World Airlines. Within two weeks, other airlines suddenly became quite philanthropic, with Northwest, American and United Airlines kicking in another $55,000 in order to assist the 1996 presidential re-election campaign. It did not stop there. In the following two months, just prior to the national election, United Airlines opened its wallet by contributing another $100,000 to the Democratic National Committee, American Airlines coughed up another cool $250,000 to the Democrats, and Northwestern Airlines weighed in with another $53,000 to soften up the nest.
Call me naive, but this smells to high heaven!
In January 1997, just after the Clinton-Gore presidential re-election victory, Gore swung into action again. The vice president submitted a final draft of the airline safety commission report and quite amazingly, all the original recommendations relating to security measures were suddenly eliminated from the document.
But as they say in the National Basketball Association, the fat lady had not yet begun to sing.
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english.pravda.ru
-- Carl
P.S. The GRUB goes to the guy with the fighter jockey speed fingers! |
