A useful link, Bob, I think; but better on why Kissinger wants the job than on why the administration "wants" Kissinger "for" the job.
that is still something of a mystery -especially as GWB has made it clear that the scope of the "commission" will not be the causes etc. of 9-11
but some sort of general appraisal of terrorist methods and capabilities. One has only to think of the utter rot Kissinger turned out first-time round
on the Contras, Irangate etc saga to realise that he is an ideal candidate for a lengthy obfuscating unclear document that will -like Kissinger
himself -gush banal generalities as if they were statesmanlike insights.
And just to add to the party atmosphere and the "reunion" ambiance -they've just appointed the appalling Elliott Abrams to the "commission"
-arch-liar, convicted over the Contra's scandal and pardoned by GB1. And, obviously, therefore, currently heading the NSC's office for democracy,
human rights and international operations. ( Made for the job, I'd say)
..that all seems as if it were a million years ago! Bills & Hills, Paula and Monica, Grand Jury leaks, po-faced media hacks discussing what is and
isn't hanky-panky!
You're absolutely right, of course: given that Benedict Arnold is no longer available, the dear old Solicitor General would be just the man for
the job.
What's happened to the sanctimonious old fraud? Does he haunt US chat shows, or what? Last I heard of him he was spouting away for some dubious
group of would-be Cossacks called the Foundation for Freedom (or something similar)
I'm sure he's (kissinger) already drafted his final report: "over the past few years, there has been an unfortunate lapse in the number of
innocent people being slaughtered as a direct result of my foreign policy initiatives! Can we please get back on track?
I fear an "honest investigation" would be a trifle high for any wish-list: even at Christmas. My reading of the whole sorry saga was, in any case,
that the "commission" was not intended to "investigate" anything.
It's interesting to see that, in essence, money or business were the reasons given. Three cheers for patriotism.
President Bush named former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, a moderate Republican with a record of bipartisan cooperation, to replace Henry Kissinger as
head of the panel investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks
the party-line, JB is client-confidentiality and Kissinger's business interests!
Now who could have guessed that that would have become an issue.
The words "Fabian" and "tactics" spring to mind: so does "cunctatory" -come to think of it.
More time bought, if nothing else.