Updated daily because we have nothing better to do.
Monday, March 14, 2005 02:52:26 AM
TRANSLATIONS Condoleezza Rice Translated Into English
He made clear to me that he did not want to respond to al-Qaida one attack at a time. He told me he was 'tired of swatting flies.'
Translation: President Bush became keenly aware that a strategy of missile defense does not help with flying insects.
It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting.
Translation: The report consisted of the same, vague hearsay and rhetoric that all of our intelligence has historically contained. Therefore, we just ignored it like we always do.
Tragically, for all the language of war spoken before September 11, 2001 this country simply was not on a war footing.
Translation: We were still so busy celebrating the election, we never saw it coming.
As an officer of government on duty that day, I will never forget the sorrow and the anger I felt.
Translation: I've got a new book coming out. Read all about it.
Troubling, yes. But they don't tell us when, they don't tell us where, they don't tell us who and they don't tell us how.
Translation: We didn't know jack.
America's Al Qaida policy wasn't working because our Afghanistan policy wasn't working, and our Afghanistan policy wasn't working because our Pakistan policy wasn't working.
Translation: Actually, our policy had more holes in it than Windows XP.
I really don't remember, Commissioner, whether I discussed this with the president.
Translation: It depends on your definition of the word 'discussed'.
The terrorists were at war with us, but we were not yet at war with them. For more than 20 years, the terrorist threat gathered, and America's response across several administrations of both parties was insufficient.
Translation:We thought if we just didn't give them the attention they were seeking, they'd just go away. Basically, we all suck at this. Get off my back!
There was no silver bullet that could have prevented [the Sept. 11, 2001 terror strikes].
Translation: My background is in vampire studies, consequently my arsenal of wooden stakes was useless against the emerging werewolf threat.
May I address the question, sir?
Translation: Do you really want me to answer this loaded, open-ended question, or is the sound of your own lips flapping more appealing?
We did have a structural problem, and structural problems take some time to address.
Translation: If our intelligence information dissemination protocol were a house, it would have been condemned in the 1980's.
First of all, it was coming from the top because the president was meeting with his director of central intelligence. And one of the changes that this president made was to meet face to face with his director of central intelligence almost every day.
Translation: The president enjoyed an afternoon nap everyday from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
[You] have to depend on intelligence agencies to tell you what is relevant.
Translation: It's Tenet's fault.
I would like to finish my point.
Translation: Just shut-up!
And under President Bush's leadership, we will remain at war until the terrorist threat to our nation is ended.
He made clear to me that he did not want to respond to al-Qaida one attack at a time. He told me he was 'tired of swatting flies.'
