In the “Whitewash As Public Service”, published in the October Harper’s, Benjamin DeMott writes a scathing critique of the 9/11 Commission Report, a document which was released to a lot of positive commentary and, amazingly enough for a government document, brisk sales as well.

In summary, DeMott documents how the report attempts to dole out blame equitably and not really hurt anyones feelings. By using a popular, exciting writing style, they get people to enjoy the report as a potential script for a TV miniseries, but they take no chances of alienating anyone powerful, be they corporate airline executives or the President of the United States. Most infuriatingly, DeMott points out that evidence in the report itself contradicts the President’s testimony that he hadn’t received adequate warning, but the report doesn’t connect the dots.

Unfortunately, the article is not online, but it should be required reading for anyone who believes that the President is “leading” anything much at all.

As an aside, I think Kerry scored a strong point in the debates last night when Bush said “we were attacked and we responded” and Kerry pointed out that Iraq didn’t attack us. Not the kind of thing to change the mind of a dedicated Bush supporter, but hopefully something that makes sense to someone who is undecided.