Letter: All administrations keep secrets

All of the contrived political outrage against Benghazi reminds me of an earlier episode in history.

After the 9/11 attacks, it came to light that President George W. Bush received an intelligence briefing on Aug. 6, 2001, titled “Bin Laden determined to strike in U.S.” The text mentioned the possibility of hijacked planes. Apparently, this merited little attention.

A previous plot, mercifully thwarted, involved the simultaneous destruction of 10 passenger jets over the Pacific Ocean.

Also, a jihadist was nabbed in Port Angeles with a cache of explosives, intent on blowing up the Los Angeles International Airport.

It is safe to say that air transportation had become a primary target. I could have listed more evidence of this.

There was stonewalling, too. For example, the May 24, 2002, edition of the Washington Times ran a story — “Bush rejects probe of 9/11” — about Bush refusing to give to the investigation committee sensitive papers on the war on terror.

Oh mercy, how shocking. Should Bush have been impeached or something? Instead, he got re-elected.

Gerald R. Johnson

Washougal