Commission To Review AZ “9/11 Memorial”
All of a sudden, the commission that approved the Arizona "9/11 Memorial" will review the structure that carries inscriptions that make it seem more like a tribute to moral equivalence. The chairman says that the commission did not actually review the planned inscriptions before approving the memorial. After that particular odd admission the chairman went on to say that the board would do so from now on.
Also Wednesday, Gov. Janet Napolitano said she didn't pre-approve the wording criticized by Republican gubernatorial nominee Len Munsil and others as containing "blame America" messages and lacking enough sentiments related to faith, unity and patriotism.
The memorial includes quotations like: "You don't win battles of terrorism with more battles" and highlights chronological events such as "Congress questions why CIA and FBI didn't prevent attacks" and "Erroneous US air strike kills 46 Uruzgan (Afghanistan) civilians."
Among the other inscriptions: "FBI agent issued July 2001 warning in `Phoenix Memo,'" "Steve of Scottsdale wrote songs for brother, Robby" and "Violent acts leading U.S. to war, 05-07-1915, 12-07-41, 08-04-64 and 09-11-01."
Smith's commission in February heard a presentation from the Governor's Sept. 11 Memorial Commission on its plans for the memorial and authorized its placement near the State Capitol.
Smith said he plans to personally review all the inscriptions and have the mall commission meet, likely in October, "to review the statements that have been engraved in the 9-11 memorial and see if some of them could be removed."
However, he said, "I can't do anything until I get all the facts."
Smith, a Phoenix Republican who served in the Legislature from 1991 through 2002, said he didn't know who or what would pay for any costs of altering the privately funded memory but that he believes the mall commission has the authority to revisit its authorization.
Frankly, the funniest thing is the way Napolitano is positively scrambling to distance herself from this one and turning away reporter's questions:
Napolitano, who on Sept. 11 called the memorial a "fitting and thoughtful tribute" to the terror attacks' victims "and to the strength that we have built since," said Wednesday the panel was an "independent commission" and that she didn't preview the inscriptions or other details of the memorial's design.
"I knew the general schematic. I knew that the concept was to use a disc with the sunlight coming in that would illuminate a piece of the World Trade Center, but I didn't see the wording, no."
Asked whether she would have objected to any of the wording if she'd seen it beforehand, Napolitano demurred.
"You know what, guys, address those questions to the commission. The commission had hearings. The commission approved the memorial. Move on."
I take it her challenger is gaining ground by going after this issue. I'm pretty sure the details of the inscriptions is not sitting well in Arizona.
Other Links to this Post
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bRight & Early » First Cup 09.28.06 — Thursday, 28 September , 2006 @ 10:33 am
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Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » The Moonbat Arizona 9/11 Memorial, Update III — Friday, 29 September , 2006 @ 6:47 pm
