Richard Clarke has begun his testimony before the 9-11 commission, and he addressed his opening statement to the families of the victims:
Your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. I failed you. We tried hard, but we failed you...I ask for your understanding, and your forgiveness.
We should all work hard to not over-interpret the significance of what's happening today. But with an opening statement like that, which is bound to be a prominent piece of the coverage of Clarke's testimony, it's hard to not think that after September 11th itself, that this might be the most momentous day of the Bush presidency.
Feel free to use this as an open thread on the Clarke testimony.