Robert Gibbs, what kind of an answer was that?

From yesterday’s presser (transcript from the White House website):

Q Has the President learned any lessons from the past? What makes him think he can prevail in Afghanistan after Russians, the British, Alexander the Great could not?

MR. GIBBS: Good question. (Laughter.) You had me — I had you up until you said Alexander the Great. (Laughter.)

Q Genghis Khan — Genghis Khan.

MR. GIBBS: — Alexander the Great — (laughter.) No, I —

Q It’s under — (inaudible.)

MR. GIBBS: Unfortunately, it’s not. No, I’m kidding. (Laughter.) No, the President — again, the administration is undergoing a review as it relates to our policy there. The President’s decision in the interim to send additional forces in the spring and in the summer related to a sharp deterioration that we’ve all seen in the security situation; that General McKiernan had long requested additional troops –

Q Why are we there?

MR. GIBBS: Why are we there? Because that’s the part of our planet that is exceedingly dangerous, and saw on September 11th the root cause of attacks that resulted in the death of more than 3,000 Americans — the deadliest attack on American soul. The President has, I think, stated clearly and forcefully last evening —

Q Were they all Afghans on 9/11?

MR. GIBBS: Well, I don’t know what their citizenship were. I know where they were when they planned the attacks. I think the American people do, too. But the President said clearly and forcefully last night that, under his watch, we’re not going to have safe havens in the country of Afghanistan that are planning a next series of attacks on our citizens.

Is Robert Gibbs lying or is he ignorant?

Gibbs says: “Because that’s the part of our planet that is exceedingly dangerous, and saw on September 11th the root cause of attacks that resulted in the death of more than 3,000 Americans” .

-The root cause of September 11 was Afghanistan? Really? I would like to see that root cause analysis.

Gibbs says: “Well, I don’t know what their citizenship were. I know where they were when they planned the attacks. I think the American people do, too.”

This American person knows that none of the 9/11 perpetrators were Afghan. And I seem to remember being informed by our government that the attacks were planned in part in Hamburg and in the USA (Florida.) And didn’t the 9/11 commission blame the CIA and the FBI and lack of Airport security for permitting the attacks to occur? Unless there is something you are not telling us?

Let us follow Gibbs’ logic (with regard to the War on Iraq, for instance): that the populace of A Country is responsible for the evil plots hatched within its borders and that we need to destroy the root cause of such events. I guess, following his reasoning, that the USA , starting with Texas, ought to be in for some deep shit.

Nah, that would be ludicrous. Taking responsibility is something for U.S. to inflict on Muslims.