Letter: We can no longer afford to be kept in the dark

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001 | 8:30 a.m.

The primary obligation of our government is to protect all its citizens from harm. That is why we willingly pay our taxes.

So, what happened? How could terrorists on the FBI's most wanted list infiltrate our borders over a year ago, live in our country, attend flying school and remain undetected?

How could our national security allow four airliners to be hijacked in a single day and flown into three successfully devastated targets?

And, if an answer could be given, could we possibly believe it?

The nation weeps for the thousands of lives lost, broken families, and all of the pain and suffering of innocent ones.

We are told in the many press conferences that information is "classified," cannot be discussed and is "compromising to an ongoing investigation." We get only evasions and double-talk from the press secretary and the attorney general.

Can we afford to be kept in the dark any longer while innocent lives are lost and no one is held accountable?

VIVIEN CARDINAL