This 9/11 Memo Recalls a Dark Memory Hole

On April 29, 2004, members of the commission looking into the attacks of September 11, 2001, dropped by the White House to conduct a joint interview with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. On November 9, 2022—three weeks ago—the notes taken by the 9/11 commissioners were declassified and released. This was done on little cat feet; the release got buried by the midterm elections. Hardly anyone except Jeremy Scahill at The Intercept even noticed. I had no idea until Wednesday, when the release was the first item on Keith Olbermann’s daily Countdown podcast. This memory hole is dark and deep, and there are no more promises to keep.   [View in Browser]( [Esquire]( [SHOP]( EXCLUSIVE [SUBSCRIBE]( Impress your wife this holiday season. [Here are 70 gifts she won’t return.]( [This Declassified 9/11 Memo Is a Reminder that America's Closet Is Full of Skeletons]( [This Declassified 9/11 Memo Is a Reminder that America's Closet Is Full of Skeletons]( On April 29, 2004, members of the commission looking into the attacks of September 11, 2001, dropped by the White House to conduct a joint interview with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. On November 9, 2022—three weeks ago—the notes taken by the 9/11 commissioners were declassified and released. This was done on little cat feet; the release got buried by the midterm elections. Hardly anyone except Jeremy Scahill at The Intercept even noticed. I had no idea until Wednesday, when the release was the first item on Keith Olbermann’s daily Countdown podcast. This memory hole is dark and deep, and there are no more promises to keep. [Read More](   [MasterClass's Epic 2-for-1 Sale Makes For the Perfect Holiday Gift]( [MasterClass's Epic 2-for-1 Sale Makes For the Perfect Holiday Gift]( Treat yourself while treating them. [Read More]( [The 45 Best Songs of 2022 (So Far)]( [The 45 Best Songs of 2022 (So Far)]( Warning: You should play these songs extremely loud. Like, disrespectfully loud. [Read More](     [Will Smith Hasn’t Earned Redemption. Still, ‘Emancipation’ Is a Story We Need.]( [Will Smith Hasn’t Earned Redemption. Still, ‘Emancipation’ Is a Story We Need.]( Now, I’m all for second chances in general, but in addition to the warranted skepticism over Will’s apologies, I have to wonder: What changed? Wonder if the slap became any less egregious to the execs. Wonder if Apple ever cared forreal, forreal about the traumatic impact of people seeing violence in that context. If they gave a good gotdamn how it perpetuated the stereotype of the violent Black man. Wonder if they’ll center Will’s comeback as they PR a bid for back-to-back Best Picture wins. (CODA won last year.) Emancipation is coming no matter how we answer those questions, which means there’s a query that more than a few moviegoers will pose to themselves. To see or not to see the film? [Read More](   [57 Best Gifts to Get Your Girlfriend This Holiday]( [57 Best Gifts to Get Your Girlfriend This Holiday]( Armed with this list, you can do no wrong. [Read More]( [13 Home Scents That'll Instantly Elevate Your Ambiance]( [13 Home Scents That'll Instantly Elevate Your Ambiance]( They make for great holiday gift, too. [Read More](     [The Rise of Elevated Stupidity]( [The Rise of Elevated Stupidity]( Stupidity is saying two plus two equals five. Elevated Stupidity is doing the same thing, except you invoke Pythagoras, decry cancel culture when someone corrects you, then get a seven-figure book deal and a speaking tour out of it. Elevated Stupidity has permeated all facets of life—reality TV, social media, Congress, your group chat, and your softball team. Elevated Stupidity stems from the idea that being good at arguing is the same thing as being correct. That rhetorical skill—or at least a degree of big debate-club energy sufficient to wear out one’s opponent—is the equivalent of intelligence. If being a good arguer is the same as being smart or correct, then do you know who is the smartest, correct-est person in history? Every Scientologist. [Read More](   [Win a 4-Night Getaway to Rincon, Puerto Rico ($2,000 Value)!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( esquire.com ©2022 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019