‘Path to 9/11’ wrong, say Clinton officials

Former Clinton administration officials are demanding that ABC correct a “terribly wrong” miniseries about events leading to the Sept. 11 attacks – or not air it.

But in a statement released Thursday afternoon, the network responded: “No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is not yet complete, so criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible.”

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Clinton Foundation head Bruce Lindsey and Clinton adviser Douglas Band wrote in the past week to Robert Iger – CEO of ABC’s parent The Walt Disney Co. – to express concern over “The Path to 9/11.”

The letter writers complained that the miniseries, which is critical of former President Clinton’s policies, contained factual errors.

“The content of this drama is factually and incontrovertibly inaccurate, and ABC has a duty to fully correct all errors or pull the drama entirely,” Lindsey and Band said in their letter. “It is unconscionable to mislead the American public about one of the most horrendous tragedies our country has ever known.”

Albright objected to a scene that she was told showed her insisting on warning the Pakistani government before an airstrike on Afghanistan, and that she was the one who made the warning.

“The scene as explained to me is false and defamatory,” she said.

Berger objected to a scene that he was told showed him refusing to authorize an attack on Osama bin Laden despite the request from CIA officials.

“The fabrication of this scene (of such apparent magnitude) cannot be justified under any reasonable definition of dramatic license,” he wrote.

The five-hour miniseries is set to run without commercial interruption. Director David Cunningham said it was a massive undertaking, with close to 250 speaking parts, more than 300 sets and a budget of $40 million.

The cast includes Harvey Keitel, Patricia Heaton and Donnie Wahlberg.