ABC Defends 9/11 Mini-Series

BURBANK, September 8: ABC has issued a statement noting
that the criticism of its upcoming The Path to 9/11 mini-series is “premature”, but reports indicate
that the network is continuing to make edits to the production, which is set to
air on Sunday and Monday.

"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," the network said in a statement.

ABC’s response follows news earlier in the week that former
government officials, including Madeleine Albright, had sent a letter to Disney
chief Bob Iger expressing their concerns about the mini-series. Senate
Democrats have also taken offense, saying the production is biased. According
to the AP, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, when asked about The Path to
9/11, said he had not seen it, adding, “But
I think they ought to tell the truth, particularly if they are going to claim
it is based on the 9/11 Commission report. They shouldn't have scenes that are
directly contradicted by the findings of the 9/11 report."

Edits were still being made on the mini-series today,
executive producer Marc Platt told the AP. "From day one, we've examined
any issue or question that's arisen," Platt said. "And we'll continue
to do so until the last possible moment."

According to the New York Times, one scene being changed
portrayed Samuel R. Berger, the former national security adviser, hanging up on
a CIA officer during a military operation. Further, a scene involving former
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright blocking efforts to capture Osama bin
Laden is under review, as is a scene in which Clinton is too distracted by the
Monica Lewinsky scandal to focus on finding bin Laden.