[qoae] Rosemary: 9/11 Commission Investigation : Farse

[qoae at lists.powerblogs.com]

Posted by Rosemary:
9/11 Commission Investigation : Farse 
http://www.qoae.net/posts/1132240958.shtml


   Former FBI-Chief, Louis Freeh [1]writes a stinging indictment on the
   9/11 Commission.

     Yet this is also a good time for the country to make some
     assessments of the 9/11 Commission itself. Recent revelations from
     the military intelligence operation code-named "Able Danger" have
     cast light on a missed opportunity that could have potentially
     prevented 9/11. Specifically, Able Danger concluded in February
     2000 that military experts had identified Mohamed Atta by name (and
     maybe photograph) as an al Qaeda agent operating in the U.S.
     Subsequently, military officers assigned to Able Danger were
     prevented from sharing this critical information with FBI agents,
     even though appointments had been made to do so. Why?

   Why indeed? Here's a bit more:There are other questions that need
   answers. Was Able Danger intelligence provided to the 9/11 Commission
   prior to the finalization of its report, and, if so, why was it not
   explored? In sum, what did the 9/11 commissioners and their staff know
   about Able Danger and when did they know it?

   The Able Danger intelligence, if confirmed, is undoubtedly the most
   relevant fact of the entire post-9/11 inquiry. Even the most junior
   investigator would immediately know that the name and photo ID of Atta
   in 2000 is precisely the kind of tactical intelligence the FBI has
   many times employed to prevent attacks and arrest terrorists. Yet the
   9/11 Commission inexplicably concluded that it "was not historically
   significant." This astounding conclusion--in combination with the
   failure to investigate Able Danger and incorporate it into its
   findings--raises serious challenges to the commission's credibility
   and, if the facts prove out, might just render the commission
   historically insignificant itself.

   Not historically significant? NOT. HISTORICALLY. SIGNIFICANT?????

   Is this a joke? They knew who Atta was in Feb 2000. Knew he was Al
   Qaeda. Knew he was a terrorist almost 19 months before a plane hit a
   tower.

   Here is more:

     The facts relating to Able Danger finally started to be reported in
     mid-August. U.S. Army Col. Anthony Shaffer, a veteran intelligence
     officer, publicly revealed that the Able Danger team had identified
     Atta and three other 9/11 hijackers by mid-2000 but were prevented
     by military lawyers from giving this information to the FBI. One
     week later, Navy Capt. Scott J. Phillpott, a U.S. Naval Academy
     graduate who managed the program for the Pentagon's Special
     Operations Command, confirmed "Atta was identified by Able Danger
     by January-February of 2000."

   I feel much better about the 9/11 Commissions conclusion of:

                       NOT. HISTORICALLY. SIGNIFICANT

     On Aug. 18, 2005, the Pentagon initially stated that "a probe" had
     found nothing to back up Col. Shaffer's claims. Two weeks later,
     however, Defense Department officials acknowledged that its
     "inquiry" had found "three more people who recall seeing an
     intelligence briefing slide that identified the ringleader of the
     9/11 attacks a year before the hijackings and terrorist strikes."
     These same officials also stated that "documents and electronic
     files created by . . . Able Danger were destroyed under standing
     orders that limit the military's use of intelligence gathered about
     people in the United States."

   How do you feel about the much touted and smugly self-important
   members of the 9/11 Commission concluding that Able Danger's
   information was NOT HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT???????

   At least someone cares, and that someone is Arlen Specter.

     The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter, has
     led the way in cleaning up the 9/11 Commission's unfinished
     business. Amid a very full plate of responsibilities, he conducted
     a hearing after noting that Col. Shaffer and Capt. Phillpott
     "appear to have credibility." Himself a former prosecutor, Mr.
     Specter noted: "If Mr. Atta and other 9/11 terrorists were
     identified before the attacks, it would be a very serious breach
     not to have that information passed along . . . we ought to get to
     the bottom of it."

   You bet your ass we should. And I trust nobody more than Arlen Specter
   of getting it done right. I hope he calls the 9/11 Commission in to
   testify as witnesses. I'd LOVE to know why Able Danger's information
   was NOT HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

References

   1. http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007559