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04/11/2004 Archived Entry: "Interesting if true..."
Interesting if true...
No, wait - change that 'interesting' to 'indictable.'
"Crawford, Aug. 6, 2001. U.S. president George W. Bush is on vacation. He wants to spend the whole month at his ranch in Texas. Every morning, however, he still receives his Presidential Daily Brief, or PDB, wherein the CIA informs the president about the country's security situation. On this morning, the report is straight from the CIA director. His PDB runs 11 and one-half printed pages, instead of the usual two to three, and carries the title, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." Therein the CIA chief explains that al Qaeda has decided to carry out attacks within the United States, and that presumably members of the terrorist organization have been in the country for some time. It is unclear whether the CIA director informed the president about the statements of arrested al Qaeda members. According to their confessions, the terrorist organization for some time has been thinking about hijacking planes and using them as missiles."
This report is dated October 1, 2002. Now if only we had real investigative journalists who would ask the White House about the page discrepancy. But we don't, so...
Replies: 19 people speak up
Perhaps I'm imagining things but...
Last night CNN posted the Aug 1 PDB in pdf format. It SEEMS to be a photocopy of the PDB yet........
Isn't the format/font setup different on page 2?
http://www.cnn.com/2004/images/04/10/whitehouse.pdf
Posted by smkngman1 @ 04/11/2004 04:49 PM NY
and where are the other 10 pages?
Posted by djdissent @ 04/11/2004 08:48 PM NY
Well classified silly.
What may damn us we can mark classified.
Posted by IXLNXS @ 04/11/2004 09:31 PM NY
Have you seen any other source for the 11 1/2 page claim? I have a feeling it's correct, but the more sources, the better.
Posted by Margot @ 04/11/2004 10:42 PM NY
It must be the large type version...
Posted by paradocs @ 04/11/2004 11:00 PM NY
Daily Kos has a thread running on this. A guy who speaks German has sent an e-mail to the author to see if he can confirm the source.
Posted by slimharpo @ 04/11/2004 11:06 PM NY
The more I read on this the more I think the FBI dropped the ball for both Clinton and Bush. Before anyone starts im not blaming a Clinton left over. 70 investigations seems to me they were on top of the situation if I were reading it for the first time/ pre 9/11.
The security issue over the other pages is , even though everyone here will think its because they are leaving something out, it's because of the way the info was gathered. To the everyday person reading it it means just that.
However if your the bad guys reading it with knowledge of some items, you may be able to pinpoint a source and eliminate him/her or change how you do things. Unless someone comes up with a file saying this is going to happen on this day with this method . I dont believe anyone could have stopped 9/11 , just as mr Clarke said. However sad that is .
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/11/2004 11:51 PM NY
I love Richard Clarke, but he has a dog in this fight. Everyone who didn't stop the 9-11 attack wants us to believe it couldn't be stopped.
Possibly the two worst intelligence failures in US history
(9-11 & Iraq War II), and no dismissal of any bureaucrat.
We know the feet, we just have to build the fire.
Posted by slimharpo @ 04/12/2004 01:13 AM NY
Here's from the dept of state files. Don't know what it means, but it is different than what is being said now.
Title: Transcript: White House Daily Briefing, May 17, 2002 (President's schedule, pre-9/11 intelligence reports, congressional reaction, Sri Lanka/terrorism,
India/Congress, homeland security, terrorism, Israel/Palestinian Authority, Cuba, week ahead) (9240)
Translated Title:
Author: Source:
Date: 20020517
Text: White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed.
Following is the White House transcript: (begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2002
PRESS BRIEFING BY ARI FLEISCHER
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
12:19 P.M. EDT
MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. Let me give you a report on the President's day, and then I also have the week ahead. The President this morning had his usual round of briefings. And then he met with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, where they discussed bilateral issues between the United States and Slovenia. They discussed the upcoming Prague Summit about NATO expansion, as well as the broader
regional issues involving Bosnia, Serbia, and bringing peace and stability to the region.
Then the President, as you know, presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Air Force Academy. Later this afternoon, the President will deliver what he considers very important remarks on the importance of helping senior citizens get prescription drug coverage as part of Medicare. The President is
determined to help strengthen our nation's Medicare system for our seniors while getting them prescription drugs and affording seniors more options and more choices as part of their Medicare plans.
And then the President will make remarks on Asia Pacific American Heritage Month in the East Room, and then he will depart the White House for Camp David, where he will be for the weekend.
With that, I'm happy to take your questions. Randy?
QUESTION: Ari, I'm wondering, how can you and other White House people cry foul or accuse the Democrats of playing politics with this issue when on Tuesday you were up here defending the Republicans' right to sell a photograph of Bush on 9/11 as a fundraising tool, and when Karl Rove in January said Republicans should use the President's handling of the war on terrorism to their political advantage.
MR. FLEISCHER: Number one, that's not what Mr. Rove said. Number two, the administration -- and, I think, the American people recognize that that photo represented the President doing his job on behalf of the country. The President did
not criticize the opposition party.The President did not intimate or hint that the opposition party had prior knowledge of the attack on September 11th, and then try to say that the opposition party had information that they should have done something about. It's a totally different measure, Randy.
Q: No, but it intimates that his performance has been masterful.
MR. FLEISCHER: That's a different question.
Q: Two questions. First, Dr. Rice laid out yesterday what the administration was hearing and concluding about threats to U.S. and U.S. interests overseas during the course of last summer, and it seems there was a lot of urgency within the administration. Granted that hindsight is 20/20, does the President believe that he and his administration communicated to the American public effectively enough the kind of urgency that Dr. Rice described was in the administration during the weeks leading up to September 11th?
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me draw your attention to a series of things that the President said publicly, and actions that the President took. In fact, you can begin by going back to the President's speech as a candidate, at the Citadel on February 23rd, 1999. If you recall, that's a speech that the White House handed out to you in the aftermath of September 11th, because in many ways, it showed the priority that this President was bringing to office about the need to fight terrorism. And he said in
that speech at the Citadel, "And there is more to be done preparing here at home. I will put a high priority on detecting andresponding to terrorism on our soil."
In March, on March 4th, 2001, when the President went to participate in the christening of the Ronald Reagan, in Newport News, Virginia, the President said, "Our present dangers are less concentrated, and more varied. They come from rogue nations, from terrorism." And he went on. And finally, the President on May 8th,in a statement that you all have, issued a statement about domestic preparedness against weapons of mass destruction. And that was a warning from the President about protecting America's homeland and
citizens from the threats of weapons of mass destruction, as one of our nation's most important national security challenges.
Beyond that, Terry, in the realm of action, this is why -- one of the reasons why once our nation was hit in this attack on September 11th, we were able to respond so quickly. In the events leading up to September 11th, and over the course of the first year, or the first nine months of this President's administration, the President came to Washington determined to do something more fundamental about terrorism, because of the threats that it poses to our interests abroad, as well as to Americans here at home.
And as a result of a process that involved the CIA, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the National Security Council, a national security presidential
directive was developed and prepared throughout 2001, that was approved by what's called the principals committee, which is essentially Cabinet level officers
involved in national security, on September 4th, 2001.
That document was then finalized on September 10th. It had not yet gone to the President. That national security presidential directive was a comprehensive,
multifront plan to dismantle the al Qaeda. It involved a direction to the Pentagon to develop military options for the dismantling of al Qaeda. It involved action on the
financial front to dry up their resources. And it also involved working with our -- with the Northern Alliance, in an attempt to dismantle the al Qaeda.
The President was aware that bin Laden, of course, as previous administrations it's been well-known that bin Laden was determined to strike the United States. In fact, the label on the President's -- the PDB was, "bin Laden determined to strike the United States." And in another piece of this,it was just something that has been well-known to you all, is that the creation of the Office of Homeland Security was
something that was planned even before September 11th, as Senator Feinstein has reminded her colleagues.
Helen.
Q: Why has the White House persistently tried to delay any major investigation, so that the American people and everyone else can get to the bottom of what the
cause was? It will be Monday morning quarterbacking, fair enough. But at least we'll know what the truth is.
MR. FLEISCHER: With all due respect, that's two out of three mischaracterizations of what the President has said.
Q: You have tried to stall it, haven't you? You don't deny that, do you? Surely. Daschle has said repeatedly that he's been asked -- he's been asked repeatedly to not go ahead with an investigation.
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, let me remind you of the words of the Vice President, what he said last night, because --
Q: Last night is a different story.
MR. FLEISCHER: Let me tell you what the Vice President said --
Q: This story broke --
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, we all know you have opinions on these matters.
Q: That isn't -- I don't think that's very fair. I know your opinion, too, okay?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm entitled to have opinions.
Q: And so am I.
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, Helen, let me answer your opinionated question. The Vice President said last night in his speech up in New York that, "We believe that a thorough investigation of the events that led up to September 11th is entirely appropriate, and at the President's direction I've worked with the leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to ensure that they get the necessary
cooperation from the Executive Branch.
There was some discussion earlier this year, at the time that the Congress was wrestling with how to begin an investigation into what took place on September 11th.
Congress itself debated in what form this investigation should take place. That's not a surprise. Any issue involving jurisdiction on Capitol Hill, in terms of who gets to investigate what, is typically one of the most contentious issues within the members of Congress themselves.
There were a variety of different viewpoints expressed by Democrats and Republicans on the Hill. Some wanted a blue-ribbon commission that involved people who are not serving in the Congress. Others wanted a broad investigation
which would have created a super-committee that would allow people off the Intelligence Committees to investigate. And others wanted to keep it limited to the Intelligence Committees, which have an expertise in working with the very issues presented.
The final determination made by the Congress, supported by the administration as we talked with them earlier this year, was precisely what's happening now, that the Vice President expressed our support for.
Q: Are you denying that the administration -- are you saying the administration did not try to delay any investigation?
MR. FLEISCHER: The administration made it clear to the Congress that we supported an investigation so long as it was done in aresponsible way by people who had the expertise to know how to handle it. The administration made clear to the Congress that we are a nation at war, and that the key participants from the Central Intelligence Agency, from the FBI, and from the military have vital ongoing missions to protect our country, and we wanted to make certain that those who are doing the investigation were expert enough and cognizant of the fact of the current war-fighting duties of the personnel involved, so that this did not become a fishing
expedition or another endless waste of taxpayer money in an open-ended congressional investigation. And we worked --
Q: And you did try to delay it?
MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, we work together to get a satisfactory result.
Q: Ari, in fact, Senator Daschle did say yesterday that on several occasions, on more than two occasions, that the Vice President asked him to delay or block any
congressional investigation. He said on one occasion that the President asked him to do that, at a breakfast meeting. Are you now saying that they weren't asking to
block an investigation, they were just specifying what kinds of investigation they wanted? And if so, how many times did they make that request?
MR. FLEISCHER: What I made clear is that there were discussions with Congress about the need to make certain, particularly in the early stages of the war, that the people who were engaged -- 100-percent attention needed to be on fighting the war -- that their efforts would not be distracted at that point, at that moment in an investigation that could take them away from their immediate duties. We made it
clear that we support an investigation so long as it's done by the responsible people and done in the manner that would be -- allow for the experts to have access to the information.
Q: How do you feel about a blue-ribbon commission?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, we'll always work with Congress. We're going to continue to work with Congress on what they are working on. And the method that the Congress has set up right now we believe is the appropriate method and we're working very well with them.
But, Bob, I think it's fair to say Congress doesn't know how it feels about all these matters. Congress is still grappling with it; there are difference of opinions in the
Congress. Again, I spent a lot of years working on the Hill; one of the most controversial issues for members of Congress, themselves, to face is who gets to sit on what forum because they all want to sit on the forums, and it's a jurisdictional issue where they typically will disagree with each other. And that's why the Intelligence Committees are working productively, and that probably is the best way to ascertain the information that the American people are entitled to.
Ron.
Q: Are you willing to work with Congress enough to turn over the FBI memo from the Phoenix office --
MR. FLEISCHER: We're aware of the request from Congress; we'll continue to talk with them about it. And I anticipate that talk will continue.
Q: You can't say yes or no to that
MR. FLEISCHER: No, I say I anticipate talk about those things will continue.
Q: And to follow up on this memo, this presidential directive, granted it was only the ninth month in office, but if that memo and that plan had been able to be carried out a month sooner, two months sooner, could it have potentially prevented 9/11? And in the same token, if the attack had taken place in October or November, instead of September, and the plan had been put in place, could it have stopped it?
MR. FLEISCHER: Ron, that's a hypothetical, there's no way I can give you an accurate answer to a question like that. I wish I could. It's a hypothetical. I think
everybody wishes the attack could have been stopped, prevented, and the lives could have been saved. Everybody in both parties.
Q: In hindsight, if it had been possible to have that plan in place a month, two months --
MR. FLEISCHER: Ron, it's a hypothetical. And the fact of the matter is, the administration moved very quickly and thoroughly, in a very full way, involving the
military to dismantle the al Qaeda, which was a fundamental change, the issue of dismantling al Qaeda.
Q: Without suggesting that it could have been prevented, but we are talking about things that may have fallen through the cracks. And I believe you were asked aboutthis this morning; I wanted to follow up -- a study that was done by the Library of Congress -- are you familiar with what I'm talking about?
MR. FLEISCHER: I was made aware of it about two hours ago.
Q: Okay, it was at the request of some government agency, but there's a very clear sentence here where it talks about al Qaeda's retaliation to Cruise missile attacks against training camps in Afghanistan, and it says, "Suicide bombers belonging to al Qaeda's martyrdom battalion could crash-land an aircraft packed with high explosives into the Pentagon, CIA Headquarters, or the White House."
MR. FLEISCHER: Okay. What Campbell is referring to, which came to my attention and to the White House's attention just two hours ago, or so -- is a September 1999 psychological and sociological evaluation of terrorism. It's an unclassified document that's been available on the web for years, apparently been available on the web -- at least it was prepared years ago, and it's available on the web. And it gets into how terrorists think. I don't think it's a surprise to anybody that terrorists think in evil ways, in unimaginable ways, and it describes several of the ways. It was not -- the way this document --
Q: -- what happened.
MR. FLEISCHER: -- this document was described, it is not piece of intelligence information suggesting that we have information about a specific plan, or that they are going to. It describes -- the title of the report, if I recall, is, "The Psychology and the Sociology of Terrorists." So it describes their evil -- their thinking. It was --
Q: Who requested --
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't know who requested it. I know it's a Library of Congress report, so, obviously, this is --
Q: -- requested by a government agency.
Q: -- person who wrote it?
MR. FLEISCHER: I don't know who requested it, but the point I was going to get to is I think this is -- over the last two days, we've seen increasing signs of how much
information was available to members of Congress. It's a Library of Congress report from --
Q: But it's also available to the White House.
MR. FLEISCHER: -- in 1999 -- that's exactly right.
Q: But, Ari, Campbell's point -- there's a broader point here, no matter who this document -- the document is based on, if you look at the footnotes and the attachments to it, on existing government documents, existing government testimony, public records about what is known about these organizations. You have, from the podium, and Dr. Rice yesterday quite forcefully from the podium, said hijacking before September 11th meant a different thing than hijacking after September 11th. But if there is public record from investigations overseas, investigations in the United States, analysis including this one by government employees that people knew -- and Dr. Rice, h training to hijacking airplanes and the United States government knew that. No one
around -- people find it incredulous that no one around the President, when the word, "hijacking" appears in an analysis report, said, I wish we knew more, because these lunatics have talked about flying planes into buildings. And you say no one brought that up.
MR. FLEISCHER: John, I think you're, again, applying in the post-9/11 world the reality --
Q: This is 1999, and they're predicting exactly what happened.
Q: No, this is pre-9/11 material. Nobody -- nobody -- either in the President's CIA briefings or in a principal committee said, you know what, these lunatics have talked
about flying planes into buildings.
MR. FLEISCHER: Campbell's point is exactly right -- this report, in 1999, about the thinking of the --
Q: -- report is based upon --
MR. FLEISCHER: Wait a minute, let me get to the point I'm making. Campbell's making a very valid point here, that this report from 1999 about the thinking, the
psychology of terrorism, was available in 1999 to members of Congress, the previous administration, it existed in some form which did not come to the attention of this administration when we took office on January 20th. And I think what it shows,
Campbell, is this information that was out there did not raise enough alarms with anybody; that it suggested, because it was not intelligence information, it was their thinking,a sociology/ psychology that the people in 1999 didn't see this and bring it to anybody's attention, people on the Hill didn't. And John, as I indicated, the White House didn't.
Q: -- not just thinking and psychology. It is testimony in criminal cases, brought by the United States government, and brought by other governments, against suspected terrorists. My point is not, was this specific report brought to the attention
of the President. Your position is that no one in any period of time before September 11th, in any discussion of al Qaeda, said, you know, there's a lot of evidence out there that these people have talked about flying planes into buildings.
MR. FLEISCHER: This is absolutely right. I have not heard anybody indicate that to me, and you've heard that from the President, himself.
Q: Just on that, wasn't there a widely-read book, I forget the name of the novel, which described just such a thing? Had nobody in the White House read that book?
(Laughter.) Is the President at least concerned or disappointed that nobody could have thought of such an idea?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think Democrats and Republicans and everybody around the world is saddened and disappointed that we were unable to prevent an attack that took place in our country. Nobody can dispute that, Keith. But as the President said today, that if he had specific information that terrorists were planning to use those airplanes to attack our country, he would have taken the same action that any
Democrat or Republican in the White House would have taken. Those are the facts.
Q: If I could follow up on what Helen said --
MR. FLEISCHER: Keith, and then we'll --
Q: I get a follow-up.
Q: Do you know what he thinks, too?
Q: You're indicating that you're welcoming an investigation. Yet the President today talked about this being a town of second-guessers. Vice President Cheney last night apparently said that some Democratic criticism was thoroughly irresponsible in a time of war, and we're going to be in a time of war for quite some time. Aren't you
simultaneously trying to chill an investigation at the same time you say that you welcome it?
MR. FLEISCHER: Absolutely not. But there are relevant points to be made about the professional manner in which the investigation should be conducted. And on that point, I want to bring something to your attention that illustrates some of the language and the statements that were used or the suggestions by members of Congress yesterday that the administration might possibly have had information that
it did not use or the President did not use.
And this is something -- there have been several responsible -- many responsible things said by Democrats. Senator Bob Graham of the Intelligence Committee, Senator Lieberman, Senator Feinstein. Senator Feinstein, in July of 2001, on CNN,on Wolf Blitzer's program, said, and I quote -- "Intelligence staff have told me that there is a major probability of a terrorist incident within the next three months." She continued, "The Vice President, when he spoke to the Democrat Caucus, mentioned that the administration was going to be working on the issue of homeland defense around that particular issue -- the point being the administration, prior to September
11th, as shared with the Democrats, was already moving on the homeland security front.
But the point I'm making vis-a-vis the statements by these Democrats yesterday that the President may not have acted on information that he had -- clearly, if Senator
Feinstein, a Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, was aware of this, the question arises, what did the Democrats know and why weren't they talking to each other?
Q: Who said these things? Who are you talking about on the Hill? Who acted in a manner, as Vice President Cheney said last night, "unworthy of national leaders in a
time of war"? Who are you talking about?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think that anybody who made insinuations or suggestions that this President had information that could have prevented the attacks and did not act on them is asking questions in such a way as to create an impression that the President could have and should have done something that he didn't do.
Q: -- who did that?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think it's fair to say that individuals in the Democrat leadership -- and let me also bring your attention to something that should be reflected on when it comes to the politics of this. And you can draw contrasts by how leaders act and leaders respond to something like this. When there was a suggestion that Bush knew about this in print, Bush knew about 9/11, Mayor Bloomberg of New York said that suggestion was ridiculous. He contacted the White
House, he listened, heard what information the White House had. He called it ridiculous. He united New York City, and he led. I have to say, with disappointment, that Mrs. Clinton, having seen that same
headline, did not call the White House, did not ask if it was accurate or not. Instead, she immediately went to the floor of the Senate, and I'm sorry to say that she followed that headline and divided.
Q: Ari, what's the mood of the President right now about all this? It sounds like he's angry.
MR. FLEISCHER: I think it's fair to say that the President understands that in Washington, D.C., second-guessing is second-nature to a lot of politicians. The President also understands that there are a lot of responsible people in the United
States Congress -- I've just cited many of them -- and the President is going to continue his efforts to unite this nation to work in a bipartisan way, because that's what the American people expect from their leaders in Washington. He has a war to fight, and he's going to continue to fight it in a way that brings people together.
Q: -- the mood this morning in the Oval Office, in early meetings?
MR. FLEISCHER: His mood?
Q: Yes.
MR. FLEISCHER: He's focused on his business. As I indicated, he has an important speech just after this about giving prescription drugs to senior citizens.
Goyal?
Q: Ari, the President of Sri Lanka in New York at the United Nations, and her country is also fighting terrorism, a group which has been banned by President Bush. And for the last two years, last year and this year, she has been trying to meet President Bush or come to the White House, since we had so many Prime Ministers and Presidents here. But she was told twice that it's too late.
Posted by Cherri @ 04/12/2004 01:21 AM NY
In case anyone's wondering ... I checked, and the original German article spells out the word "elfeinhalb" (i.e. "eleven-and-a-half") rather than the number ("11 and one-half").
In other words, there is no typo, "extra" number one, or mistranslation going on here ... if anything is factually wrong with the article, it's on the German side.
I'm familiar with this article from past research; it's VERY detailed, and so far pretty much everything else it's said that's verifiable can be verified.
In fact, I've been planning on posting something on my weblog very soon (related to CIA/FBI interplay) that sources this article; I expect to have it up by Tuesday, if anyone should care to read it.
Posted by The Lost City @ 04/12/2004 06:03 AM NY
Well, damn. I seem to recall something that the PDB was at least 6 pages or so; maybe the original was printed in BIG letters so George could read it easier?
I'm looking at the PDF that the editor here linked to - maybe that big section of white space on page 2 was where more of the information was? If stuff is missing, why didn't they just back it out? Would we have seen nothing but five pages of black lines? And what would that have proved/disproved? I'm confused.
Isn't this the PDB that Woodward saw when he wrote Bush At War? Why doesn't someone get ahold of him and ask?
Posted by Tanystropheus @ 04/12/2004 07:29 AM NY
slimharpo
I love Richard Clarke, but he has a dog in this fight. Everyone who didn't stop the 9-11 attack wants us to believe it couldn't be stopped.
Mr. Clarke was the man in the know, if he says it was unstopable how do you presume to know more ( at the time ) then he did? I agree in hindsight it looks like damn near everyone is guilty and everyone should be fired.
Commission's are worthless, it wouldnt take a lot of case study to prove that or a link for that matter.
If it wasnt election season and Mr. Clarke didn't have a book to sell. I don't believe that much would have been made of this. Unfortunate but true.
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/12/2004 07:30 AM NY
Too much is put into black and white terms---ex. you believe or don't beleive 9/11 could have been prevented---the question is...are there more things that could have/should have been done a) to reduce the odds of it happening and/or b) the severity of it. Even if you have a non-date-specific warning about hijackings (missile-use aside), my husband made an excellent point that the administration should have been taking extraordinary measures to find ways to try to prevent "regular" hijackings. If traditional hijackings are prevented, 9/11 is prevented. If you prevent even some of the 9/11 hijackings or respond to the hijacked planes differently, you certainly could have saved some of the lives lost. At the very least, the pre-9/11 procedures in place for "traditional" plane hijacks in the U.S. should have been followed but they were not...and that is a big concern even if you leave the "using planes as missiles" out of the equation. I would like to know what extra steps Bush&Co took to prevent traditional hijackings, especially after the "determined to strike in the U.S. " memo, and why those extra steps failed so miserably.
Posted by Clydester @ 04/12/2004 09:50 AM NY
If it wasnt election season and Mr. Clarke didn't have a book to sell. I don't believe that much would have been made of this. Unfortunate but true.
read as:
"Why should anyone want to know the truth about 9/11? Emperor George has spoken and you peasants should just go about your little lives and not worry... until we tell you to."
BTW, "unstoppable" and "reducing the impact of the attacks" are two different things. I can't stop it raining but I can wear a goddamn raincoat so I don't get soaked. A flawed analogy but I'm sure the idea is obvious.
Posted by Tanystropheus @ 04/12/2004 10:15 AM NY
GORTON: Now, since my yellow light is on, at this point my final question will be this: Assuming that the recommendations that you made on January 25th of 2001, based on Delenda, based on Blue Sky, including aid to the Northern Alliance, which had been an agenda item at this point for two and a half years without any action, assuming that there had been more Predator reconnaissance missions, assuming that that had all been adopted say on January 26th, year 2001, is there the remotest chance that it would have prevented 9/11?
CLARKE: No.
here is the link to support this http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20349-2004Mar24.html
Ill await your link ;-)
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/12/2004 01:16 PM NY
Delenda report
http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/911rpt/32304mltryrpt.pdf
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/12/2004 01:29 PM NY
While not the best here is the bable fish version
I find it better when i translate the translation myself,
Washington, D C, 11 September 2001. Few hours ago 19 terrorists kidnapped four passagierflugzeuge and fell to two of it into the towers of the World trade center steered, third into the pentagon, and fourth smashed on a field in the Federal State Pennsylvania. At the misfortune places firefighters search for survivors, when president already announces George W. Bush, who behind the notices put: Osama is shop.
Actually? Voices will demand loud, the proofs. Minister of foreign affairs Colin Powell announces to submit very soon documents. At the end it leaves Tony Blair to Powell the British prime minister to present the world public of proofs. The 20-lateral document, which publishes Blair, resembles an accumulation of indications and presumptions, which are to occupy that alone the terrorist organization of Osama is shop able is to plan and accomplish such a terror action. In the document it means: "there are proofs very specific nature regarding the debt is shop and its Gefolgsleute, those for a publication is too delicate."
That is correct. The documents do not only occupy that actually two the kidnapper had close contact to the terrorist organization aluminium-Qaida. Rather they witness also from the failure of the American secret service CIA, which experiences 18 months before 11 September of planned assassination attempts - and nothing against the terrorists undertakes.
Meanwhile a secret service committee examines the incident consisting in Washington, of senators and delegates. Testimonies and reports of the committee are present the TIME . Nearly daily the commission brings new details to the appearance, which a bad notion the certainty become slow to let: The CIA could have prevented the notices from 11 September, if its not biased error were suffused.
Kuala Lumpur, 5 January 2000. The terrorist Taufig is Atesch some faithful Gefolgsleute for discussion into the capital of Malaysia ordered. Are Atesch, combat name "Chalid", is a close trusted friend of Osama is shop. Together with are shop fought it in Afghanistan against the Red Army and lost thereby a leg. The one-legged one selected Kuala Lumpur with consideration as meeting place. Malaysia has already years ago the Islam to the state religion erkoren. Muslims can enter without visa. Besides a Malaysian member of the aluminium-Qaida at the outskirts of a town of Kuala Lumpur possesses a achtstoeckiges dwelling house. One of the apartments is used regularly of the terrorist organization as konspirative dwelling. The one-legged one expected there the accomplices, in order to plan act of terrorism ions.
The American secret service CIA experienced in time place and time of this meeting and the Malaysian Secret service asked to supervise it. If the terrorists leave the apartment, the cameras of the Malaysian police click. There are possibilities for whole photo series plentifully. Like usual tourists the terrorists stroll by the city. Occasionally they visit a InterNet Café and spend several hours before computers, always inconspicuously observed from a Oberservationsteam. Beside the one-legged one the Malaysian police photographs also Ramsi Mohammed Binalschibh. That 27-jaehrige Jemenit lives at that time since 1995 in Germany. He is a logistician that Hamburg aluminium-Qaida-cell, whose members murder 18 months later 3000 humans.
For the meeting Binalschibh traveled particularly from Germany. Out reasons unerklaerten still conceals the CIA to its German partner services that the logistician in Malaysia is. It can return to it undisturbed to the Federal Republic and begin with the other members of its Hamburg cell to organize the notices. Much speaks for the fact that in Malaysia crucial planning for the notices in the USA begins. In the meeting also Nawaf aluminium-Hasmi and Chalid aluminium-Midhar participate. They will belong later to the 19 assassins.
Aluminium-Midhar is probably well-known the CIA. For a long time before its appearance in Malaysia the US secret service knows its name, his passport number and further particulars. The CIA white also that aluminium-Midhar has visas "since longer a" multiple entry, with which it into the USA enter at any time can. Received it the visa on the US consulate in Dschiddah in Saudi Arabia. It is valid by 6 April 2000.
Aluminium-Midhar brought the CIA unknowingly on the meeting in Malaysia. Since longer already the secret service has the Saudi Arabian citizen and its family clan in the visor. Aluminium-Midhars father-in-law possesses in the Yemeni Sanaa a "konspirative dwelling", which is reserved the terrorists of the aluminium-Qaida. The apartment forms an important junction in the network of the terrorist organization. There information about operations gathers in the whole world. Over it the Ermittler is in the picture.
At the end of of August 1998 was discovered already the FBI this dwelling. At that time the American federal police searched for the backers and wire-pullers of the bomb attacks on the US messages in Kenya and Tanzania. Nearly at the same time at that time suicide commands bombs before the buildings of the US government ignited. 223 humans died, scarcely 5000 were hurt. Briefly after the notices a Bekennerschreiben was received in London by fax. It succeeded to the FBI to determine the sender in Baku in Aserbajdschan. From there again a direct trace led to that dwelling of aluminium-Midhars father-in-law in Yemen. The FBI let house and telephone supervise. With success. At the telephone a member of the suicide command from Kenya announced itself to aluminium-Midhars father-in-law and explained: "say to them that I did not begin the journey." Seconds before the notice the courage had left the assassin, had jumped it out of the car, in which the bomb was deposited. On it the FBI officials registered a further call briefly. This time of a satellite telephone, whose number Osama is shop was added. Since this time the telephone is supervised by aluminium-Midhars brother-in-law also by the CIA. Thus the secret service received already one month before from the planned meeting in Malaysia.
Los Angeles, 15 January 2000. After the conversation with the one-legged one aluminium-Midhar and aluminium-Hasmi continue to travel first separately. After an intermediate stop in Bangkok aluminium-Midhar finally arrives in Los Angeles. Its accomplice travels via Hong Kong there. Safety precautions and controls are as never strict at this time on the international airport of Los Angeles as. One month before an Algerian aluminium-Qaida-member at the Canadian-American border was arrested. In the trunk of its car 50 Kilo explosive lay. The Algerian had been on the way to Los Angeles, where he wanted to ignite a bomb in New Year's Eve on the airport.
From all that aluminium-Midhar and aluminium-Hasmi know probably nothing, as them after their arrival on the passport check zusteuern. Both possess US visas, issued on their names, which the CIA admits meanwhile sufficiently is. Although they enter under their correct names, the passport testers do not make any problems for them. On the computer screens of the customs officers it is not to be recognized that it concerns with the two Saudi Arabian citizens terrorists. Because from until today inexplicable reasons the CIA informed neither the FBI nor the immigration authority IN or the State department about the fact that the two by any means blameless students are not. This is probably the most fatal error in a whole chain of omissions and breakdowns, which lead in the long run to the fact that the American services let grant the later assassins 11 September.
Aluminium-Midhar and aluminium-Hasmi have probably already a clear order, when they arrive in Los Angeles. Only place, time and the exact operational sequence of the notice might not be clarified yet. The two are anyhow not for a long time in Los Angeles and continue to travel to San Diego, in order to rent a dwelling there. With Parkwood apartments find accomodation it, a complex with 175 rooms, them refer the dwelling number 127. Aluminium-Hasmi signs the lease. Obviously they do not have the smallest concern to be discovered. Of camouflage no trace. Aluminium-Hasmi requested even a telephone connection and can be registered with call number and address into the local telephone register. He buys a blue Toyota Corolla, year of construction for 3000 dollar 1988, and announces the car on its correct names.
Four months after their arrival in the USA, in May 2000, visit aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar in San Diego a flight school. In the Sorbi Flying club participate the two in an six-hour theory course. They do not make a secret from the fact that they want to learn as soon as possible, how one flies a Boeing. For the time being however they must be content with a small Cessna. Already the first flying hours turn out to the disaster. The terrorists employ themselves extremely awkwardly, them are missing the talent for steering an airplane. When aluminium-Hasmi sets under guidance of the flight instructor for landing, aluminium-Midhar comes into panic and begins loud to pray. "that becomes nothing", says the flight instructor. He refuses training the two as pilots.
Frankfurt a.M., June 2000. The mission of the two terrorists seems to be terminated thereby before it began correctly. In June 2000 aluminium-Midhar travels to Frankfurt. Which he does in the Federal Republic, is unclear. Probably it meets with Binalschibh, the logistician that Hamburg cell. Because the CIA also does not inform its German partner services over the terrorists, aluminium-Midhar can enter unobserved. The two saw themselves last in Malaysia. But the logistician and aluminium-Midhar know each other already for a long time before the meeting in Asia. They are related. The logistician is the cousin of aluminium-Midhars woman. Probably informed aluminium-Midhar its relatives over it that it does not become with the pilot training anything, therefore for replacement to be provided must.
This places probably the logistician, at least at short notice, before substantial problems. By telephone it announced at a flight school in the USA, however as a pilot infrage will not come themselves likewise. On 17 May, two weeks before the arrival of aluminium-Midhar in Germany, the US message communicated to it that it does not receive a visa. More luck have the other members that Hamburg cell. As the logistician they requested immediately after its return from Malaysia their visas and by telephone or email with 31 flight schools in the USA about the training programme informed.
Briefly after the arrival of aluminium-Midhar in Germany Mohammed Atta and two other members that travel Hamburg aluminium-Qaida-cell to the USA and begin in Florida with their pilot training. Atta will steer that airplane, which races into the north tower of the World trade center on 11 September 2001.
Aluminium-Midhar travels likewise back to the USA. After it and aluminium-Hasmi as pilots any longer infrage do not come, it will be now their task to coordinate planning for the notices. First however aluminium-Hasmi must worry about its residence permit. Its visa runs off. On 7 July 2000 it turns to the immigration authority IN. The headquarters of the CIA in Langely again by its outstation in Malaysia expressly it was pointed out briefly before that available documents the aluminium-Qaida-terrorist aluminium-Hasmi had already entered in January into the USA. But in Langely one remains left. Aluminium-Hasmi is not written out for search, also neither FBI nor State department are informed, also not the immigration authority. There one has therefore no reason to draw suspicion when aluminium-Hasmi asks under indication of its address in San Diego for extension of its visa. One corresponds to its desire.
San Diego, September 2000. In San Diego neighbours become distrustful. Aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar live now already for eight months in the apartment complex and have still no furniture, sleep on the floor and constantly go to telephoning into a telephone box, although a telephone is in the dwelling. The two Saudis notice obviously sceptical views of their neighbours. They quit their lease without notice and pull to Abduss Attar sheikh, to a Muslim, whom they know in the mosque of San Diego learned. The friend, a retired English teacher, rents a room to the two and helps them to furnish a bank account and get an InterNet entrance.
Occasionally the pensioner is also helpful to the local FBI office. It supplies the police with information about militant Muslims in San Diego. Regularly its guidance officer visits it at home. Sometimes also aluminium-Midhar and aluminium-Hasmi are in the house during these discussions. Fast the pensioner closes the living room door in such moments, so that its tenants do not receive anything from his informer activity. Neither the informer nor its guidance officer suspect that it concerns with the two young men terrorists of the aluminium-Qaida.
After six weeks aluminium-Midhar takes off. It, it tells its host return to woman and children to Saudi Arabia. Actually aluminium-Midhar is in things terror on the way. A suicide command commits a notice on 12 October 2000 in the port of Aden on the warship USS Cole. A life boat bepacktes with explosive drives into the port side of the ship. 17 US soldiers die, 38 are hurt. The CIA assumes that aluminium-Midhar is involved in it.
Alhamzi remains for the time being in San Diego, lives further with the FBI informer. That suspects still nothing, while in its house the worst terrorist attack of American history is also prepared. Aluminium-Hasmi before the computer sits for hours and surft in the InterNet. It, it tells its landlord looks for a wife, dearest a Mexican. The informer tries thereupon, aluminium-Hasmi a few Spanish empty phrases like "Qué pasa?", "what is the matter?", to teach.
At the end of December 2000 leaves also aluminium-Hasmi the house in San Diego. It pulls after Mesa in the Federal State Arizona to a compatriot named Hani Handschur, which already lives since 1996 in the USA and made on a flight school in Scottsdale in Arizona its pilot light. After it with aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar with the flight training did not fold, now the trained pilot is to take over this part.
But it is missing to the pilot at flight practice. In Phoenix, Arizona, he wants to therefore take a few lessons in a flight school. But despite its stay of several years in the USA its English is still so bad that the operator of a flight school assumes, it has no valid pilot light. The flight instructor regards the presented pilot light as a falsification and informs the flight supervisory authority FAA. But the doubted pilot light proves as genuine.
Washington, D C, January 2001. Both FBI and CIA search for the backers of the notice on the destroyer USS Cole in Yemen. The CIA finds out finally, the one-legged one was wire-puller of the assassination attempt. The Observationsberichte of the meeting in Malaysia is consulted. With the CIA reads one the reports now with other eyes. One assumes in Kuala Lumpur the notice on the USS Cole one decided and one planned. The other participants of the meeting, among them also aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar, are now suspected at least into the planning of the notice to have been complicated. Although the CIA can infer from its own documents the fact that aluminium-Midhar had a valid US visa and Alhazmi must be even still in the USA strikes the Ermittler not alarm, does not have the two not from the FBI to the search written out. According to law it is forbidden the CIA as a foreign intelligence service becoming active within the USA themselves.
For hunt the terrorists from the network are shop has with the CIA highest priority. "we lead war against the aluminium-Qaida", write CIA director George Tenet in an internal circular. "I would like to save neither at resources nor at personnel." In February 2001, briefly after the assumption of office of George W. Bush, the CIA director in a speech before the congress warns expressly of further notices by the terrorist organization: "Osama is shop and its global network of members and trailers remains the most direct threat for the security of the USA." And: "we strengthened safety precautions approximately around government and military mechanisms. The terrorists select themselves weiche goals ', because this guarantees larger losses."
There is still much to organize. Aluminium-Hasmi is therefore constantly in its old Toyota on the way. It does not pay attention always to speed limitings. On 1 April 2001 aluminium-Hasmi on the Interstate 40 in the west of Oklahoma races into a radar trap. It is stopped by the police, must show document of identification, driving licence and permission of the car. Over radio the strip policeman inquires whether against the driver somewhat are present. In the data base of the police no entry is to be found. Aluminium-Hasmi gets a punishing note and drives on. The punishment for to fast driving amounts to 138 dollar. Aluminium-Hasmi settles it with a postal transfer.
New York, 11 June 2001. FBI agents from New Yorker offices and from headquarters in Washington meet with representatives of the CIA to information exchange, in order to get the determinations going because of the notice on the USS Cole. The CIA agents show their colleague of the FBI the photos made of Malaysia and designate the one-legged one as wire-pullers of the notice. The CIA agents let casual fall also the names aluminium-Midhar, which is to be seen on one of the photos as well as the one-legged one. When the FBI agents require more exact information, the representatives of the CIA are silent. They do not lose a word opposite their FBI colleagues over the fact that aluminium-Midhar possesses a valid US visa and in this moment in the United States is supposed. One year later will state one of the CIA agents with water-rich voice before a committee of inquiry that they were not authorized at that time to inform the FBI.
One fears the worst internally with the CIA. Opposite prominent cabinet members CIA Ermittler give their estimate to price: "based on the examination of all intelligence sources and reports of the past five months, we believe that UBL [ Osama is shop ] will commit an important terrorist attack against US and/or Israeli interests in the coming weeks. The notice spectacularly to be, deliberately a large number of victims demand and directed against US mechanisms or interests its." As prospective date 4 July 2001 is called.
On 4 July aluminium-Midhar with Saudi Arabian airlines, flight 53, after mehrmonatiger absence returns to the USA. It had itself briefly before extended still from Saudi Arabia its US visa, by 3 October 2001. Although the CIA takes part it in the meantime suspected, in the notice on the USS Cole to have been, aluminium-Midhar does not have any problems with the entry. It submits its Saudi passport, issued on its actual names, and indicates on the form for entry the Marriott hotel in New York as address. It makes itself subsequently, on the way after Arizona aluminium-Hasmi and the others.
Phoenix, 10 July 2001. Kenneth Williams is an experienced policeman. Since eleven years works he in the department for terror defense FBI in Phoenix, Arizona. Today Williams sends a multilateral report to its superiors in FBI headquarters in Washington and to its colleagues of the terror defense in New York, who apply since the notice on the World trade center in the year 1993 as experts in the area of the Islamic extremism.
Williams observed in the past months with concern that in Arizona strengthens young Muslims from the middle east as pilots train let. Altogether Williams examines ten people from Pakistan, India, Kenya, Algeria, the united Arab emirates and Saudi Arabia. Some of them take flying hours, others study aircraft construction or international flight safety. Several this flying student has the FBI agent heard and also hostile expressions over the United States to hear to get. Besides it noticed to the policeman that these students had informed suspiciously precisely about safety precautions on American airports. In its report Williams concludes therefore that it is with the flying students around trailers of Osama shop act could. Williams holds it for conceivable that terrorists let themselves be trained as pilots, in order to kidnap afterwards a passagierflugzeug.
The FBI agent recommends to examine all flight schools. The New Yorker colleagues regard ' remarks to Williams as "speculative and not particularly important". As will turn out in some months, one is a flying student an acquaintance of that death pilot examined by Williams, who controlled a kidnapped machine in the pentagon.
Crawford, 6 August 2001. US president George W. Bush makes vacation. He wants to spend the whole month on its Ranch in Texas. Each morning stands however further the "Presidential for DAILY letter" on the program. In the "PDB", as it means in the CIA jargon, by high-ranking CIA coworkers the security situation is stated to the president. On this morning the CIA director informs personally the president. Its PDB paper has instead of the otherwise usual two to three this time eleven one half printed on sides and carries the heading is shop Determined ton of Strike in U. S. The CIA boss implements in the fact that aluminium-Qaida changed over to want to accomplish also within the USA notices and probably long members of the terrorist organization in the United States would be. It is not safe whether the CIA director informs the US president about the statements of arrested aluminium-Qaida-members. After its representations think the terrorist organization already since longer to kidnap airplanes in order to use it than rockets.
Minneapolis, 15 August 2001. A flight school in Minneapolis announces to the FBI that one of their pupils is interested in flies of Boeings, although he does not even possess a flugschein for small Cessnas. On the next day the flying student is arrested, officially because of offence against the immigration regulations. The flying student is Frenchman of Moroccan descent and is called Zaccarias Moussaoui. The letters seized with it and its laptop are sent immediately after Washington to FBI headquarters, where they lie about however for a long time unconsidered.
At the flight school in Minneapolis a FBI Agentin of the case takes care of. The 47jaehrige Coleen Rowley, which is for 21 years at the FBI, takes up contact to French authorities and experiences that the arresting in France is suspected to stand with Islamic extremists in contact. The FBI Agentin informs the center in Washington and asks to take the laptop of Moussaoui under the magnifying glass. The request is rejected. "we do not know whether he is a terrorist. They do not have sufficient vouchers for the fact that he is a terrorist." The Fahnderin hooks after, wants the laptop to look at to be allowed. In headquarters one is gene FFS and divides Rowling with: It may not call in this thing again. The Frenchman is actually located in the close contact with the assassins from 11 September. Vouchers for it are also in its laptop, which one examines exactly however only after 11 September. A trace leads to Germany. The Frenchman got Hamburg cell much money transferred by the logistician that.
From all that the FBI Agentin does not know anything, when she writes at the end of of August 2001 a memorandum for their superior. Sometimes, it writes, the Frenchman alone to flight instruction took, because it wants to steer an airplane into a building: "it planned supposed to fly an airplane to the World trade center."
Langely, 23 August 2001. The Israeli secret service Mossad hands a list with names of terrorists, who will presumably commit themselves in the USA to stop and in foreseeable time a notice to its American partner service over. After documents, which are present the TIME, Mossad agents in the USA supervised, among them also at least four of the 19 assassins in all probability aluminium-Midhar. The CIA does now what already should have done her 18 months ago ago. It informs the State department, the FBI and the immigration authority.
The names aluminium-Midhar and aluminium-Hasmi come immediately on the search list: as presumed members of the aluminium-Qaida. In addition with aluminium-Midhar it is noted that he was involved probably in the notice on the USS Cole. Fast there the first feedback is: The immigration authority writes that after their documents both searches are at present in the USA.
Now for the two with all strength one searches. Because aluminium-Midhar indicated the Marriott hotel for its entry in New York as address, FBI agents rattle all hotels of this chain in the metropolis, off unsuccessfully.
One of the switched on New Yorker FBI agents calls headquarters in Washington and asks for reinforcement. It wants to expand the search further after aluminium-Midhar. The FBI agent knows to correctly estimate the danger of aluminium-Midhar. Already for months it is entrusted with the determinations because of the notice on the destroyer USS Cole.
In this connection it met once with colleagues of the CIA, which let the name aluminium-Midhar fall. When it reads this name now on the search letter, with the note that aluminium-Midhar is to be entangled into the notice on the USS Cole, the FBI official is annoyed at its CIA colleagues. These details contained it it at that time forwards.
But annoyance still increases, when own headquarters refuses it further support: The lawyers that national Security Law unit FBI make attentive to the fact that a strict separation between secretofficial and police determinations is legally prescribed. And the search for aluminium-Midhar decreases/goes back now once alone on secret service information.
"a daily someone will die - legal borders or ago -, and which will then not understand public, why we were not more effective and for the solution of certain problems to have begun", a frustrated FBI agent writes all us available means on 29 August 2001 in a E-Mail his headquarters. "leaving you us to hope that those will then stand national for Security Law unit behind its decisions, in particular the largest threat for us, UBL [ Osama is shop ], in the long run by it most Schutz ' receives there now!"
Laurel, Maryland, 25 August 2001. Aluminium-Midhar inhabits the room 343 of the Valencia motel in Laurel. It is not alone. With it are aluminium-Hasmi, its brother, the pilot and a further terrorist. The five leave the room very rarely. If the chambermaid knocks and wants the beds to make, the terrorists open the door only one gap broadly and receive fresh towels. "we thought, which are schwul, will say later five men in an area", a next-door neighbor.
Expiration and time of the notice are certain. Successively they buy their tickets. Still twelve days. Everything runs after plan.
Washington, D. C., 11 September 2001. On the early morning the five terrorists drive to the Dulles air haven. In the Toyota, which the police will guarantee later, a receipt over the price of flight instruction in Phoenix, four designs of a Boeing-757-Cockpit, a carpet measurer, a map of Washington as well as note with notes and telephone numbers lie.
Against 7.30 o'clock the terrorists checken. For meanwhile 20 days everywhere for aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar one searches. Nevertheless the two come together with their accomplices undisturbed by controls. Both tickets and passports, which must submit it, are issued on their actual names. Few hours later arrange four kidnapped airplanes in New York and Washington an inferno.
The CIA director experiences far away from it with the breakfast in the pc. Regis hotel in Washington, a few meter from the white house. "everything points to Osama is shop", says it. It must inform the president now about it, who is in all probability behind the notices. He rises from the fruehstueckstisch and says good-bye hastily.
Washington, D C, 12 September 2001. The largest police search in American history starts. Thousands of FBI officials are crosswise by the whole country on the way and reconstruct within days the life of the assassins in the USA. Which is not particularly difficult: Finally the terrorists in the USA behaved everything else as konspirativ. Aluminium-Hasmi called even times the police, after he had been attacked. Director of FBI Robert Mueller, who transferred its office only in the week before the notices, formulates it in such a way: "I cannot say with security that it did not give possibilities to follow to references us perhaps promptly to the kidnapper would have led."
CIA director George Tenet, which already held its office under the Clinton government, avowedly however before the secret service committee of the senate, it is proud to be able to say for the CIA: The secret service does not have itself to accuse anything. In the time before the notices it gave neither "evaporability or concentration errors" nor "Disziplinlosigkeiten".
New York, 23 October 2001. "it is clear that Hamburg was the central operational base for the planning of the notices from 11 September", says US Ministers of Justice John Ashcroft in presence of the German Minister of the Interior Otto Schily during a press conference in New York. The investigations would have to be shifted therefore more strongly from the USA to Europe.
Minneapolis, 21 May 2002. When the FBI Agentin Coleen Rowley cannot bear any longer, how US authorities hush up their failure, them set to their computer and list themselves in a 13-seitigen letter to the director of FBI again all errors and it knows omissions up, of those. The Agentin had urgently warned in August 2001 of possible terrorist attacks by militant Islamics. "I am deeply concerned over it", write her, "the fact that you and others on the highest level of the FBI management on delicate and filigrane way the facts colluded and wrongly represented and with it to continue." The Agentin brings its dossier personally after Washington and hands two copies to the secret service committee over of the senate. Two weeks later a Faksimilie of its letter the title page of time , under the headline the bomb note ziert. The FBI stands at the Pranger.
Washington D. C., 4 June 2002. The federal police FBI does not want alone for it, what crumbled it the CIA. Finally was the US secret service the crucial error probably occur, as the CIA did not pass 18 months long its realizations on over aluminium-Hasmi and aluminium-Midhar. This information is passed on the news magazine Newsweek, which quotes a FBI man anonymous: "no question, we would have gotten the information in time, would have had we soon all 19 hi-jackers in the bag." The mud battle of the feeler gauges is open thereby. Did CIA and FBI fail catastrophically? A committee from members of the senate and the Lower House is to go to these questions on the reason.
Washington D. C., 11 September 2002. The committee took up its work three months ago ago, was however torpediert by the Bush administration, like the republican senator Richard C Shelby, Vizevorsitzender of the committee, now the New York Times say. The government refuses informing about it which realizations the secret services before the terrorist attacks at US president Bush passing on. "I am safe me, we with our questionings so far only at the surface scratched", say Shelby. "and I am sure me that there still or other bomb becomes the lift-off."
When further information about errors and omissions of the CIA arrives and FBI at the media, against committee members one proceeds. The FBI introduces determinations and asks the senators and delegates whether they would be ready to undergo to a lie detector test.
Washington D. C., 18 September 2002. The public hearings before the committee begin. To word come also member of the victims from 11 September. 1300 of them to a community of interests united. Their speaker is Stephen Push, which lost its wife. It sat in the airplane, which steered the group of terror of aluminium-Midhar in the pentagon. "if the secret services their job would have done", say Push before the committee, "my wife today would still live."
Afterwards FBI and CIA agents step before the committee. Anonymity was assured to them. A Spanish wall protects therefore the agents against the eyes of the public. There many member of victims and keep mutely memory photos sit high.
As if some agents with water-rich voice confess, as them from their superiors from it were held to determine, become it too much to the widow of a feuerwehrmannes, who died in the World trade center. "these people made themselves a service passing guiltily", complain them. "you are to be placed before court. They are at least partly responsible for the death of 3000 humans."
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/12/2004 01:49 PM NY
Not even Dubya(...er Karl)could be stupid enough to think he could get away with releasing one and half pages of an 11 page memo. I would like it to be true but don't think it likely.
Posted by john ellis @ 04/12/2004 02:29 PM NY
Isn't it odd that the page numbers were redacted?
Posted by Kevin @ 04/12/2004 11:58 PM NY