Live 9/11 Commission Thread [testifying today Freeh, Reno, Ashcroft]

April 13, 2004 | Vanity

[Peach]

9/11 Commission. Now on C-Span.

Chairman Thomas Kean has asked the audience to refrain from clapping.

Louie Freeh, former FBI director, up at 9:30.

Business matters being taken care of now by the Commission.

[prairiebreeze]

I feel a deep need for chocolate coming on me.....

Prairie

[Miss Marple]

Aha, I was right! From the Washington Post's "Ten Days in September" (on which Woodward based his book):

________________________________________

Tenet was followed by Cofer Black, head of the CIA's counterterrorism center. Black, 52, a veteran covert operator, was one of the agency's legends, credited with helping in the 1994 capture of Carlos the Jackal, one of the most notorious international terrorists prior to bin Laden. Tall, well-dressed and almost hulking, Black was a bit of a throwback to the agency's earlier, more colorful days. Though Tenet was called George by almost everyone in the CIA, Black addressed him as "Mr. Director."

If Tenet had been businesslike in his presentation that morning, Black was theatrical in describing the effectiveness of covert action. Animated and enthusiastic about the plan's potential and the agency's capabilities, he kept popping up and down from his chair as he made his points, gesturing wildly, throwing paper onto the floor as he described putting forces on the ground in Afghanistan.

Black wanted the mission to begin as soon as possible, and he didn't have any doubt that it would succeed.

"You give us the mission," he said, "we can get 'em." At one point he threw his fist in the air.

"We'll rout 'em out," he said, echoing the president's public language about smoking out the terrorists from their caves.

"They'll have flies on their eyeballs," he said – an image of death that left a lasting impression with a number of war cabinet members. Black became known in Bush's inner circle as "the flies-on-the-eyeballs guy."

Well, I am certainly looking forward to Cofer Black's testimony!!!

[MamaLucci]

Well, that's interesting....should be fireworks when Gorelick questions him.

[cyncooper]

Pickard underscores that he uses the term "enemies" to refer to terrorists because that is what they are.

Pickard said he can only use handcuffs, President Bush used something more effective: An armed military with bombs and bullets, the only thing that will deter.

[hobbes1]

Dems on Committee not liking this testimony.....lol

[LisaFab]

Pickard just said, (paraphrase) until Bush took over all we could give AQ was handcuffs--after that we gave them bullets, mortars and bombs. This guy is great so far!

[Miss Marple]

This Pickard guy is good.

[ironman]

Just to catch you up.
9/11 Commission Obtained Video of Clinton Confession Last Month
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1116705/posts

[cyncooper]

Pickard says after the hearing he will meet with "the families" and answer their questions.

Cofer Black up. I ran across his name recently when doing my research and meant to look more into him. I see MM has mentioned him--will look forward to hearing more about him.

[TexKat]

Did Pickard just say that President Bush gave the terrorist more, that he gave them bombs and ammuniton?

[GOPrincess]

I've been wondering for a while now why Gorelick was on the commission but thought I must be missing something because it was never mentioned (grin). It just seems inappropriate for someone working under either of the last two Presidents to be on the Commission -- because the person either has a stake in the outcome OR because the person might have info. I'm glad to see this issue being raised by Gorelick and hope it has legs. (Not that I have much hope considering the incredibly partisan spin of most of the media on these hearings...)

[Miss Marple]

See my 1062. He IS the "flies on the eyeballs" guy!!

[GOPrincess]

Make that "issue raised re Gorelick," not "by Gorelick"! :)

[Gritty]

If Big Jim ever was a hard-hitting crime-buster, he ain't no mo. He's just a useless, stupidly pathetic Republican choice as a 911 commissioner

The same goes for the rest of the feckless Republicans on the 9/11 Ommission.

The only one worth a tinkers damn is Lehman, but he's hopelessly outnumbered by the fools, incompetents and buddy-buddy golfing partners who make up the rest of the GOP side of the Ommission. On the Democrat side are the partisan clinton political operators, slimy lawyers and testimony-avoiders.

One would get a more worthwhile final report if this 9/11 Omission were made up of a random selection of the Iraqi Deck Of 52 Cards.

It's not only pathetic but criminal what is going on here.

[cyncooper]

Yes, he DID.

He also emphasized and explained why he called them "the enemy".

[John Lenin]

[Miss Marple]

Black detailing how they were attempting to develop human resources, track UBL, psychological operations (trying to drive him to areas where it would be easier to target him, etc.

[Mo1]

ABC radio news has consistantly referred to Ashcroft "taking the hotseat" later today. As far as I can tell, he's the only person appearing today they refer to in that manner.

Someone needs to give this book to the liberals ...

[cyncooper]

There is something about him that reminds me of Ken Starr.

[Peach]

I've missed a lot of his testimony.

A neighbor who babbled a lot is on the phone right now...

I'm trying to pay attention ya'll and just say "uh huh" to her now and then!