THE GORELICK MEMO

NRO - The Corner ^ | 4/13/04 | Jonah Goldberg

[swilhelm73]

It sounded like Governor Thompson had no idea this memo existed. And Ashcroft intimated that the Commission knew nothing about the memo. Now, what makes that interesting is that one person on the Commission had to have known the memo existed -- its author. If in fact everyone but her was in the dark about it, and if in fact her memo was as central to this whole "wall" problem as Ashcroft suggests, why didn't she mention it? Presumably it's relevant and even if it's not there is definitely an appearance of relevance, which is a standard we know she's familiar with. It's not up to her -- or shouldn't be -- to decide whether the Commission should know about this.

Indeed if you listened to Philip Zelikow's "staff statement" at the begining of the hearing it was pretty clear that she would have had reason, cause and opportunity to mention it. Here's what he said:

Finally, even though the number of agents devoted to counterterrorism was limited, they were not always fully utilized in the field offices. We learned through our interviews that prior to 9/11, field agents often were diverted from counterterrorism or other intelligence work in order to cover major criminal cases. The second core challenge was a legal issue that became a management challenge as well. Certain provisions of federal law had been interpreted to limit communication between agents conducting intelligence investigations and the criminal prosecution units of the Department of Justice. This was done so that the broad powers for gathering intelligence would not be seized upon by prosecutors trying to make a criminal case. The separation of intelligence from criminal investigations became known as the wall.

New procedures issued by Attorney General Reno in 1995 required the FBI to notify prosecutors when facts and circumstances are developed in a foreign intelligence or counterintelligence investigation that reasonably indicate a significant federal crime has been, is being or may be committed.

ZELIKOW: The procedures, however, prohibited the prosecutors from, quote, "directing or controlling," close quote, the intelligence investigation.

Over time, the wall requirement came to be interpreted by the Justice Department, and particularly the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, as imposing an increasingly stringent barrier to communications between FBI intelligence agents and criminal prosecutors.

Despite additional guidance on information sharing issued by Attorney General Reno in February 2000 and by Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson in August 2001, the wall remained a source of considerable frustration and concern within the Justice Department.

Justice Department prosecutors and FBI criminal agents were responsible for large criminal cases, like the embassy bombings. The intelligence side of the FBI, though, had the legal tools essential for domestic intelligence work, such as FISA surveillance. In this environment, domestic counterterrorism efforts were impaired.

[Steven W.]

GORELICK MUST RESIGN!

[kcvl]

info@9-11Commission.gov

[MHGinTN]

No, GoreLick must continue to play her role for the dnc henchbitch waiting in the wings to oust Undertaker Kerry at the Dem convention. The nylon mafia is hard at work ... note Reno was being questioned by Gorelick, right?... nylon mafioso at work. And there are others. The godmother, hatellary, will not allow GoreLick to be removed from the commission. To heck with the commission's assigned purpose, hatellary has her own agenda and her own butt to protect. Don'tcha just love the way BenVeniste sucks up to/for the sleazy clintons?

[MHGinTN]

What is getting my goat more and more is the way Lee Hamilton manipulates the Chairman of the commission, knowing the poor fool wants desperately to have a unanimous set of rulings by the commission, unable to admit to himself that the dnc has a completely different use for this feckless hearings circus, as evidenced by BenVeniste, Kerrey, and GoreLick, in particular.

[San Jacinto]

LOL! Nylon Mafia. Very appropriate.

As to bin Veniste, it did not escape my attention that as soon as the testifying FBI agent mentioned hangover from "Travelgate Scandal" as the reason FBI agents were restricted from White House access, bin Veniste spewed coffee into the microphone shouting the agent down and having the chairman go to the next questioner.

[PISANO]

Can someone encapsulate in a sentence or two just HOW the MAINSTREAM MEDIA would REPORT and HANDLE the Gorelick memo, were she a REPUBLICAN and the PARTY in office were Democrats having just taken over the WH 7 1/2 months prior to 911???

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes. This entire effort has been blatantly partisan - largely on the lib/dem side. All we can hope for is perhaps one recommendation that might be marginally useful among the rest of the wasted paper this final report will be. However, something tells me that the administration will have already implemented that one recommendation months earlier!

[swilhelm73]

Hmm..something like;

Newly released secret document shows government failures in stopping 9/11 terror attack caused by the policies of REPUBLICAN Committee Member Gorelick. John McCain calls for Gorelick's resignation. President Bush questioned harshly on his former advisors failures.

[swilhelm73]

Hmm..something like;

Newly released secret document shows government failures in stopping 9/11 terror attack caused by the policies of REPUBLICAN Committee Member Gorelick. John McCain calls for Gorelick's resignation. President Bush questioned harshly on his former advisors failures.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Bush appointee on 9/11 commission knew. John Kerry demands immediate resignation of commissioner and Bush apology to the nation."

[San Jacinto]

...Lee Hamilton manipulates the Chairman ...

The Chairman is a dud and Big Jim Thompson is a stumble-bum as they strive mightily for the bipartisan facade. Neither of those guys, and probably no one else, is likely to be critical of gorelick in any respect. Just let it blow over.

Ultimately, there will probably be a report which blames everyone in general and nobody in particular. It was all just a big "trajedy" caused by the system--really nobody's fault. The Minority will report, however, it was all Bush's fault and demand Ashcroft's head (at least).

In fact, it would not surprise me if the Pubs on the commission actually approach the White House concerning a deal to ease Ashcroft out --in the name of national reconciliation, of course.

If the Pubs on the commission had any cajones, they would have blown the thing up weeks or months ago, pointing out the 'Rats were just out for political blood. Remember the 'Rats Senate Intel. Com. memo setting forth the exact strategy which is now underway?

[highlandbreeze]

According to Mark Levin...Mr. Kean says that we need to "stay out of their business!"

[highlandbreeze]

Possibly in response to Sen. Sensenbrenner's plea for Ms. Gorelick to recuse herself.

[PISANO]

John McCain.....

Ahhh yes, the MAVERICK REPUBLICAN today called for the resignation.........good one....thanks.

[MHGinTN]

I do well recall that memo, but the press whores have buried that, also.

[US admirer]

When did she lick Gore and who knew about it?

[feedback doctor]

Anyone hear on Rush today ben Sadista's questions to Ashcroft about the the private jets thing. ben Sadista is looking to the looney left for his info. Make that the very very very very far looney left.

Maybe we should email ben Sadista and remind him of the truth: That when Bush met with aliens (World Weekly newpaper) they told him that Rush Limbaugh was really a drug dealer laundering money. And that the proof was in the World Trade Center, and if Rush were exposed, then Bush would be hurt by association. So really, the commission needs to call Rush in as a witness. /sarcasm_off

[mabelkitty]

For relevance, please see Hillary grandstanding said newspaper, "Bush Knew" or see Trent Lott/Strom Thurman Birthday Party.

[tomball]

Kerry should be the one apologizing. Bush didn't bomb the WTC - terrorists did. Bush walked into a mess when he was elected. The transition team was more interested in counting the Florida votes 3 times, than they were in terrorists.

The entire Clinton Administration tenure is riddled with terrorist attacks directly aimed at the United States and its citizens, soldiers, and embassies abroad. Clinton's answer was to kiss Araffat and bomb an aspirin factory. In fact, somewhere it is quoted that Clinton stated that "it would take Bush 4 years" to figure out or try to undo all that was done by him and his administration.

When the Bush team entered office, the computers were broken, the White House and Air Force One were looted, and our national security was at risk. Elect another democrat into office? Technically, the democratic half of the tribunal should recuse themselves as willing participants in our national security breach under the Clinton administration.

Bush allowed some pseudo bi-partisan dude convince him that it would be a good thing to have this 911 commission. If the man is smart, he and his associates should do all they can to shed light on all those on the panel throwing out the questions. This means everyone on the panel, including Kerry, who was involved with the previous administration, at least gets the same good grilling over the same hot coals that Dr. Rice and Mr. Ashcroft were put through.

President Bush apologize? Everyone in the previous administration should be apologizing to him.