Republicans Clash Over 9/11 Panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two leading congressional Republicans on Friday accused the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks of descending into partisan finger-pointing instead of examining problems that made the hijackings possible.

"Partisan mudslinging, circus-atmosphere pyrotechnics, and gotcha-style questioning do not get us closer to the truth. They serve as dangerous distractions from the global war on terror," House of Representatives' Majority leader Tom DeLay said in a letter to the commission.

DeLay of Texas and Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, a member of the House Republican leadership, said in separate letters the commission had lost credibility, with some members more focused on stating opinions than getting information.

But Thomas Kean, the Republican chairman of the panel, defended its work and denied politics played any role.

"None of our votes have been cast on partisan lines," he wrote in a letter of his own. "All of us are striving to achieve a set of recommendations that can win the support of all commissioners," Kean added.

"We are committed as well to the integrity of our work. The commission has clear written guidelines on conflicts of interest," he said.

DeLay and Cantor made their charges after the Republican Bush administration came under tough questioning in hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday for what some commission members called a complete intelligence failure ahead of the attacks that killed about 3,000 people.

The bipartisan 9/11 commission, which is due to report to the nation in July, has issued a series of highly critical reports on what it sees as a succession of failures leading up to the attacks.

But Cantor said commissioners appeared more focused on blaming individuals than finding flaws in how the government functioned, and its "myopic approach is too concentrated on pointing a finger at a single action or an individual rather than examining the long-term, systemic problems that led us to 9/11."

Another Republican, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, on Wednesday called on a Democratic panel member to step down because of a conflict of interest.

Kean dismissed the request as "silly," noting that panel member Jamie Gorelick had recused herself from everything related to her previous role as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration.

DeLay echoed Sensenbrenner's complaints, saying if Gorelick "enhanced and helped formalize the very policies that may have created barriers to preventing the 9-11 attacks, a profound conflict of interest would appear to exist."

he New York Times reported on Friday that the White House was considering getting a jump on a potential commission recommendation by adopting a plan to create a new post of national intelligence director, centralizing authority now in several departments and agencies.

Asked about the Times report, White House spokesman Scott McClellan disputed any suggestion that the administration might try to "preempt" the 9/11 commission's findings.

But he sidestepped questions about whether the administration was focusing on the idea of a national intelligence director.

"We never rule out when steps might be taken, if they're related to protecting the American people," he told reporters.

Bush Names Thomas Kean to Head

September 11 Investigation

Date: December 16, 2002

President Bush named former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean to replace Henry Kissinger as Chairman of the National Commission to investigate the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Following is the text of the White House announcement:

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I am pleased to announce that Thomas H. Kean, former governor of New Jersey and President of Drew University in New Jersey, will serve as Chairman of the National Commission to investigate the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the events that led up to it.

Tom Kean is a leader respected for his integrity, fairness, and good judgment. I am confident he will work to make the Commission's investigation thorough. It is important that we uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September 11th.

Governor Kean served on the Advisory Board to the President's Initiative on Race from 1997 to 1998, served as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the Fourth U.N. World Conference on Women in 1995, and led the U.S. Delegation to the World Conference on Education for All in Thailand in 1990.

Below is Kissinger's letter, released by the White House on December 13, announcing his decision not to serve as chairman of the joint commission:

December 13, 2002

Dear Mr. President:

The opportunity to engage in public service is the greatest honor a President can bestow upon any citizen. I am grateful that you asked me to serve as Chairman of the Joint Commission to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the tragedy of September 11th.

Certainly, at this critical point in history, there can be no more important undertaking. For over half a century, I have never refused to respond to the call from a President. Nor have I ever put my personal interests ahead of the country 's interest.

Therefore, to remove any questions about even the appearance of a conflict of interest, I was prepared, as I informed the White House Counsel from the beginning, to submit all relevant financial information to the White House, as well as to independent review and in the end to any procedure, consistent with submissions of other members of the Joint Commission.

However, it is clear that, although specific potential conflicts can be resolved in this manner, the controversy would quickly move to the consulting firm I have built and own. To liquidate Kissinger Associates cannot be accomplished without significantly delaying the beginning of the Joint Commission's work. I have, therefore, concluded that I cannot accept the responsibility you proposed.

This is a moment of disappointment for me, of course. I hope very much, however, that the Joint Commission will now be able to be constituted and conduct its important work without delay or distraction.

The mission, in my opinion, is of such importance that it must begin without distraction and controversy so that it can be completed swiftly, thoroughly and credibly.

My hope is that, by the decision to step aside now, the Joint Commission can proceed without further controversy.

With high regard and good wishes,

Respectfully,

Henry A. Kissinger

The Honorable George W. Bush

The President of the United States

The White House

Washington, DC 20500

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)

Excerpt

New Chairman of 9/11 Commission had business ties with Osama's Brother in Law

by Michel Chossudovsky

In other words, Delta Oil Ltd. of Saudi Arabia --which is a partner in the Hess-Delta Alliance--is in part controlled by Khalid bin Mafhouz, Osama's brother in law.

And former Governor Thomas Kean not only sits on the board of directors of a company which has business dealings with Khalid bin Mahfouz, he also heads the 9/11 Commission, which has a mandate to investigate Khalid's brother in law, Osama bin Laden.

Dr. Kissinger had a conflict of interest and resigned! The vice chairman of the Commission, former Sen. George Mitchell of Maine, resigned for the same reason. (See Xymphora, 19 Dec 2002 )

Now you would think that being a business partner of the brother in law and alleged financier of "Enemy No. 1" would also be considered a bona fide "conflict of interest", particularly when your mandate --as part of the 9/11 Commission's work-- is to investigate "Enemy No. 1".

Forbes.com

Thomas H Kean

Director at

UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Minnetonka, Minnesota

FINANCIAL / INSURANCE (ACCIDENT & HEALTH)

Director since October 1993

67 years old

Mr. Kean has been the President of Drew University in New Jersey since February 1990. Mr. Kean served as the Governor of the State of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. From 1968 to 1977, Mr. Kean served in the New Jersey State Assembly, including two years in the position of Speaker. Mr. Kean is also a director of Amerada Hess Corporation, Aramark Corporation, CIT Group, Fiduciary Trust Company International, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Amerada Hess Annual Report: 2001

William R. Johnson (3)

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

H.J. Heinz Company Thomas H. Kean (1) (2) (4)

President, Drew University;

Former Governor

State of New Jersey

Azerbaijan International

Delta Hess Alliance was established in 1998 for the development and exploration of oil fields in the Caspian region. Amerada Hess (USA) is one of the world's leading independent oil and gas companies. Delta Oil (Saudi Arabia) plays a significant role in the development of major oil and gas fields. In Azerbaijan Delta Hess is involved in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli PSA (2.72%) and the Garabaghli-Kursangi PSA (20%). It is also an equity holder in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline.

Saudi Clans Working With U.S. Oil Firms May Be Tied to bin Laden

Central_Asian_oil,_Enron_and __the_Afghanistan_pipelines

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