The Truth about 'the Wall'

The Washington Post ^ | April 18, 2004 | Jamie S. Gorelick

[Piranha]

The commission investigating the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has a critical dual mission to fulfill -- to help our nation understand how the worst assault on our homeland since Pearl Harbor could have occurred and to outline reforms to prevent new acts of terrorism.

***************SNIP*****************

At last week's hearing, Attorney General John Ashcroft, facing criticism, asserted that "the single greatest structural cause for September 11 was the wall that segregated criminal investigators and intelligence agents" and that I built that wall through a March 1995 memo. This is simply not true.

First, I did not invent the "wall," which is not a wall but a set of procedures implementing a 1978 statute (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA) and federal court decisions interpreting it. In a nutshell, that law, as the courts read it, said intelligence investigators could conduct electronic surveillance in the United States against foreign targets under a more lenient standard than is required in ordinary criminal cases, but only if the "primary purpose" of the surveillance were foreign intelligence rather than a criminal prosecution.

**************SNIP****************

...the memo I wrote in March 1995 ... permits freer coordination between intelligence and criminal investigators than was subsequently permitted by the 1995 guidelines or the 2001 Thompson memo. My memo directed agents on both sides to share information -- and, in particular, directed one agent to work on both the criminal and intelligence investigations -- to ensure the flow of information "over the wall."

***************SNIP***************

The Patriot Act...says that electronic surveillance can be conducted in the United States against foreign threats as long as a "significant purpose" -- rather than the "primary purpose" -- is to obtain foreign intelligence.

************SNIP*************

I intend -- with my brethren on the commission -- to finish the job.

[ScaniaBoy]

Thanks for some insightful comments.

My problems with Ms Gorelick's memo (apart from her less than honest approach to the commission) is the fact that she may have tried to rectify a problem, but it does seem she never checked how this actually turned out.

According to Ashcroft's testimony it seems that the regulations in force certainly hindered and not helped the investigators.

Unfortunately most regulators and legislators act this way, but all the more reason for the 911 Commission to look very closely at the questions you brought up in your post.

And of course one cannot be judge and witness at the same time... Time for Ms Gorelick to resign or to be removed.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Good info.

I read a post or an article about this just recently. Sounds a bit "wild" at first - would like to see som more cooborating "evidence" before I believe it.

Do you have any links?

If this is true, it again shows the negligence of the Clinton Administration in following up on leads that didn't fit in his agenda. But I will wait for further info before I decide . . .

[WhiteyAppleseed]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115244/posts?q=1&&page=101

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115387/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115589/posts?page=51,9

http://www.forensic-intelligence.org/spd.htm

The first three contain posts, probably. The last is where the letter, the 7-page intell timeline, as well as a 47-page file is located. You need to navigate the site, click on wording that includes 'forensic'. The files are Adobe PDf, or whatever they call them.

[MindBender26]

>When 'Gore' and 'Lick' appear in the same sentence, I get all wierd inside:

Relax, Tipper, take it easy......

[WhiteyAppleseed]

http://www.forensic-intelligence.org/fen/index.htm

Then click on 'forensice ------ notes'. I think it said, forensic economic notes. The blue lettered links on the left offer a tantalizing amount of information, not only on the subjects I mentioned, but on possible info related to Ron Brown's death and possible motives.

[Just mythoughts]

"First, I did not invent the "wall," which is not a wall but a set of procedures implementing a 1978 statute (the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA) and federal court decisions interpreting it. In a nutshell, that law, as the courts read it, said intelligence investigators could conduct electronic surveillance in the United States against foreign targets under a more lenient standard than is required in ordinary criminal cases, but only if the "primary purpose" of the surveillance were foreign intelligence rather than a criminal prosecution."

---

I have not read the entire article, I refuse to "REGISTER" with the WP.

This paragraph is BS. What is not given is the "specific" reason for "a set of procedures implementing a 1978 statute". This attempts to make it sound like there was no choice but to finally implement a 1978 statute.

Something specific caused this need for the "procedures" being implemented.

"In a nutshell, that law, as the courts read it, said intelligence investigators could conduct electronic surveillance in the United States against foreign targets under a more lenient standard than is required in ordinary criminal cases, but only if the "primary purpose" of the surveillance were foreign intelligence rather than a criminal prosecution."

This is a cover blaming "courts" for her "MEMO".

What was the specific "criminal prosecution" that this bunch did not want it to be known "foreigners" were involved with?

[An.American.Expatriate]

...is the fact that she may have tried to rectify a problem, but it does seem she never checked how this actually turned out.

An all too common problem within the government! Policies are seldom reviewed unless something happens to force the issue!

[WhiteyAppleseed]

reference my last, after the intial link, click on the lower left--forensic intelligence hub page.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Please read my post a bit farther down - it provides some of the history your looking for!!!

Essentially, the "what" of Gorelick's statement is true. Her failure to dislose the extent of her involvment in Counterintelligence Policy making is very troubling. She should be a witness, not a commissioner.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Thanks for the links - I'll check them out . . .

[White Eagle]

She's dirty and refuses to accept the consequences. No salvation here, and we can expect nothing of value from the commission.

[Just mythoughts]

Re: post 39.


You maybe correct.

However, considering that one of the first moves of Clintons was to remove all US Attorneys and install their people. There was a reason why this was done, as the Clintons never did anything that was not self-serving.

There was no "LAW" this bunch did not use for their own self-serving purpose. I believe there was a specific reason why they made darn sure the "wall" as existed prior to their arrival was cemented and reinforced.

[Just mythoughts]

Read it.


Thanks

[expatguy]

The "WALL" must be torn down this is an act of Israeli aggression against our peaceful Palestinian people...we are calling on Kofi Annan and the UN to help us defend ourselves from this policy of aggression by Sharon and Bush...

oooppps.... wrong thread sorry...

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

What was the specific "criminal prosecution" that this bunch did not want it to be known "foreigners" were involved with?

I'm thinking Riady and certain Chinese gentlemen. Hmmm...

[Future Useless Eater]

From FoxNews Channel - Hannity and Colmes 4-14-2004

Dick Morris: This woman [Gorelick] is bad news. She RAN the Justice Department for three years. Reno was a FIGUREHEAD during that period. And it was her invention to setup this WALL separating investigators from intelligence gatherers. So when Zacharias Moussaui was arrested in Minneapolis for taking flight lessons, I write about this in "Off with Their Heads", the prosecutors were going after him on an immigration violation. And they couldn't let the intelligence types look at his computer, which had the NAMES and the FLIGHT SCHOOLS of the 9/11 hijackers, listed there.

And then the Supreme Court ruled that Gorelick's rule, was unnecessary. They overturned it. So THIS woman is MORE responsible than ANYBODY for 9/11 going undetected.

Alan Colmes: ...[but] she DID recuse herself from cross-examining some of the law enforcement and intelligence officials...

Morris: I want to repeat what I just said. Of ALL of the public officials in the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, the ONE who is MOST directly responsible, in my judgement, for 9/11 happening, is Jamie Gorelick.

Colmes: You like pointing fingers, huh.

Sean Hannity: We ought to put HER under oath. THAT'S what ought to happen!

Morris: That WALL of separation was SO DESTRUCTIVE.

April 18, 2004          

              George W. Bush for President         2,000.00

   Two thousand and 0/100s----------------



      911 commission witchhunt, etc.      John Q. Public

[An.American.Expatriate]

That may be true, but as I have not seen any "evidence" leading me to believe otherwise, I am willing, for know, to accept Gorelick's statement as to motive.

She MUST however, leave the commission, either voluntarily or by decree.

[Diogenesis]

Gorelick has ALWAYS been willing to lie, including to Judges in federal court.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Weren't Clinton/Gore doing creative fundraising and making technology and commerce deals in exchange for like in 1995. It occurs to me the best way to facilitate that is to hinder the FBI and CIA from sharing information.

[Just mythoughts]

"I'm thinking Riady and certain Chinese gentlemen. Hmmm..."


Could be, but Riady and the Chinese were not really on the radar at this time. Foster's death, and some of the rumblings about his "Swiss" bank account...

Also that long list of pardons might also be connected.

I believe that something that came across in the "INTEL" spooked those at the top. Old bill was not interested in "INTEL" so had to have been the co-president, tracking INTEL, gathering up FBI files. Shadow government.