THE 9/11 COMMISSION IN MORTAL DANGER

The Corner on National Review Online ^ | 08/11/05 | John Podhoretz

[TonyInOhio]

It behaved disgracefully and in a nakedly partisan fashion, with former officials of the Clinton administration attempting to use the platform to damage the president's reelection chances. Then, after months of ludicrous conduct, out of nowhere came the brilliantly conceived and written report that set a new standard of eloquence and coherence for government documents, became a major bestseller and redeemed the commission's reputation.

Well, that didn't last long.

In a story filed at 7:10 PM, the Associated Press is now confirming all the particulars of what will now forever be called the Able Danger disaster. The 9/11 Commission staff did hear about intelligence-gathering efforts that hit pay dirt on the whereabouts of Mohammed Atta -- in 1999 -- and deliberately chose to omit word of those efforts.

And why? Because to do so might upset the timeline the Commission had established on Atta.

And why is that significant? Because the Mohammed Atta timeline established by the Commission pointedly insisted Atta did not meet with an Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague.

And why is that significant? Because debunking the Atta-Iraq connection was of vital importance to Democrats, who had become focused almost obsessively on the preposterous notion that there was no relation whatever between Al Qaeda and Iraq -- that Al Qaeda and Iraq might even have been enemies.

I was very skeptical of this Able Danger stuff about Atta, thought it was just sme way Rep. Curt Weldon was trying to sell a book. No longer. This is clearly becoming the biggest story of the summer -- the fact that, as Andy McCarthy alluded to, the "intelligence wall" set up by 9/11 Commissioner Jamie Gorelick when she was in the Justice Department did, in fact, cause the linchpin of the 9/11 attacks to evade capture by American law enforcement.

So was the staff a) protecting the Atta timeline or b) Jamie Gorelick or c) the Clinton administration or d) itself, because it got hold of the information relatively late and the staff was lazy?

More important, what will co-chairmen Tom (pound his fist on the table) Kean and Lee (look sorrowful) Hamilton do and say in the next 36 hours about this calamity?

[PhiKapMom]

We may be finding out now why the Berger hearing on his plea bargain was slipped until September with no real explanation. That plea bargain may have gone up in smoke or he is now ratting out the Clintons and their minions. Throw a dart and take your pick. Either way he had better be in hiding.

[jimbo123]

http://www.9-11commission.gov/about/bio_gorelick.htm

[NormsRevenge]

The New DemocRAT MOPE Party = Media Obstructionist Partisan Elite Party

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Death , Dishonor, Destruction

Clintoon's 3D Legacy?

GORELICK GATE: Developing... Thx Backhoe!

FR Archives Search Results for Gorelick Wall

Yahoo Search Results for Gorelick Wall

[Shermy]

"Because the Mohammed Atta timeline established by the Commission pointedly insisted Atta did not meet with an Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague."

But that did not happen in 1999. It happened, supposedly, in 2001.

The visit to Prague may have been a misidentification. what makes it interesting now is how the Commission's final report, and leaks before it, tried to demean the identification by using...a timeline. Interestingly, the Prague sighting occured during a records-gap of about a week of Atta's travels inside America. The commission essentially ruled since there was no evidence Atta left in that period, he couldn't have left. Very weak. Now we have another dispute about a timeline.

"Anyone doubt what Sandy berger was trying to shove down his pants now?"

Yes. He could have been stealing any number of documents showing his negligence, in hind sight. He wouldn't have been told about a specific Able Danger sighting, so I doubt his conduct has anything to do with that.

[antceecee]

Biggest story of the year! Also, what exactly did Sandy Burglar's antics (stolen docs) have to do with this story as well? Hmmmmm?????

[Bahbah]

what will co-chairmen Tom (pound his fist on the table) Kean and Lee (look sorrowful) Hamilton do and say in the next 36 hours about this calamity?

What a great description of these two poseurs. Thanks so much for the ping. We suffered through the posturing and the preening and the Bush bashing. Will we now get some truth?

[sydbas]

So was the staff a) protecting the Atta timeline or b) Jamie Gorelick or c) the Clinton administration or d) itself, because it got hold of the information relatively late and the staff was lazy?

or e) protect Sandy Berger so we don't find out what he was stuffing down his pants or f) all of the above

[LS]

True, but while I (and anyone) can understand why the Dems on the committee would want to cover this stuff up, what did the Republicans like Lehman---a pretty straight shooter---have to gain by allowing this to be swept under the rug?

[Just mythoughts]

WHY???? What was in it for liberals to protect Saddam???
Had they secretly promised Europe they would not interrupt the UN Oil for rotten Food program. What role was Russia playing?

Those Euros were hoping to become somebody during Clintons reign.

[Txsleuth]

I have been listening to the tape delay of Tony Snow's show...and he had a woman caller that kept pressing Tony to promise that he would make sure that the GOP and the media PUSH this story to the prominence that it deserves...

I have heard almost every talk show host allude to this as HUGH and SERIES (like Stellar says)...and that they won't let it go...

SO, WE freepers need to hold their feet to the fire, and make SURE this stays in the headlines...

My goodness, it was a freeper that found out the duplicitousness of Cindy Sheehan, for goodness sake!!!

[Laverne]

Agreed -- it is explosive. Therefore, the media will start making excuses and hide the facts. Folks in new media will have to work really really hard to make sure this information gets out to the public, and let the facts tell the story. It is clear that the 9/11 commission was a joke, especially with Ms. Gorelick on it. I know I wrote several emails to the commission requesting that Ms. Gorelick be removed. She was most likely instrumental in ensuring this information was not given to the full commission. This is a cover-up of great magnnitude to make sure that good old BJ (Billy Jeff) Clinton and his co-president, Her Heinous, were not implicated. Old media will not work to uncover this mess.....it is only in the hands of new media. We should write letters to the editor, call, email all the news organizations, and work as hard as possible to make sure that the truth comes to light. The commission's report has been completely undermined with these new facts. They are, as most here suspected, a joke. What did Ben Vineste know and when did he know it?

[Cautor]

Link to AP story: http://dsdsdemo2.ap.org/aponline/top_stories/1_ds_1061653.html

[Paladin2]

Don't forget that Richard Clarke should have known ALL about this at the time it happened (1999-2000). Why was this not in his book?

[eyespysomething]

ping

[Archon of the East]

Gorelick to Gitmo!!!!!!

Wow what a bumper sticker!

[Republican Wildcat]

They don't have enough time to air this story - they need the slots to air stories about how Bush is on a five week vacation, but can't spare even one hour to meet with the poor Ms. Sheehan.

[OldFriend]

Still here! LOLOL......

[tiredoflaundry]

kewl

[Peach]

I take out my contact, come back. Talk to Mr. Peach. Come back.

I see insomnia in my future :-)

[OESY]

Podhoretz raises significant questions that require answers. If the 9/11 Commission's findings were as important as touted by its members, then it is absolutely essential we get the facts right. Major changes to restructure the U.S. intelligence effort have been made based on the Commission's conclusions, which appear in retrospect to be deeply flawed.