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?

[Straight Vermonter]

I hope you meant to say shrewd. LOL

[Gvl_M3]

I have a question about civil law suits.

Can I sue Jamie Gorelick and anyone else involved in the cover-up for causing me mental anguish by not stopping this attack? Similar to how gun manufacturers were sued when a thug shot somebody.

I still remember the shock, horror, worry, etc that my wife and I went through on that day. TO find out it could have been prevented outrages me.

[Alas Babylon!]

They all knew. That morning of 9/11, everyone of them knew they had f**ked up huge. What's a little perjury charge compared to what would happen if the dots were all connected.

Very true. And at that moment, they were already working on the excuses in their minds. I'm sure part of that thinking was how they could pin it all on Bush.

Still, I remember shortly after when Clinton came to NYC to view the scene, Brian Killmeade of Fox and Friends had the nads to ask him if he thought he was responsible! Too bad the rest of the MSM didn't followup on that very astute question.

[Coop]

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

A rolled up sock?

[Nita Nupress]

If this was popping in the Senate, I'd prolly be as pessimistic as you are. The House is a little bit different animal.

Good point.

Do i dare to hope about anything "clinton?" I've almost forgotten what it feels like.

[defconw]

I know it about sets my hair on fire that the average American, can't name their Congress Critters, know who the VP is. Have a clue about what is going on in this country, but boy they know everything there is to know about Hollywood! I get this constantly from my girlfriends, have you read this dumb book or that dumb book, and I say no, have you read "Men In Black"? Is that about the movie? I want to bash my head into a wall!

[defconw]

We are a mess, tha't for sure, but a lot of people are just starting to get that liberalism is the problem, but not fast enough. As for Muslims, I think it is to late already.

[YaYa123]

Something not said often enough: The Commission staff was hand-picked by the Commission members.

[keysguy]

It was my understanding that gorelick created the wall while "dykewood"(janet reno) was busy killing people at Waco. The idea behind the wall was for Reno's lawyers to interdict every decision that the military would normally make and to kill off the cia and fbi's capabilities and protect the clintonistas from any harm or further embarrassment.
Anyway that's what i got out of reading 2,000 of these threads this week. a hugh week.

[defconw]

"dykewood"(janet reno)


Now that's funny!

[keysguy]

Of course to think that bill or hillary or both are not behind the wall is to be just a little naive,IMHO.from what i have read of them this seems more like hillary's style.But you can be dam sure there will be little if any paper trails that have not already been stuffed in someone's pants.

[sauropod]

mark

[defconw]

The scale of corruption of the Clinton administration is just beyond comprehension in many ways. Gosh just what we know that these idiots did, should put them all away for life. Imagine what we don't know!

[keysguy]

Brilliant post, and sadly you have to wonder besides Doug from upland and a few others who are really looking into what we don't know. That is the big question. scary people out for absolute power.

[keysguy]

Thanks lot was meant to be funny not a slam.
Those of us who have lived in S.Fla.a for a long time and recall Reno's many exploits know that due to her severe alcoholism the job of Attorney general had to be performed by others.

[defconw]

Wow, that's something I did not know! Explains a lot.

[maryz]

could it be that the staffers were in on keeping it from republicans?

I would think that goes without saying. Also, I heard a reference on Fox last night to the Republicans and Democrats each having their own staffers.

[defconw]

When I see Bill and Hill my blood runs cold I can't help it! The first time I ever saw Bill Clinton way back in 1984 I think it was, I got chills, and not good ones. He reminds me of that movie Omen Three, no lie! He could be the devils spawn. Not even joking. Not wearing tinfoil either! :) I had no idea who he was but he spoke at the Rat convention and I knew he would be President some day, I don't know how I knew I just did, and I also knew it would be bad.

[keysguy]

I guess Reno fit a profile the Clintoistas were looking for. Gay, alcoholic, still in the closet. They could probably do anything they wanted and get her to sign off on it.

Think about it have you ever heard her say anything but "no comment it's ongoing...." that was her standard line for many years, still is.

[keysguy]

Like minds.