A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-18-05...Commission Accomplished!

JohnHuang2;dutchess | JohnHuang2

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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Commission Accomplished!

by JohnHuang2

In '95, Americans were bombed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, by Muslim extremists. The next year, the U.S. Khobar Towers were bombed by Muslim extremists. Then, in '98, two U.S. embassies in Africa were bombed by Muslim extremists, followed two years later by an attack on the USS Cole -- by Muslim extremists. Seven years prior, the World Trade Center was attacked by Muslim extremists. Eight years later, the World Trade Center was attacked by . . . 'Gee, who did it this time? Any ideas? The Italians? Really peeved off Norwegians?' These are the kind of stupid questions you'd ask if you were on the 9/11 Commission, the team of brainiacs tasked with finding out what happened, why, and how to prevent it from happening again. Then it happened again -- a massive intelligence failure. By the Commission probing a massive intelligence failure. (And Bush did nothing to stop it!)

Thanks to Rep. Curt Weldon, Republican from Pennsylvania, we've learned that more than a year before the 9/11 attacks, a classified military intelligence team named "Able Danger" had ID'd 9/11 ringleader Mohamed Atta and three other fellow hijackers as members of the "Brooklyn cell" of the Religion of Peace. More than a year before 9/11. That's when the greatest terror hunter of all time was president (see Dick Clarke). In '96, Sudan offered to turn Osama over to U.S. hands, but Clinton turned the offer down. Too easy! Let him go, we'll nab him licketysplit! Two years later, a missile missed Osama by one hour. But the strike killed 24 extremely dangerous, al-Qaeda-trained . . . camels. We were so much safer then.

Despite ID-ing Atta and the Atta boys, Able Danger operatives were barred by DOJ rules from speaking with criminal investigators. Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, formerly associated with Able Danger, came forward this week and told the New York Times in an interview that he "was at the point of near insubordination over the fact that this was something important, that this was something that should have been pursued." But Pentagon lawyers said pursuing Atta was atta the question because he had a green card. Atta did not have a green card. Besides, at the time, folks at DOJ had other, more urgent pursuits, like tracking down abortion clinic bomber, John Roberts.

So, as Frontpage Magazine put it, the Media's "favorite president in decades enabled terrorists to pull off the worse act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history." No wonder the media is all over the story -- the story of Cindy Sheehan! The Ward Churchill with boobs, camped out in Crawford, Texas, where 296,599,900 Americans aren't protesting. The media pimp wants Bush wearing handcuffs and leg irons. And "Jooooos" driven from "Palestine," or turned into soap and lampshades. According to Mother Sheehan, Bush snuck into her son's room one night, covered his mouth, ordered him at gunpoint to enlist, then sent him to Iraq so Halliburton could ambush him. She says she's not going to pay taxes for 2004 -- just as she's tried to *not pay* her taxes since '96. She knew back then Bush would invade Iraq.

To understand how the latest massive intelligence failure (no, not Sheehan's) could happen, you must understand how official Washington works. By the fall of 2002, even the slowest, most droolingest liberals understood why 9/11 happened -- a "wall" keeping 'spooks' from talking to FBI. So Congress then creates a commission to find out why 9/11 happened. Someone in the Clinton Justice Department -- Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick -- erected that "wall," so Jamie Gorelick gets to join the commission to probe Jamie Gorelick. She just couldn't wait to get to the bottom of this!

Lee Hamilton, co-chairman of the 9/11 Commission (disbanded in August, 2004 -- several months after its credibility was disbanded), heatedly denied the Commission had suffered any massive intelligence failure, or was told of Able Danger's findings. "The 9/11 Commission did not learn of any U.S. government knowledge prior to 9/11 of the surveillance of Mohamed Atta or of his cell," huffed the former Indiana Democrat Congressman. "Had we learned of it, obviously it would've been a major focus of our investigation." We'll vigorously fight any attempt to cast doubt on our nonexistent credibility! Hamilton insisted the Commission had never been briefed on Able Danger's findings. Commission spokesman, Al Felzenberg, insisted the Commission had never been briefed on Able Danger's findings. "The name 'Atta' or terrorist cell would have gone to the top of the radar screen if it had been mentioned," Felzenberg huffed.

A few days later, Hamilton and Felzenberg said they didn't really mean it. The Commission staff had been briefed on Able Danger's findings. But it happened only twice -- in July, 2004, when a uniformed officer briefed Commission staffers, referring to Atta by name; and, before that, in October, 2003, which was around the time when loads of top-secret documents at the National Archives were leaping into Sandy Berger's pants, pockets, socks, underwear, shoes, briefcase and later into his shredder. Even his cellphone played tricks on him, making calls on its own from the room filled with top-secret documents -- a no-no. Obviously, Rove up to his old tricks.

Berger insisted he was just brushing up on Able Danger, um, brushing up to help other Clintonites get ready to testify before the Commission. I'm sure that's why he put documents into the shredder.

To recap, the Commission denied ever being told about Able Danger and that the name 'Atta' never came up. Days later, the Commission said it was told about Able Danger and that the name 'Atta' came up, but the panel rejected the testimony because Atta could not have been in the U.S. at the time alleged -- late '99 or early 2000.

The reason they know this is because the INS said so. The INS said Atta entered the U.S. in June, 2000. Whatever the INS says, bank on it. Exactly six months after the World Trade Center was toppled, student visas arrived in the mailboxes of Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi, approved by the INS. So, by the Commission's reckoning, Atta was still alive six months after his plane "entered" WTC Tower One! Ditto al-Shehhi, who knocked down Tower Two. After all, if the INS says so, bank on it. The only hitch here being that the INS no longer exists -- abolished, per the 9/11 Commission's recommendations. Replaced by the Department of Homeland Security. The 9/11 Commission's stance was that the INS was hopelessly dysfunctional, get rid of it -- but boy, you can trust its record-keeping!

Spokesman Al Felzenberg said Able Danger was not mentioned in the official 9/11 report because the info didn't square with the 'impeccable' records compiled by the dysfunctional INS. Suuuuuuuuure.

Lt. Col. Shaffer, the former Able Danger associate, said this: "I'm told confidently by the person who did move the material over that the 9/11 Commission received two briefcase-sized containers of documents. I can tell you for a fact that would not be . . . one-20th of the information that Able Danger consisted of during the time we spent."

Apart from Gorelick protecting her ex-boss, the real reason for the cover-up? Frontpage magazine nails it: "The movements of Atta prior to the terrorist attack as detailed by 'Able Danger,' if acknowledged, would support statements by the Czech Republic that link Atta, and hence the al-Qaeda attack on America, irrefutably to Saddam's covert intelligence operatives . . . This Atta-Iraqi meeting did not track well with some of the 9/11 Commission's pre-ordained agenda and had to be firmly discounted." But by "acknowledging the Iraq/al-Qaeda ties, not only to terrorism in general but to the September 11 attack, the war becomes completely justifiable as exactly what the Bush administration claimed it was: a defensive, if preemptive, war to protect the United States from a regime with cordial ties to anti-American terrorists. This outcome is so repugnant to the hard Left that it will justify even the most extraordinary suppression of evidence or promulgation of an outright lie in order to achieve its ends."

Nuff said.

Anyway that's...

My two cents

06-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #12

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-15-05 Military Monday 08-16-05 A Finest OH and WV Adventure! Part I 08-17-05 A Finest OH and WV Adventure! Part II

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

[dutchess]

Dutchess ..... I loved your presentation. Funny, but scary, story about your kitty eating the thread. :)

LOL....At first I thought I was in the twilight zone. Clicked on the thread and all I had was a blank screen!!!

[dutchess]

Love the File Bergler poem CG. Thanks for reprinting it amy! (and LOVE the accompanying cartoon LOL)

[dutchess]

But we also appreciate To all who present the essays and all of The Finest offerings, we sincerely thank you.

How sweet, but also THANK YOU for all your wonderful contributions at the Finest!

[GailA]

Good afternoon ALL. I'm off tomorrow..it's my birthday and I don't want to work on it, going to go shopping instead for new clothes..to show off my 33 lb weight loss. I officially now weigh 125 lbs which is where a 5'1" person should be.

[dutchess]

I'm off tomorrow..it's my birthday and I don't want to work on it, going to go shopping instead for new clothes..to show off my 33 lb weight loss. I officially now weigh 125 lbs which is where a 5'1" person should be.

Well good for you....you DESERVE to pamper yourself on your birthday and CONGRATS on your weightloss. Bet you are a knockout. An early Happy B-day Gail!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good article, John, thanks.

LOL, that's a funny cartoon, Amy.

Happy Thursday everybody.

I need to go shopping, be back later.

[El Gato]

Unfortunately, there are no national holidays celebrated today.

...

The Wizard of Oz premiered on this day in 1939.

That ought to be a national holiday! :)

[El Gato]

I'm off tomorrow..it's my birthday and I don't want to work on it, going to go shopping instead for new clothes..to show off my 33 lb weight loss.

Happy Birthday and Congrats on your weight loss. If anyone knows what an accomplishment that is, I do.

I've lost over twice that much, but still have 3 times that much to go, and even then I'll be that 33 lbs or so over what the "BMI index" tables say I should be. My doc would be happy if I was that much (33 lbs) over my goal, which also happens to be what I weighed when I was last in the military reserve.

[STARWISE]

AWESOME THREAD, Dutchess!!! May I post for your hunting and information seeking pursuits ..

9/11 COMMISSION REPORT CLICKABLE INDEX OF NAMES OF PEOPLE, PLACES, ORGANIZATIONS --- VERY COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE

[STARWISE]

Spot on, john!! Well done!!

[JustAmy]

Yippeee!!!

The bus stopped and let PrissyMissy off at our driveway today.

I didn't have the car out of the garage with the engine running. This morning, I had a clue that they may have finally gotten it right. The bus stopped at our house at 7:00 this morning. I told the driver yesterday that Marissa would not be riding in the mornings because it was too early. They probably need to stop anyway in case there is a change.

I can finally relax. Whewwww.

[TexKat]

My Son:

Click to enlarge.

Brig. Gen. Mark E. O’Neill, left, the assistant division commander for support for the 3rd Infantry Division, shakes hands with Staff Sgt. Khevin G. Smith, a heavy-wheel vehicle operator with the 104th Transportation Company, 87th Corps Support Battalion, Division Support Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., after awarding him the Purple Heart Aug. 11. Smith, a Dallas native, received the award for injuries sustained during an during an ambush on his convoy April 20.Sgt. 1st Class Peter Chadwick

Truck driver receives Purple Heart

August 16, 2005 A truck driver with 3rd Infantry Division was awarded the Military Order of the Purple Heart Aug. 11 in a ceremony at the Division Support Brigade Ministry Center.

Staff Sgt. Khevin G. Smith, a heavy-wheel vehicle operator with the 104th Transportation Company, 87th Corps Support Battalion, DSB, was awarded the medal by Brig. Gen. Mark E. O’Neill, the assistant division commander for support for the 3rd Inf. Div.

Smith received the medal for wounds received in action April 20 when his convoy was ambushed on its way to Camp Liberty. Smith’s Heavy Equipment Transporter was struck by a vehicle-borne explosive device.

Smith managed to evacuate his truck commander, Spc. Morris Smith, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The two of them were picked up by Sgt. Eric L. Martin, who had pulled his HET next to them as they exited their damaged truck.

“The actions of Martin and the escorts from the 3rd Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment, Alabama Army National Guard are the reason we’re here, said Smith, whose unit deployed from Fort Benning, Ga.”

(Editor’s Note: article submitted by Sgt. 1st Class Peter Chadwick, Division Support Brigade public affairs.)

[Mama_Bear]

Yippeee!!! The bus stopped and let PrissyMissy off at our driveway today.

Great! Now she gets to ride the bus and Grandma can relax.

[anonymoussierra]

:}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}I AM HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU"Texkat"!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dutchess]

Hi Victoria. Happy shopping. Thanks for posting the darling bear graphic!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

8/18/2005 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- An F/A-22 Raptor receives gas from a McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., KC-10 Extender during a training sortie here. The 27th Fighter Squadron currently has five permanently assigned Raptors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

050817-N-3488C-151 Pacific Ocean (Aug. 17, 2005) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Golden Dragons" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Nine Two (VFA-192), breaks the sound barrier near the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) are currently returning to their homeport after a scheduled deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jonathan Chandler (RELEASED)

050809-M-5900L-087 Mariam Range, Djibouti (Aug. 9, 2005) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mathew G. Schultz assists Lance Cpl. Hakeem L. Pinkston, with firing a M-240G medium machine gun at the Mariam Range in Djibouti. Marines of the 26th MEU (SOC) are assisting the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa, by providing humanitarian aid and training to the people susceptible to transnational terrorist influence. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Lowndes (RELEASED)

[dixie sass]

Great, super and ping right on the nose!

[dixie sass]

They're loads of fun (tongue in cheek comment).

[Victoria Delsoul]

Wonderful!!! I'm glad for you both.

[Victoria Delsoul]

You're welcome. Hope you're enjoying your evening.