Posted on 08/18/2005 7:47:30 PM PDT by americaprd
The former intelligence officer who says that a Defense Department program identified Mohamed Atta and three other hijackers before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks said yesterday that many of his allegations are not based on his memory but on the recollections of others.
Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, who has been on paid administrative leave from the Defense Intelligence Agency since his security clearance was suspended in March 2004, said in a telephone interview that a Navy officer and a civilian official affiliated with the Able Danger program told him after the attacks that Atta and other hijackers had been included on a chart more than a year earlier.
But because he was not intimately familiar with the names and photographs of suspected terrorists, he did not realize that hijackers were listed until it was alleged to him after the attacks, Shaffer said. All of the charts that could support his claims have disappeared, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
My take is that the Post printed this article to provide some attack material for Democrats.
double hearsay ?
Why he lost his security clearance. I don't recall that being an everyday event, especially for field grade officers. On the other hand, I do recall the bounced check list at the PX being mostly officers - and at least for enlisted that'll get your clearance suspended. Perhaps it is a more common event, and just no one finds out.
He had calls forwarded to his cell phone. Over about an 18-month period, at $.25 per call, it amounted to $67. That was his crime.
I've heard this guy speak a lot in the last few days and have found him credible; but we'll have to wait to hear from the other Able Danger operatives, I guess.
What frosts me is the 9/11 Commission saying that Shaffer never told them about Atta.
#1. He never claimed he told them about Atta.
#2. If they had looked through the material that was provided and followed up with the other 15+ boxes of material, they just might have found out what they didn't want to find out.
Unless that resulted in a potential security breach, that seems a surprising thing to lose a security clearance for a year and a half.
Catch up on this story at other blogs that are following it closely. And don't be misled by the Washington Compost. See for example: http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/005251.php
http://floppingaces.blogspot.com/2005/08/gorelick-wall-sandy-berger-update-viii.html
Article has the appearance they talked to him but I have my doubts.
That's what I thought...that it was around $60.
Hasn't his suspension been lifted? He got promoted last year, I know.
Bookmark for later read tomorrow.
That's funny. And he's on paid leave?
I believe that is the case. He said on one show I heard that he is getting great support from his colleagues.
Let the smear begin.
Hasn't the paid leave ended?
I don't know. It's funny regardless. He was put on paid administrative leave over 60-some-odd-dollars. I wonder what his salary was/is.
Boy, are you right on about that blog. Captains Quarters. Best info yet.
On Hannity's show yesterday he said, in so many words, that he wasn't the one who fingered Atta, he was in an adminstration position, trying to get the right departments to use the data, to pass it along. My impression was the guys were (for lack of a better word) sure about Atta's cell they kept telling him and he kept pushing the issue.
I get the feeling that the left is going to deal with this by playing a game of rising expectations...
Remember in the 90's all those Clinton scandals just kept coming one right after another? Any 3 of them should have been enough to get him kicked out, just becasue decent people wouldn't put up with all that garbage.
But his haters would blow up the scandal at the beginning, his spinners would post a high set of of standards of impeachability, then things would collapse when the bottom line looked awful and disgusting, instead of *super* awful and *super* disgusting.
They wore us out by ginning up the game.
I see the same thing happening here. The point has never been made that Clinton received briefings with maps, timetables and DNA profiles of Atta. Even Weldon hasn't said that the intelligence was so strong that 9-11 could have been prevented. (Would that if could have.)
The point in the beginning of this is that the data mining DID show that there were cells, and was right on in identifying bad guys. We should be doing that some more. I think I recall hearing that is how Shaffer and Weldon got to comparing notes, that the military is seeking funding to restart the data mining.
In addition, we learn that information of this great tool was presented to the Commission, at least in a preliminary way. Such info should have been included in the final report, as a recommendation to prevent future terrorist attacks on the US. But it was not included, in fact no more info about was sought or even welcome. They thought they covered all of their shenanigans with fast talk and slick writing, but now their sham is exposed because they didn't include reference to a program that anyone can see is worthwhile. They pushed to far to make Clinton completely blameless. They should have settled for a couple of close calls. (I don't think Clinton's fragile self esteem can tolerate a *hint* of criticism any more, it's as precarious as Michael Jackson's nose!)
The Able Danger folks might have yelled and screamed before the final draft, and gone public. But then the Commission could have back tracked and saved their a$$es. The Bush people knew about Able Danger by October 2001. They've knew the commission was a kangaroo court, and they gave it enough rope to hang itself.
The fact that Clinton is wandering the earth without a moment's peace and everyone is aware of it brings me great consolation for all the murder, messes and mayhem he spewed forth in the 90's.
Rumsfeld is taking care of things at DOD, and doing a good job (contrary to what leftist media would have you believe). Bush is a consummate political poker player. I think they have a strong plan on how to allow this thing to play out. I'm not worried about it.
The Commission members have already shown themselves to be liars and fools. Even if Hillary could win the presidency (I doubt it, unless they have worked out ALL of their kinks in ballot box stuffing), there is no way on God's green earth that Jamie Gorelick could ever get confirmed in any cabinet position now. Her career is over.
In two years, we'll know how all of this will affect Hillary's run. I think it will damage her greatly, two-for-one and all of that.
These general have had 10 years to sort themselves out, are practiced at taking their time and working through a strategy. I have faith that they know this might be their only chance to repay Clinton for what he did to their country. They won't blow it.
We expect this all to flow like a soap opera, our Fox programs have conditioned us to nightly updates. But Bush is wiser, as are those generals. It will play out in its own time. The country is safe under Bush, the Clinton crisis is over, so they're in no rush. (BTW, did you see Ben Stein's article in the American Spectator on that? Beautiful!)
What I hope to see at the end of this... new funding for the data mining for foreign terrorists, exposure of the 9-11 Commission for the sham that it was, a few Clintonistas to be exposed and run out of town, damage done to Hillary, more torment for Bill.
Congressinal hearings could be amusing, but I don't put much stock in them. I saw D'Amato and Thompson both crash and burn, and had my heart broken when John Glenn sold us down the river for a shuttle ride. Congress is pretty worthless when it comes to justice.
And now I'm rambling and must hit the hay. Thanks for keeping on top of this, Peach, with the help of a bunch of fine Freepers. Nite all.
Pinz
phone bills . paid leave. yet a promotion . head fakes all. weldon is getting help. the msm is busy with mrs. sheehan , judge roberts and of course rove. it's early. right now it's drip drip . why rush a good scandal before labor day. it's on the runway . if they have the goods we will know soon. and each time the msm , dod or the commision hedge or hand the ball off to each other , what we already think will be confirmed.
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