Officer Says 2 Others Are Source of His Atta Claims

Washington Post ^ | 8/19/2005 | Dan Eggen

[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.

[connectthedots]

As long as he is in the public eye, they will never fire him. An added benefit to him going public with the Able Danger info is that he has insulated himself from any serious job related problems. Promotions may not be in his future, but he now has great job security.

[nopardons]

bttt

[nopardons]

bttt

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Don't forget Krystal on the Fox Sunday News Show.

He didn't think it amounted to anything either!

[nopardons]

In 2003, Congress cut off the funding for a similar program to Able Danger, called TERRORISM INFORMATION AWARNESS, which was run by former National Security Adviser John Poindexter. I guess that our Congress really doesn't want America to be able to get the damned terrorists before they strike us.

[cgk]

bflr

[hershey]

Yes, cat kidnapped and tires slashed.

[combat_boots]

Phone calls?

Sure it was. Public employment will suspend a person everyday for a personal phone call. /sarc.

[Mia T]

WHY DID BILL CLINTON IGNORE TERRORISM?
Was it simply the constraints of his liberal mindset, or was it something even more threatening to our national security?

[Preachin']

"Paid administrative leave for 17 months - - what gives there? If this were an anti-Bush guy we'd be all over him for that. Or would we?"

Maybe his clearance was taken because he had the goods on career civilian types that were over him (in relation to Able Danger).

[Just mythoughts]

LOL I doubt we will be hearing any apologizes any time soon.

[maica]

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.

You brightened my day with this thought! Your entire post is excellent. Thanks

[Fresh Wind]

Great way to lead off a story.

Half truths are always great for that purpose.

[Peach]

I read that in an e-mail, about how to unlock your car, and am glad you reminded me!

[Peach]

Rising expectations...that's important. Because I think you're right. And that's how this particular game will be played. We'd better be ready and not play that particular game and call the left on it when they try it.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

I have actually unlocked my car using that trick. It really works!

[Peach]

I'm going to copy that trick to an e-mail and print it off and keep it in my car. I'd heard it works and wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with that clever idea. Thanks for the information!

[pinz-n-needlez]

Thanks. :-)

Hanging out here for 8 years tends to rub off after awhile.

Pinz

[TeleStraightShooter]

The 9/11 commission said that many of it recommendations are not based on the memory of the commissioners, but on the recollections of others.

[pinz-n-needlez]

I think Georelick made a huge mistake in not including some passing reference to AD.

Wonder if there's a stash of files in the basement of the Pentagon somewhere. I sure hope so! Shaffer suggests that he kept careful records of his contacts. The AD folks are probably anal about paperwork, that's why they're on that detail.

Pinz