Posted on 09/30/2005 1:28:27 PM PDT by vadkins
Curt Weldon: So, what I've had to do is to fight with both of them, both the 9-11 Commission and the [Bush] administration, who I think neither of whom wants this information to be put out to the American people. Now, what bothers me is that the bulk of the information in Able Danger acquired was open-source information; it wasn't classified. To deny these military officers, who are very dedicated, loyal Americans, to tell their story not only flies in the face of everything this country stands for, but it is also a personal attack against them. It also flies in the face of the legitimate role of Congress in oversight of the executive branch. So as Senator Glassly said yesterday, this is a lot of bigger than Curt Weldon or Able Danger: It's about Congress exercising its legitimate roll in oversight.
T: That brings up another interesting point. Do you believe that actions of the Pentagon and the Bush administration might have a negative impact on future independent commissions? Do you think Americans will look more warily on commissions like the 9-11 Commission?
CW: Yes, this whole process has soured me on the process of commissions. The 9-11 Commission, which I supported with my vote and which I supported verbally, was basically empowered by the Congress and the American people, with 80 full-time staff people and $15 million dollars to fully and completely investigate what happened before 9-11. This whole story indicates they didn't do that.
(Excerpt) Read more at thetriangle.org ...
both the 9-11 Commission and the [Bush] administration, who I think neither of whom wants this information to be put out to the American people. Now, what bothers me is that the bulk of the information in Able Danger acquired was open-source information; it wasn't classified. To deny these military officers, who are very dedicated, loyal Americans, to tell their story not only flies in the face of everything this country stands for, but it is also a personal attack against them. It also flies in the face of the legitimate role of Congress in oversight of the executive branch. So as Senator Glassly said yesterday, this is a lot of bigger than Curt Weldon or Able Danger: It's about Congress exercising its legitimate roll in oversight.
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Exactly - the political class protecting itself. And it is getting even more obvious.
But .. but .. but .. Rumsfeld okayed the officer's testifying .. so what's with this interview having Weldon complaining about something that has been changed.
Is this just more of the continued FULL BORE ATTACK against the Bush admin and republicans in general ..??
The interview may have been published on 9-30-2005 but probably took place before the Pentagon's change of heart.
Is this just more of the continued FULL BORE ATTACK against the Bush admin and republicans in general ..??
Unless Weldon has switched his party recently he's one of those "republicans in general" himself.
Why do you assume it's an attack on the Bush admin? And even if it was are you saying that Bush & Co. should be immune from any and all inquiries?
"It's not often that a member of Congress publicly takes on the CIA, but I thought I had no other choice. The agency wasn't being responsive. They had, in my opinion, a terrible track record. Therefore, it was my job to ask the tough questions and shake them up."
Golitzen explained why the CIA has such a bad record. The Soviets penetrated them badly and it has never been cleaned up. Of course, now that the Russians are "on our side", I suppose they will instruct their CIA moles to do things that will help America.
"Is this just more of the continued FULL BORE ATTACK against the Bush admin and republicans in general ..??"
Or is it old fashioned standing up for truth no matter where the chips fall. Seeing that they have now taken his security clearance away from one of the testifiers I think that we can judge very adequately that this is not an assault on Bush et al but a stand for truth vs the lies of cover up.
Well .. if you haven't noticed the concentrated attack against the President .. what else can I say.
And to insinuate that I prefer the repubs hide or cover-up anything is just beyond the pale.
"... the 9-11 Commission and the [Bush] administration, who I think neither of whom wants this information to be put out to the American people."
That is the statement in msg 2 that I was replying to. Sometimes there's a clue if you go back and read the msg I was replying to.
Why was the "[Bush] administration even mentioned. It was the high and mighty, all knowing, all everything, majestic 9/11 commission who was supposed to have all the answers. This was exactly what the left wanted .. an opportunity to smear Bush. It didn't work. But .. Gorelick did manage to control the Able Danger information. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BUSH.
Well .. there was a thread - on FR - the day after Specter's statement - and it said that Rumsfeld (who had given a brief on Capital Hill) had given the go-ahead.
Are you telling me somebody over at the Pentagon can stop a decision of the SecDef ..?? That I'd like to see.
"On Friday, the Senate committee announced the Pentagon had reversed its position and would allow the five witnesses to testify at a new public hearing scheduled for October 5. The Pentagon denied anything had changed, despite behind-the-scenes negotiations to reach a solution agreeable to both sides.
"Our position has not changed," Defense spokesman Bryan Whitman told Reuters. "This is a classified program and there are still aspects of it that are not appropriate for an open hearing. And that's what we have told the committee."
The story is dated 9/23/05
Well .. that's interesting. If Rumsfeld told Sessions it was okay, then who stopped it and why ..?? I still say it's NOT RUMSFELD!
It was Sessions who said in the hearing that he was going to discuss it with Rumsfeld (because the SecDef was scheduled shortly on the hill to brief the senate). It was shortly after that briefing that the story came out that the Pentagon had "reversed its position". So .. who would have the authority to over ride the SecDef's decision ..?? I'm stumped.
bttt
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