Curt Weldon "As it stands now, the 9/11 story has not been fully examined and told"

http://judiciary.senate.gov/print_testimony.cfm?id=1606&wit_id=4667 ^

[markedmannerf]

Testimony United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Able Danger and Intelligence Information Sharing September 21, 2005

The Honorable Curt Weldon United States Representative , [R-PA, 7th District]

In fact, in the weeks following 9/11, I was provided an extensive analysis chart of Al Qaeda, which I immediately took to the White House and personally delivered to then-Deputy National Security Advisor Steven Hadley. Mr. Hadley was extremely interested in the chart and said that he would take it to the President. I continued to vigorously support the concept of data mining and analysis, particularly when the TTIC was announced. In the spring of 2005, I attempted to re-create the chart that I had presented to Hadley in 2001, so I queried my contact from LIWA. It was then that I received a brief to create a new expanded data mining and analysis capability known as Able Providence (which I would like to submit for the record). Able Providence was an initiative that would be supported through the Office of Naval Intelligence. The Navy was so enamored with getting Able Providence up and running that they even provided my Chief of Staff with the appropriate budget line number to direct any additional congressional funds.

[markedmannerf]

It was during the briefings on Able Providence that I was provided additional information about Able Danger. I was told that Able Danger had amassed significant data about Al Qaeda and five worldwide cells – one of which had linkages to Brooklyn and has been referred to as the Brooklyn cell. I was told that Able Danger identified the Brooklyn cell – to include Mohammed Atta and three other 9/11 hijackers – more than one year before September 11, 2001. Additionally, I was informed of an effort to share specific information with the FBI about Al Qaeda in September 2000 – one year before 9/11 – and that three meetings for that purpose were abruptly cancelled hours before they were scheduled to take place.

This new information was startling, and caused me to review the 9/11 Commission Report to see if any reference to Able Danger was contained therein. Realizing that no such reference existed, I asked my Chief of Staff to personally contact the 9/11 Commission and determine if they had been briefed about Able Danger. On May 18, 2005, the 9/11 Commission Deputy Staff Director Chris Kojm said that the staff had been briefed, but had decided "not go down that route". Still puzzled that no mention of Able Danger had been made, I raised this question with 9/11 Commissioner Tim Roemer during a meeting in my office on May 23, 2005. He told me that he had never been briefed on Able Danger. 9/11 Commissioner John Lehman said the same thing during a lunch on June 29, 2005. He expressed dismay and suggested that I pursue the issue further. How could it be possible that two 9/11 Commission staffers received two briefs, by two different members of Able Danger, in two different countries, on the same subject, yet no such information was brought to the level of a Commissioner. One is left to wonder if there was a similar information sharing problem within the commission.

On June 27, 2005, dismayed by the fact that Able Danger was omitted from the 9/11 Commission Report, I took to the floor of the House of Representatives to outline the entire Able Danger story for my colleagues and the American people. In the weeks following that speech, I methodically briefed the Chairs of House Armed Services, Intelligence, Homeland Security and FBI Appropriations Oversight Committee.

The New York Times picked up the story in August and ran three straight days of stories. On each day, the 9/11 Commission changed their story. • First, they said that they were never briefed. • Second, they said that they were briefed and that there was never a mention of Mohammed Atta. • Third, they said they were briefed, Atta was mentioned, but they found Able Danger to be 'historically insignificant".

As someone who had supported the creation of the 9/11 Commission and their recommendations, even though more then half were already recommended by the Gilmore Commission, I was incensed by this cavalier attitude. Along with my Chief of Staff, we pursued the operatives involved in Able Danger throughout the months of July and August. We identified five officials who confirmed the facts of Able Danger, as well as knowledge of massive data and materials tied to the effort. We identified an FBI agent who played a role in arranging meetings to share information on U.S. persons that were abruptly cancelled. We also identified a technician who did Able Danger analysis and an individual who admitted to destroying Able Danger data – up to 2.5 terabytes. This data contained information on U.S. persons with ties to terrorism that could have helped prevent 9-11 and possibly even be used to track terrorist movements today. The person who destroyed this data has also spoken about how Major General Lambert, the J3 at U.S. Special Operations Command, was extremely upset when he learned that his data had been destroyed without his knowledge or consent. On at least four occasions, I personally tried to brief the 9/11 Commissioners on: NOAH; integrative data collaboration capabilities; my frustration with intelligence stovepipes; and Al Qaeda analysis. However, I was never able to achieve more than a five-minute telephone conversation with Commissioner Tom Kean. On March 24, 2004, I also had my Chief of Staff personally hand deliver a document about LIWA, along questions for George Tenet to the Commission, but neither was ever used. [I would like to submit for the record.] Had the Commission been more thorough, I would have provided all of the leads that I recently pursued on my own. In the end I was ignored by the Commission. In fact, on the day the Commission provided the first brief for House Members in the Cannon Caucus Room, I attended and was the first to be recognized. I asked the Commission why they did not meet with Members who had worked intelligence and security issues prior to 9/11, and Lee Hamilton told me that "the Commission did not have time to meet with every Member who had information to share."

I have never alleged any wrong doing, conspiracy or cover-up. However, I have been bewildered by the response to Able Danger – both by the 9-11 Commission and the Pentagon.

Fundamental questions need to be answered – 1. Why was Able Danger a historically insignificant event even thought we knew that Al Qaeda was responsible for o 1993 Bombing on World Trade Center o Khobar Towers o Embassy Bombings in Africa o USS COLE 2. Who ordered the destruction of 2.5 terabytes of data about Al Qaeda and why? 3. Any why wasn’t the customer at SOCOM ever consulted or briefed? 4. Who stopped the meetings between the FBI and Able Danger personnel in September 2000 and why? 5. What was the extent of the 3 hour brief provided to General Shelton in January 2001 regarding Able Danger? 6. Why did the 9/11 Commission change their response several times when queried about Able Danger and attempt to spin Able Danger based on misinformation? 7. Why have threats been made to Able Danger witnesses who were simply telling their stories?

As it stands now, the 9/11 story has not been fully examined and told. The families of the victims and the American people deserve answers and we must not stop until we get them.

[markedmannerf]

Curst Weldon Able Danger ping!

[Tribune7]

Thanks.

[TBall]

BUMP for ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Washington Post, NY Times, LA Times ect ect....

[Imperialist]

The Brooklyn AQ cell was identified before the 1993 WTC bombing. Just ask Ronnie Bucca.... oh yeah, we can't, he died on 9/11/01. RIP. Brave man, huge loss. We knew what these AQ cells were doing as far back as 1988. Able Danger is the tip of a massive iceburg.

Never Forget.

[Spirited]

Go Curt, go.

This stuff stinks and the cover smells even worse.

[PGalt]

Thanks. BTTT!

[CyberAnt]

I will never forget Bill Clinton didn't have the stomach for national security and he played footsie with our enemies trying to just kick the can into the next presidency.

I will never forget Bill Clinton felt it was more important to have his personal dalliances in the oval office than it was protecting America from her enemies - WHICH WAS HIS SWORN and PRIMARY DUTY AS PRESIDENT!

I keep pictures in my screen saver which constantly remind me of the horror so many people experienced that day.

BILL CLINTON (AND HIS WHOLE ADMINISTRATION) LIED - AND 3000 AMERICANS DIED - I WILL NEVER FORGET!!

[cope85]

What is it going to take to get us out of the United Nations?


Why would you leave the security of America up to the United Nations.

I personally believe that the oil for food program money help finance the terriorist that did 9/11 in New York

[Burf]

I found some information that I'm not sure and would like anybody's take on it.
On Oct 20, the 911 Public Discourse Project held a press conference. The attendees were Tom Kean, Lee Hamilton, Slade Gordon, Tim Roemer, and Richard Ben Veniste, all of the 9-11 Commission. The title was Recommendations on Reforming Government Institutions. The members went through how different parts of the govt such as the Executive Branch, the Congress, the FBI, CIA and others are implementing 911 Commission recommendations.
At about 54 minutes into the press conference, a reporter asks Mr Kean if any of the members had read Louis Freeh's book and what they thought. Kean said he would read it if someone would give/loan him a copy. Then comes my point of this post. At 54:45 on the video, available on CSPAN website, Mr Hamilton comes out of the blue with (and I am paraphrasing) We spent a lot of time on Able Danger. We did not find a single bit of documentary evidence about Atta. He then said Slade had submitted a statement on Able Danger. I looked in both the 911 Report and the 911 Public Discourse Project website and found no such statement by Gordon. It seemed strange to me cause the conversation went from Freeh's book to Able Danger. It was like somebody asked what time it was and the answer was chocolate ice cream.
I dunno. First they never heard of Able Danger, then they spent a lotta time on it. No documents, boxes full of documents. I dunno.
Maybe the lovely and gracious Mrs Burf is right: I am loosing my marbles. I just thinks somebody is lying to me and a lot of other folks.

[Burf]

I hope this has not been previously posted. I did a check and did not come up with anything.

[upchuck]

Weldon cojones alert!

[Imperialist]

"BILL CLINTON (AND HIS WHOLE ADMINISTRATION) LIED - AND 3000 AMERICANS DIED"(CyberAnt)

That'd make a great chant.

Soon, the pin will be properly stuck to the DONKEY for what happened that horrible day of September 11, 2001.

[jeremiah]

bookmarked for later

[nopardons]

bttt

[no dems]

Curt Weldon for President in '08.

[no dems]

Some people think this could be bigger than Watergate.

[backhoe]

Able Danger, 9-11 Report, Gorelick, and so much more...

Click the picture...

[beyond the sea]

The families of the victims and the American people deserve answers and we must not stop until we get them.

I want to know where the darling 'Jersey Girls' are on this......... especially that little precious and loquacious, Kristin Brietweiser.

Those four girls' lips were flapping in the wind against Bush for days on end. Now when the truth is apparent to anyone listening or who is half aware, they are strangely silent.

Come on cutie-pie, Kristin, speak up and do your husband's memory the justice it deserves.

It is the right thing to do.

[Calpernia]

bttt