Posted on 01/16/2009 3:26:46 AM PST by tobyhill
Your inaccurate swipe at my record ("President Gulliver's Lawyer," Review & Outlook, Jan. 10) demands a response.
First, the March 1995 memo I wrote about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act did not set policy for the Justice Department. It resolved a particular problem in the WorId Trade Center bombing case, which was that the U.S. Attorney wanted to use a FISA warrant to tap individuals who had already been the subject of criminal wiretaps -- something that had never been done before and which the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence Policy feared the FISA court would not permit.
I was asked by the U.S. Attorney and the Office of Intelligence Policy to sign an agreement that they had negotiated to permit this extraordinary step, in the hopes that if I vouched for its compliance with FISA, the FISA Court would permit the arrangement. The memo I signed was an aggressive use of the FISA power not, as you suggest, one that shrunk from utilizing all of the government's power to protect against terrorism.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
April-May 1995: FBI Learns KSM Has Been in US and Is Planning to Come Back for Flight Training
“The FBI interrogates Bojinka plotter Abdul Hakim Murad and learns that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (KSM) has been in the US and is planning to return for flight training.”
June 1996-April 1997: Highly Trusted Informant Exposes Al-Qaeda Secrets to US
“Jamal al-Fadl, an al-Qaeda operative from al-Qaeda’s first meeting in the late 1980s until 1995, tells the US everything he knows about al-Qaeda.”
Early 1998: CIA Ignores Ex-Agent’s Warning KSM Is ‘Going to Hijack Some Planes,’ Visiting Germany
“KSM (9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed) and Islambouli are experts in hijacking commercial planes. He tells Baer that KSM “is going to hijack some planes.” Further, he says that KSM has moved to the Czech Republic, and has also traveled to Germany to meet bin Laden associates there. In early 1998 Baer sends this information to a friend in the CIA Counterterrorist Center, who forwards the information to his superiors. Baer doesn’t hear back from the CIA. He says, “There was no interest.”
“February 22, 1998: Bin Laden Expands Religious Edict against US and Allies”
Calls for the killing of innocent Americans on a massive scale
August 12-25, 1998: Suspect Claims ‘Extensive Network of Al-Qaeda Sleeper Agents’ Is Planning ‘Big Attack’ Inside US
“Mohamed al-Owhali is arrested and immediately begins confessing his role in the recent al-Qaeda bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. He reveals to the FBI what an FBI agent will later call “blue-chip” information.”
December 4, 1998: Clinton Warned ‘Bin Laden Preparing to Hijack US Aircraft’ Inside US
“On December 4, 1998, an item in President Clinton’s Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB) is titled, “Bin Laden Preparing to Hijack US Aircraft and Other Attacks.” The PDB says “Bin Laden and is allies are preparing for attacks in the US, including an aircraft hijacking...”
1999: British Intelligence Warns Al-Qaeda Plans to Use Aircraft, Possibly as Flying Bombs
“MI6, the British intelligence agency, gives a secret report to liaison staff at the US embassy in London. The reports states that al-Qaeda has plans to use “commercial aircraft” in “unconventional ways,””
March 1999: Germany Provides CIA Hijacker’s Name and Telephone Number
“German intelligence gives the CIA the first name of hijacker Marwan Alshehhi and his telephone number in the United Arab Emirates. The Germans learned the information from surveillance of suspected Islamic militants. They tell the CIA that Alshehhi has been in contact with suspected al-Qaeda members Mohammed Haydar Zammar and Mamoun Darkazanli.”
September 1999: US Report Predicts Spectacular Attack on Washington
I would love for the Republicans to grow a spine and hold this woman accountable. She never took any responsibility for her role in enabling the 9/11 attack. It’s outrageous that she would be involved in this new administration.
Dear Jamie,
Yes, it is possible for someone to be BOTH a terrorist AND engage in criminal activity AT THE SAME TIME.
FYI
Whooda thunk it?
Hey Jamie:
You have the blood of all the 9/11 victims on your hands.
Now go find the nearest staircase and fling yourself down it.
My fear is that she’ll be our next FBI director when O dumps Mueller.
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