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FBI 'Ignored Leads'
BBC ^ | September 14, 2001 | BBC Staff

Posted on 09/14/2001 9:36:35 AM PDT by t-shirt

FBI 'ignored leads'

Reports say warnings could have stopped the tragedy

Friday, 14 September, 2001, 13:31 GMT 14:31 UK

The German authorities have rejected reports that an Iranian man detained in Hanover could have helped avert Tuesday's devastating attacks on New York and Washington. However, a French-Algerian identified by the French media as a radical with "a profile similar to the kamikaze pilots" is being held for further questioning by US investigators after his arrest last month.

The attackers and the background to the attacks are not and were not known to him German federal prosecutor

French media have claimed that the FBI failed to follow up information supplied by French secret services that the man, who was taking flying lessons in Boston, had links to Osama Bin Laden.

The German federal prosecutor said on Friday that the Iranian - who telephoned the White House warning of attacks that would "change the world order" - had no knowledge of Tuesday's attack.

"His warnings to US authorities were limited to vague claims about danger to world peace and the world order; he could not cite details," a statement from the federal prosecutor's office said.

"The attackers and the background to the attacks are not and were not known to him," it added.

The White House hung up when the man said he was in detention, but he was interviewed by German authorities and US intelligence services in the wake of the attack.

Soldier 'sans frontieres'

The French newspaper, Liberation, reported on Friday that the French-Algerian arrested in Boston was due to have been deported, but was now being held "to check any possible links with the fanatic pilots".

A French-Algerian believed to be connected to Bin Laden was arrested in Boston

On Thursday a correspondent in Washington for the Europe 1 radio station said the man had been arrested with comprehensive documentation about Boeing aircraft and flight manuals.

"He belongs to the Pakistani-Afghan network that trains Osama Bin Laden's soldiers, his best soldiers, soldiers without borders," the correspondent said, adding that all this information had been passed by French investigators to their American colleagues.

However, the US authorities did not follow up the lead, he said: "The investigation that might have prevented everything was not launched."

The 31-year-old man, who was born in St Jean de Luz, had been living in Britain before going to Boston.

Border watch

Time magazine has also reported that two of the suspected terrorists were on an FBI border watch list, but had nonetheless slipped into the United States.

The two men, who were associated with Islamic Jihad, were on the American Airlines flight which crashed into the Pentagon.

The CIA now believes the first warnings about a "spectacular" act of terror against the US came as early as June.

"A lot of this reporting we had in the summer that gained our attention and had us concerned, but wasn't specific, could have been tied to this," an intelligence officer told Time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

German police confirm Iranian deportee phoned warnings online.ie 14 Sep 2001

Irish Examiner Newspaper

German police have confirmed an Iranian man phoned US police from his deportation cell to warn of the planned attack on the World Trade Centre.

The Lower Saxony Justice Ministry has confirmed the man warned of the impending series of terrorist attacks, but had not been believed.

Spokesman Frank Woesthoff said the man phoned America "several times", but refused to give further details.

He said the US Secret Service had not told the ministry about the calls received from the Langenhagen prison until after the attacks.

"I cannot say anything about the man and the ministry does not know the content of the conversations," he added.

The Hanover daily newspaper Neue Presse reported the 29-year-old was dismissed as mentally unstable when he gave the warning of a terrorist attack to occur this week.

The ministry would not reveal when the calls had been made.

Sources name hijacking suspects

September 14, 2001 Posted: 11:57 a.m. EDT (1557 GMT)

Linda Barrett bows her head as she observes a moment of silence Friday.

(CNN) -- CNN has learned from federal law enforcement sources the names used by 18 hijackers who authorities believe commandeered four commercial airliners on Tuesday in a coordinated attack on two renowned symbols of American power.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed a resolution authorizing the president to use force to retaliate against the terrorist attacks. The vote was 98-0.

The suspected hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 11, which hit the north tower of the World Trade Center, were Walid Al Shehri, Wail Alsheri aka Waleed Alsheri, Mohammad Atta, Aabdul Alomari and Satam Sugami.

Aboard United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the south tower of the World Trade Center, the suspected hijackers were Marawn Alshehhi, Fayez Ahmed, Mohald Alshehri, Hamza Al Ghamdi and Ahmed Al Ghamdi.

Those believed to be the hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which hit the Pentagon, were Khalid Almihdhar, Majed Moqued, Nawaf Al Hazmi and Salem Al Hazmi.

CORRECTION

We would like to correct a report that appeared on CNN. Based on information from multiple law enforcement sources, CNN reported that Adnan Bukhari and Ameer Bukhari of Vero Beach, Florida, were suspected to be two of the pilots who crashed planes into the World Trade Center. CNN later learned that Adnan Bukhari is still in Florida, where he was questioned by the FBI. We are sorry for the misinformation. A federal law enforcement source now tells CNN that Bukhari passed an FBI polygraph and is not considered a suspect. Through his attorney, Bukhari says that he is helping authorities. Ameer Bukhari died in a small plane crash last year. (Amazing! Suddenly he's no longer a suspect!)

The suspected hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in rural Pennsylvania, were Ahmed Al Haznawi, Ahmed Alnami, Ziad Jarrah and Saeed Alghamdi.

Spellings are as they appear on federal documents and may vary from other spellings used.

Law enforcement sources told CNN that they are checking the names against lists of people associated with known terrorist groups -- and believe the lead group in Tuesday's attacks may have been Egyptian Islamic Jihad.

The chief of that group, the sources said, is a top lieutenant of suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden's group, Al Qaeda, is an umbrella group that reportedly coordinates the actions of smaller organizations.

As President Bush prepared to see for himself the devastation inflicted on lower Manhattan, the Defense Department asked that 50,000 reservists join the military effort that follows the coordinated terrorist attacks four days ago on the United States, CNN has learned. (

Bush designated Friday a day of "National Prayer and Remembrance," and asked that Americans head to their places of worship at lunchtime to pray for victims and their families. The president planned to attend a service at the National Cathedral in Washington before traveling to New York. Former Presidents Clinton, Ford and Carter were also expected to attend.

The Defense Department will seek authority to call up the military reservists for "homeland defense." Officials at the Pentagon tell CNN the callup would reinforce warplane patrols of American skies to defend military bases and any other possible targets against attack. Governors in 31 states have already called up 10,000 National Guard troops.

A pair of hijacked commercial airliners plowed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center on Tuesday, followed a half an hour later by another hijacked jet that hit the Pentagon in Washington. A fourth jet hit the ground in rural Pennsylvania.

Latest developments

•By a 96-0 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a $40 billion emergency spending measure to combat terrorism and help recovery efforts in New York and Washington. The House, as it was voting on the measure, paused midway and will resume voting following National Day of Prayer and Remembrance services.

•All three New York City airports reopened late Friday morning.

•Search and rescue efforts continued in both Washington and New York, where bad weather had forced a temporary suspension of the operation.

•The list of people missing in New York is approaching 5,000; in Washington nearly 200 people are believed dead. All 45 people aboard the jet that crashed in Pennsylvania died.

•Both the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the hijacked jet that hit the Pentagon were recovered overnight, officials told CNN. On Thursday, searchers found the flight data recorder from the Pennsylvania crash.

•Sources at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority told CNN Friday that Reagan National Airport -- located just across the Potomac River from the Pentagon -- is expected to be closed "for the time being."

•The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a Carnival Cruise Line ship off the coast of Miami early Friday and detained two people who authorities determined have a "history of hijacking." According to a law enforcement source, the ship was boarded at 3 a.m. after authorities checked the passenger list. The two were to be handed over to the FBI when the ship was to return to port, about 5 a.m. ET. •The FBI is searching an area at the Thunderbird Motel in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, as part of the investigation surrounding the attacks. Authorities would not release any details about the nature of the search other than to describe it as "pursuing one of many leads into the potential hijackers or those who may have assisted them." •At least eight people were arrested Thursday at airports in New York because of new security measures -- including four people who were seen at one airport before Tuesday's terrorist attacks. All but one were later released. Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said there is "no evidence" that anyone has been involved in a second wave of attacks like Tuesday's. (Full story) •The Pentagon on Friday was expected to hold several multi-religious services honoring the memory of the attack victims of the Pentagon plane crash. Ecumenical prayer services are scheduled as well as those for Christians, Protestants and Jews. •A fire flared up again Thursday night at the Pentagon, the flames shooting out of the top of the section that crumpled after a hijacked jet plowed into it Tuesday. •Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told CNN's Larry King that any future U.S. military action against those individuals, groups or nations involved in Tuesday's terrorist attacks would be "self-defense." "I don't think of it as retaliation. I don't think of it as punishment," Rumsfeld said. "The United States has every right to defend itself. There is no question that Osama bin Laden has been -- for many years now, by his own pronouncements -- anti-West, anti-U.S., anti- a number of regimes in the Arab world."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
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To: aristeides
I think the US should sell more crypto phones to Syria. Except these phone should be ones that dont work so good, if you know what I mean. Eventually it will be impossible to figure out which crypto phones are the good ones and will shut down this mode of communication.
21 posted on 09/14/2001 11:46:57 AM PDT by Dialup Llama
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To: mommadooo3
Do you have any info or articles that discuss that the terrorists had infiltrated the CIA, etc?
-- mommadooo3

No, there may be something on FR but not that I have seen. Such would not surprise me at all though.

(You may want to search google or dogpile with all the words: terrorists,infiltrated, CIA, and freerepublic)

We do however have stories that show the CIA and FBI ignored warnings including:

An Iranian man living in Germany who tried his best and managed to call both the White House and the CIA to warn them of an imminent attack.

And THe French Secret Service warned the USA of evidence of serious threats of an attack. However again the US Government decided not to do anything to go after the people, investigate the matter or to warn airport security or tighten airport security. There are rerports that some important brass at the Pentagon was warned the day before and canceled plane trips.

Also there is plenty of evidence that the FBI knew that bin Laden had heavy ties to Boston and no actions were taken to shut down or deport anyone there tied to terrorist groups or bin Laden.

Please read all of my threads since the bombing.

22 posted on 09/14/2001 11:56:05 AM PDT by t-shirt
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To: t-shirt
Thanks for all the news articles on one thread.
23 posted on 09/14/2001 12:21:39 PM PDT by Fred Mertz
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To: GhostSoldier
You might want to give Oscar Meyer a call about purchasing that tonnage of bologna.

Tell me how I am wrong. Do you believe that it was known for certain ahead of time that the American people would rally behind the war effort? Do you believe that our crippled navy's ability to turn the tide against the Japanese at the Battle of Midway was a foregone conclusion?

24 posted on 09/14/2001 12:28:08 PM PDT by Inyokern
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Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: mommadooo3 mickie FReethesheeples JudyB1938 Uncle Bill archy freedomnews freedom007 Patriot76 brat b
Check out my other threads about attacks:

Iranian Man in Germany Warned of Attack (WasAllowed to Ring WhiteHouse &CIA,Wasn't TakenSerious)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba1c69709c5.htm

U.S. Gets Promise of Pakistani Cooperation
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba1c3340837.htm

How the World Trade Center Fell (Deadly Mistakes Made "I Would Have Given Order To Get Out!"Expert)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba1b16f79fa.htm

Ashcroft: 18 Hijackers Involved in Attack (How Could So Many CarryOut Plot Undetected?ClintonHelp?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba141a25556.htm

(5)Suspects Caught Crashes on Camera (They Watched Crashes & Celebrated, Also Some Suspects Abroad)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba0e1b83f28.htm

FBI Looks at bin Laden's Strong Ties to Boston (Why Didn't They Look & Act Before?!!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba02db8669d.htm

48 Iraqi & MidEasterns Caugh At Tightened Mexican Border Following U.S. Terrorist Attacks! My Title
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba00b391f72.htm

ABC NEWS REPORTS 12 Plane HighJackers/Suspects Identified (Dead) & Arrest Warrants Issued For Others
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b9f8fbd7b5f.htm

Already Weak Airlines Stand to Lose Billions
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b9f18ae602c.htm

FBI Seizes 911 Tape (He Heard Some Sort of Explosion, Was It Shot Down Before Reaching Camp David?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b9ee9762979.htm

B-25&767 Hit WTC,3 Planes Hit Pentagon, Bomb Near WhiteHouse,PittsBHit,Who Coordinated?,10000Die
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b9e390647f1.htm

And this related one I posted before the terror attacks:

Breaking: US Congress Subpoena Orders Ashcroft To Release Clinton Evidence on Sept. 11, 2001

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b99d9b10b76.htm

26 posted on 09/14/2001 12:44:40 PM PDT by t-shirt
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To: Fred Mertz
See post # 26 where I listed the FR addresses of all of the threads I have posted concerning the mass attacks.

One of them includes over 50 different stories, though I haven't counted actually how many.

27 posted on 09/14/2001 12:55:28 PM PDT by t-shirt
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To: aristeides
I don't see what you are talking about on that website.
28 posted on 09/14/2001 1:23:34 PM PDT by t-shirt
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To: t-shirt
bump for later read!
29 posted on 09/14/2001 1:33:07 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: t-shirt
thanks for the heads up.
30 posted on 09/14/2001 2:11:10 PM PDT by mickie
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To: t-shirt
At 12:16 PM on Sept. 11, waiting posted on this thread, http://www.capitolgrilling.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002036&p=4, this message:

Jut got word from a close Intel source. A field office of the FBI was called about this very thing yesterday, including cities - did not take it seriously. The info was being passed on by one who overheard and saw. I can't say which FBI office.

31 posted on 09/14/2001 2:18:11 PM PDT by aristeides (demosthenes@olg.com)
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To: Dialup Llama
Your phoney phone idea reminds me of the medfly solution, of introducing sterile males into the population.

Luke 22:36 (KJV) --Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Got sword? (M1 Garand)

No mercy, no quarter!
May the jihadists burn in hell for eternity!
Help speed them on their way!

32 posted on 09/14/2001 2:31:32 PM PDT by TERMINATTOR
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To: t-shirt
Casimiro Madarang, chief of the immigration bureau at Cebu airport, said all had recently been in Pakistan an average of five months, which he considered to be enough time for terrorism training, so they were barred as potential security threats.

Seems like the Phillipines have a good handle on their immigration. Why not us?

33 posted on 09/14/2001 2:57:10 PM PDT by Dialup Llama
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To: t-shirt
AMERICA UNITED bump
34 posted on 09/14/2001 7:57:30 PM PDT by JudyB1938
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To: elfman2
The only thing more useless than an alarm that never goes off is an alarm that ALWAYS goes off.
35 posted on 09/14/2001 8:00:09 PM PDT by Poohbah
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: Black Jade, aristeides
Senate OKs FBI Net Spying By Declan McCullagh

12:55 p.m. Sep. 14, 2001 PDT

WASHINGTON -- FBI agents soon may be able to spy on Internet users legally without a court order.

On Thursday evening, two days after the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, the Senate approved the "Combating Terrorism Act of 2001," which enhances police wiretap powers and permits monitoring in more situations.

Stay Safe, RT

37 posted on 09/15/2001 7:55:01 AM PDT by rubbertramp
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To: rubbertramp
I felt that Internet privacy would be one of the first targets to tumble. I didn't want to say so a few days ago, for fear of being labeled a kook. Of course, one could argue that with Carnivore, Internet privacy was already gone.
38 posted on 09/15/2001 8:24:42 AM PDT by Fred Mertz
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: Black Jade
Next 'big' question...did 'dubya' know about the cia being possibly involved?
40 posted on 09/16/2001 7:31:41 AM PDT by mommadooo3
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