Two key witnesses in the terror attack probe were found with a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe" and documents linked to a money launderer for Osama Bin Laden, sources told the Daily News.Posted on 09/22/2001 2:05:18 AM PDT by kattracks
Two key witnesses in the terror attack probe were found with a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe" and documents linked to a money launderer for Osama Bin Laden, sources told the Daily News.
The witnesses were identified as Saudi nationals who tried to board a flight from Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles two days after the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack, a source familiar with the federal investigation confirmed. Their names remain secret.
The two are among a group of 10 material witnesses now in custody in the FBI's probe of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The two men showed up at Kennedy Airport on Sept. 13 seeking to board a Los Angeles-bound flight with tickets dated Sept. 11, the day of the attack.
Authorities at the airport grew suspicious because their tickets were backdated and because all four of the flights that were hijacked flew out of Eastern airports and were bound for the West Coast.
The Daily News has learned that authorities found two pieces of evidence that prosecutors believed could link the two Saudis to the terror plot.
One of the men had a computer file labeled "killpresidentbush.exe," said a source familiar with the investigation.
The source would not describe the contents of the computer file.
The other man had documents with references to a man the FBI has identified as a money launderer for Bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire who has called for Muslims to attack American civilians.
Investigators were taking the potentially explosive evidence very seriously.
The "killpresidentbush" reference was of particular significance because of death threats that were made against the President on Sept. 11 — the day of the attacks.
The White House revealed afterward it had received information that the terrorists' ultimate goal was to kill President Bush.
A death threat was called in to the White House that morning, saying the plotters were out to get Air Force One. The caller provided secret information that caused grave concern about the President's safety.
In fact, the threat was taken so seriously, White House officials say, that Bush crisscrossed the country in Air Force One, going from Florida to Louisiana to Nebraska before returning to the White House.
In addition, it is believed the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania may have been on the way to attack the White House or Air Force One.
Neither of the men in custody here has been charged with any crimes.
The FBI and Manhattan U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White wouldn't comment on the status of the investigation yesterday.
The number of material witnesses grew this week from four to 10 as the New York-based Joint Terrorist Task Force fanned out across the globe chasing thousands of leads — and seeking more than 200 individuals for questioning.
So far, more than 80 individuals have been detained, including 35 who are being held on noncriminal immigration violations.
The task force has focused much of its energy on the 10 material witnesses in custody because agents believe each has pertinent information regarding the terrorism hijack plot.
They also view them as a threat to flee.
In other developments, federal authorities here arrested a Middle Eastern man yesterday with fake pilot documents who arrived at Kennedy Airport on Wednesday on a flight from Spain.
Wael Abdel Rahman Kishk had a bogus pilot's certificate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which has been linked to at least one of the 19 suspected hijackers.
Agents also found two fake Federal Aviation Administration medical certificates pilots must possess to fly and an Egypt Airlines pilot's shirt, according to a complaint filed by Acting Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Alan Vinegrad.
Under questioning, Kishk admitted he wasn't a pilot and had the documents and shirt "to impress his friends," the complaint alleged.
Kishk was held without bail. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Friesen would not say if Kishk is linked to the terror probe.
Public defender Michael Schneider said Kishk denies having any connection to the terror attack and insists that he was coming to the U.S. to attend college.
The FBI also has turned to unusual sources in its quest for those responsible for last week's attacks.
A lawyer says the bureau is trying to talk with Ramzi Yousef, an admitted terrorist convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Bernard Kleinman said he has been barred from speaking with his client, who is jailed for life in the Supermax prison in Florence, Colo.
This week, Kleinman said he asked a Second Circuit U.S. appeals judge to allow him a telephone conversation with Yousef. The judge has not ruled on the request.
It siphons off the manpower of investigators, chasing after purposely dropped "leads." The small fry sacrifice themselves while the big fish get away quietly. They've got plenty more people to waste and who are willing to get wasted.
I think we will never know for sure. What I know is that "the purpose of terror is to terrorize". I can't think of a better way to terrorize AND destabalize a gooberment than by producing multiple successful attacks on the same day,with each horror being worse than the one before it. Imagine the effect if the first plane hits the Pentagram,and about the time people are beginning to adapt to and accept the fact that this has happened and think it's all over,another plane crashes into either the WH or the Capital building? Then imagine the lack of faith we have in our gooberment whan a nuke goes off and takes out DC a few hours later,just when we all start to imagine it is all FINALLY over.
Like I said,Bush flying all the way to Nebraska is what makes me think this. Well,that along with the fact that I was initially shocked the terrorists using airliners instead of nukes to start with.
Good. It shows we are moving forward.
However, I'd still need to see actual evidence before I believe they're THAT stupid. I just hate to see more fuel poured on the fire.
I apologize if I came down a little hard. I certainly wouldn't deny you your right to speculate. I guess we're all just a bit on edge. (I know I am).
Don't get me started on Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Mars). :o)
BTW, I've enjoyed your posts since your mutiny with the other L.commers. You have really added a lot to FR. Glad you're here! ;o)
I see you're in Springfield. My husband graduated from Annandale High School, then Va. Tech! Small world!
So what you're saying is Marty Meehan was just blowing hot air when he said that explanation was just PR?
I'm shocked.
Not.
This was part of it,too. I watched that on tv,and Cheney said they didn't even ask him,they just came in his office and physically picked him up and headed for the blast bunker. He said his feet only hit the floor sometimes,and they did their explaining to him on the way underground. This ain't how the SS acts when they think there MIGHT be a casual threat.
There was also the evacuation of the WH,as well as the helicopters taking Hassert and others out of DC and to underground command posts. They don't do this for something like crashing airliners.
After seeing a LOT of people I THOUGHT were fairly rational and intelligent spend the last week screaming for us to nuke every Moslem country on the planet and kill every Moslem,I no longer underestimate the stupidity of anyone. Especially not the "I hate America!" crowd of Americans.
I just hate to see more fuel poured on the fire.
I DAMN SURE want to see more speculation about who are the terrorists that we are facing. If everybody wants to focus entirely on Islamatic fundamentalists,this leaves the field wide open for and maybe even INCREASES the chances of our own home-grown terrorists striking in the hope it would get blamed on the Moslems. I'm not just talking about the "I hate whitey and America!" black Muslims,I'm also talking about groups of primariy rich whites who have been educated past their levels of understanding,like those losers in "Earth First". There sure as hell ain't no shortage of fools out there,and we need to be aware of and watching all of them.
Think Bush will go after them?
Yes but they removed the "Everyone" group and gave "Authenticated Users" read access only. They then set auditing on.
Bull. Iraq doesn't have those capabilities either.
Instead, look for a country that had lots of access into the prior administration
Look for a country that we know for a fact has stolen lots of the US's high-tech secrets
Look for a country that is flush with cash, from all their exports to us
Look for a country that would benefit from our being entangled in a long-running conflict with the Muslim world, where we would not have the resources free to interfere in their designs
Oy veh. I feel safe now! NOT
This guy makes sense.
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