Posted on 09/20/2005 6:25:39 PM PDT by 4mor3
September 20, 2005 Pentagon Blocks Testimony at Senate Hearing on Terrorist By PHILIP SHENON WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 - The Pentagon said today that it had blocked a group of military officers and intelligence analysts from testifying at an open Congressional hearing about a highly classified military intelligence program that, the officers have said, identified a ringleader of the Sept. 11 attacks as a potential terrorist more than a year before the attacks.
The announcement came a day before the officers and intelligence analysts had been scheduled to testify about the program, known as Able Danger, at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Bryan Whitman, a Defense Department spokesman, said in a statement that open testimony about the program "would not be appropriate - we have expressed our security concerns and believe it is simply not possible to discuss Able Danger in any great detail in an open public forum." He offered no other detail on the Pentagon's reasoning in blocking the testimony.
Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who is chairman of the committee, said he was surprised by the Pentagon's decision because "so much of this has already been in the public domain, and I think that the American people need to know what happened here."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"The answer is painfully obvious, I'm afraid."
I agree.
The 9/11 Commission story is its own train wreck, and too metaphysical for journalists to handle. But in a weird way I also still have faith in a journalist or two flipping Bergler, by bringing him info they are going to print regardless of his comments but using it to pry more out of him. Remember, too, that Woodstein reported Grand Jury testimony, presumably closed, too, right? There is a story in the Bergler mess, and I have faith a big splash will hit in a few weeks. Such matters take time. Digging hurts and ruins personal relationships; but a Pulitzer-scent is hard to resist when you're young and hungry.
This is huge! Shocking and very upsetting. Reprehensible!
This decision to block open testimony is very frightening. Announced at the last minute, but I bet it was made a long time back, in fact I bet the Pentagon never intended there to be an open hearing. Rumsfeld's office had to be involved in the decision.
I think this cover-up involves Clinton and Bush administration. The Clinton administration killed Able Danger. The Bush Administration protected Clinton. The 9-ll Commission covered for both of them. "For our own good", I'm sure all parties would proclaim.
The Pentagon dismantled Able Danger because the Clinton aministration put American privacy concerns over national security. Pentagon lawyers were Clinton connected.
Maybe it's understandable the 9-ll Commission didn't include Able Danger in their Report, because they didn't want to expose our country's incompetence in identifying terrorists. And of course some members wanted to protect the Clinton administration. (Bush has proven pretty concerned with protecting Clinton on other issues, not a stretch to think it would include this as well. )
Weldon's persistence has thrown a monkey wrench into the big plan in place, to pretend Able Danger never existed. Weldon and all the willing whistle blowers are in danger of being mocked, discredited, and maybe worse.
If Spector is really interested in getting to the bottom of this, he will supoena the 9-ll Commission members and key staffers to testify under oath, what they know about Able Danger and the decisions to keep it out of their Report.
Rummy must agree with his spokesman....wonder why? How about a closed-door hearing.
Able Danger. Pentagon want closed sessions. Cat will not get out of the bag. So the attack dogs must just chew on old bones.
Who do you mean by "they?" President Bush is the Commander-in-Chief. The Pentagon is under his command, not the other way around. Only one person can ultimately "allow" the Pentagon to block the testimony and that person is President Bush.
>>>I am not counting on journalists on this one as we are talking Clintons reign.
How about a blogger?
Thanks for post. I know most of us would like to see the whole Clintoon family hanging from the lanyards by their necks, but it is not going to happen. The Pentagon will probably win their case for non-public discloser on grounds that methods being used by the DIA would provide to much ammo for world wide terrorist to analyse how they must change their methods.
In either case, it would appear all we shall see if a repeat of the Warren Commission. Some things must stay under wraps.
For those that feel GWB's watch are at fault we must be carefull with all the time lines thus far made public as to when the DIA AD team knew certain things, when they approached the FBI etc.. They are all pre-GWB.
Whoops. Sorry I was supposed to post reply to 4mor3.
So mystifying ......... and the price of Reynolds Wrap is gonna keep going up up up. What/who is being protected and WHY????
You have a point...but it makes me really mad when they have those idiot 9/11 Commission people on and the practically call Weldon and Lt. Col. Schaeffer liars...
I really think THEY are in a CYA mode...
Thanks for post. I know most of us would like to see the whole Clintoon family hanging from the lanyards by their necks, but it is not going to happen. The Pentagon will probably win their case for non-public discloser on grounds that methods being used by the DIA would provide to much ammo for world wide terrorist to analyse how they must change their methods.
In either case, it would appear all we shall see if a repeat of the Warren Commission. Some things must stay under wraps.
For those that feel GWB's watch are at fault we must be carefull with all the time lines thus far made public as to when the DIA AD team knew certain things, when they approached the FBI etc.. They are all pre-GWB.
I do hope you are correct. Guess time will tell.
How about a blogger?
There you go.
How can naming the Pentagon lawyers who ordered this info not to be shared be considered National Security? How can the staffer responsible for the 9/11 Commission not hearing about this be considered national security. I am not as concerned about the operations as who did not do their job and why they have not been held accountable, lost their job and pension.
I disagree with everyone who is bashing Rumsfeld and the President and assigning every evil scenario and motive possible to assign to them - AT THIS POINT!
You are jumping the gun.
It is wrong to do so. Our enemies, both foreign and domestic, must be laughing their heads off and cheering in wild glee. Shame, for shame on all of you. I am ashamed on behalf of FReeRepublic.
You all love to pretend that you know just exactly what is going on and why and who is to blame. The real truth is, you don't. You can claim it 'til the cows come home. The plain 'ol down home truth is, you don't know beans.
You are just lashing out. It sickens me. Good night.
Good point. I'm collapsing ambitious bloggers with young journalists. Yes, the next Drudge can be made on Able-Danger revelations, and riches when he/she then calls for donations-support to keep the Web site going. My point is that Able-Danger is now on automatic pilot, and precisely because Specter has just now consecrated the witnesses with "credibility." What else does an ambitious journalist or blogger need to devote waking hours to this story and little else? Keep in mind that no one with the prestige of the Chair of the Judiciary Committee had heretofore consecrated the whole Able-Danger deal. Now this bridge has been crossed, and there is no going back. Pessimists who see conspiracies everywhere, including or not including our beloved President, need to think this through more. There is NO reason to be gloomy at this point now, none whatsoever.
FWIW. Jerry Doyle is talking AD now on WBAP. Pretty good.
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