I wish we had more people like Curt Weldon in high offices. He is the only one who seems intent on getting to the bottom of this and without any PC issues, either. He mentions both administration being at fault. I hope this whole thing comes out for full view of the public.
I'm about 28 minutes through it & it's excellent. Thanks for posting it!
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=uri:2005-11-10T003159Z_01_FLE001897_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-ATTACKS-PENTAGON.xml&pageNumber=0&summit=
Pentagon probes treatment of 'Able Danger' officer
Wed Nov 9, 2005 7:32 PM ET
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon inspector general is investigating the Defense Intelligence Agency's treatment of an Army colonel who was the first to claim publicly that the government knew about four September 11 hijackers long before the 2001 attacks, officials said on Wednesday.
Among the issues under review is whether the DIA revoked the security clearance of Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer last September in retaliation for repeated comments he made in the media about a military intelligence team code-named Able Danger, sources familiar with the case said.
Revelations about Able Danger, a small data-mining operation that ended in 2000, have reignited debate about whether the United States could have prevented the attacks on New York and Washington that killed 3,000 people and prompted the U.S. war on terrorism.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the inspector general began reviewing Shaffer's case after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld received a written request on October 20 from Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services.
Shaffer and his attorney met with officials from the inspector general's office on Wednesday.
Shaffer came forward in August with claims that Able Danger had identified September 11 ringleader Mohamed Atta and three other hijackers as al Qaeda members in early 2000. But he said Pentagon lawyers prevented the team from warning the FBI.
Others associated with Able Danger, including the team's former leader, Navy Capt. Scott Phillpott, have since made similar statements. But an exhaustive Pentagon search of tens of thousands of documents and electronic files related to the operation failed to corroborate the claims.
Officials with House and Senate intelligence oversight committees have also said there is little substantiating evidence.
U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, a Pennsylvania Republican who has championed Able Danger and other data-mining projects, told reporters on Wednesday that Able Danger also uncovered evidence of a threat to U.S. interests in Yemen two days before the 2000 bombing of the Navy destroyer Cole, which killed 17 sailors.
Weldon, who attributed his information to Phillpott, said the Able Danger team passed along the warning through proper channels but no word of danger ever reached the Cole.
"They sent it up but they don't know what happened," Weldon said. "That's part of what needs to be investigated."
Meanwhile, Shaffer's attorneys say their client is in danger of losing his job because the DIA has accused him of obtaining a medal under false pretenses, improperly showing his military identification while drunk and stealing ink pens.
Shaffer's supporters, including Weldon, say the charges are trumped up.
Weldon and Shaffer attorney Mark Zaid both said the DIA recently returned Shaffer's personal effects from his office but mistakenly included several classified documents and another employee's mail.
"There are several inconsistencies between the DIA and LTC Shaffer concerning the facts," Hunter said in his letter to Rumsfeld. "The committee also has concerns with certain aspects of how the DIA has handled this matter."
Personally I prefer a criminal investigation versus some watered down Congressional/Commission styled hearing.
every freeper must watch this able danger story.
BUMP-the video is a must see. More new info.
Remember the name Ditter Snell.
bookmark
Man, this is personal for him. As it should be for all.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
He called Sandy Berger "What's his face!"
As in "maybe what was stolen by uh what's his face from the archives.... What's his name I forget it! (as he snaps fingers in air!)
PRICELESS
when did this press conference occur?
Curt Weldon Able Danger Video --This is excellent -and needs your ping list
i'm only 30m into it.
wow.
i wish i could elect a congressman like Curt Weldon.
could you imagine our gov even with just a handful of Curt Weldons?
mark.
i've never seen anything like that. especially from a congressman.
must watch is an understatement.
just damn is an understatement.
where's the effing media?????
100 signature since lunch today.
to those that watched and saw his comment regarding signatures, here is an update (found on the blog site):
DOBBS: Congressman, you are calling for a criminal investigation. Obviously, you're not going to receive a great deal of cooperation from the leadership, the Republican leadership in the House or the Senate.
You're a Republican, what kind of reaction are you getting as you go one on one with your fellow Congressman?
WELDON: Lou, the members of Congress want the facts to come out, both parties. I did a briefing this afternoon for members of Congress, we had dozens of their members and their staff show up.
And just within two hours Lou, today, I got 100 signatures. One hundred signatures from Republicans and Democrats across the country. Liberals and conservatives to Secretary Rumsfeld demanding that we allow these Able Danger military officers to testify in an open hearing.
I did watch the video and can't wait for my husband to come home and watch and listen to it.
Curt Weldon is a hero.
A true American.
A real Patriot.
He is not afraid to stand up and be the man he is.
He knows this is all wrong.
He knows a military person is being railroaded
He knows a lot and is NOT gonna be stopped.
He speaks the truth
He cares NOT if this ends up hurtiing his career
Like he said you move on
We need to stand behind this man 110% and support him all the way. Letters, calls, emails, faxes whatever way we can communicate with his office to offer support.
This courageous gentleman means business ladies and gentleman and he is NOT gonna stop until this is investigated.
What a refreshing human being. What a bright shining star in a sky of evil low lives.
God bless Curt Weldon. There may be hope left for our country after all.
bump
Ping to video.