Families vs. Harty 9/11 families speak out against the Consular Affairs nominee.

National Review Online ^ | Oct 31, 2002 | 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism

[mondonico]

October 29, 2002

Dear U.S. Senators,

When our loved ones died on September 11, we took solace in President Bush's determined leadership to aggressively wage the War on Terror. We want nothing less to honor the memory of our loved ones than the triumph of freedom over tyranny. It is in this spirit that we write to express our deep concern about the nomination of Maura Harty to become the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.

Reading the press accounts about Harty, there is little indication that she has the leadership of strength of character necessary to implement tough policies designed to screen out potential terrorists. The Wall Street Journal and other publications have reported that when she was in a position to take a tough stance against the tyrants in the Saudi royal family, Ms. Harty chose instead to coddle them — at the expense of American parents seeking the return of their children.

Ms. Harty was also a top deputy at Consular Affairs when most of the terrorists received visas. She wasn't an innocent bystander during that time, though. Ms. Harty was intimately involved in forming the open-door policies exploited by the terrorists, such as Visa Express — the program that let all Saudis, including three of the terrorists, submit their visa applications to private Saudi travel agents. It was because of these policies — that Ms. Harty helped implement — that the GAO found that at least 15 of the 19 terrorists received visas that should have been issued under the law.

What we find most disturbing, though, is Ms. Harty's refusal to review the visa applications of the terrorists who murdered our loved ones. Her refusal can only be construed as an act of intentional disrespect to the victims of 9/11 — and of disregard for preventing future terrorist attacks.

If Ms. Harty had reviewed the terrorists' visa applications, she would have understood why one former consular officer said that issuing those visas amounted to "criminal negligence." Most of the forms did not even contain basic information such as an exact U.S. destination or the name and address of an employer or school — yet they were all issued visas anyway.

Consular Affairs desperately needs reform aimed at keeping out terrorists who could carry out another 9/11. The only way to make sure that our loved ones did not die in vain is to have people of the highest caliber safeguarding our nation. Ms. Harty does not fit that description.

Yours truly,

Bill Doyle, Executive Committee of 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism

Peter Gadiel, Chairman of the 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism Visa Investigation Subcommittee

[MoGalahad]

Good for the 911 survivors!! They are taking a stand against those who would sell us all down the river for their own personal gain.

[Whilom]

Consular Affairs has certainly been a great threat to America by being of great assistance to those who would destroy our liberties. Perhaps only INS should rank higher in the list of supporting cast for al Qaeda. Carping won't fix the problem. The bureaucrats are accustomed to ignoring us. Only by punishing the politicians who nominate -- and confirm -- someone like Ms. Harty can we change the mindset.