Senator: At Least One Foreign Country Assisted the 9/11 Terrorists

The Memory Hole ^ | 12/11/2002 | M.H. Staff and Jim Lehrer

[ex-Texan]

Senator: At Least One Foreign Country Assisted the 9/11 Terrorists

Senator Graham knows where the bodies are buried

>>> On 11 December 2002, the Senate and House Intelligence Committees released portions of their joint report on intelligence failures regarding the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, on PBS, reported on the release that day.

After asking her guests a bunch of predictable questions, and receiving predictable answers, guest host Gwen Ifill asked Senator Bob Graham, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a good question and got an amazing answer.

GWEN IFILL: Senator Graham, are there elements in this report, which are classified that Americans should know about but can't?

SEN. BOB GRAHAM: Yes, going back to your question about what was the greatest surprise. I agree with what Senator Shelby said the degree to which agencies were not communicating was certainly a surprise but also I was surprised at the evidence that there were foreign governments involved in facilitating the activities of at least some of the terrorists in the United States.

I am stunned that we have not done a better job of pursuing that to determine if other terrorists received similar support and, even more important, if the infrastructure of a foreign government assisting terrorists still exists for the current generation of terrorists who are here planning the next plots.

To me that is an extremely significant issue and most of that information is classified, I think overly-classified. I believe the American people should know the extent of the challenge that we face in terms of foreign government involvement. That would motivate the government to take action.

GWEN IFILL: Are you suggesting that you are convinced that there was a state sponsor behind 9/11?

SEN. BOB GRAHAM: I think there is very compelling evidence that at least some of the terrorists were assisted not just in financing -- although that was part of it -- by a sovereign foreign government and that we have been derelict in our duty to track that down, make the further case, or find the evidence that would indicate that that is not true and we can look for other reasons why the terrorists were able to function so effectively in the United States.

GWEN IFILL: Do you think that will ever become public, which countries you're talking about?

SEN. BOB GRAHAM: It will become public at some point when it's turned over to the archives, but that's 20 or 30 years from now. And, we need to have this information now because it's relevant to the threat that the people of the United States are facing today.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I have to point out that none of the cowardly yuppies in the American media has followed up on this bombshell revelation. It seems worthy of banner headlines--"Mystery Nations Aided 9/11 Plot," for example--in the New York Times, on CNN, etc.

After all, here is a powerful US Senator--the Chairman of the committee that oversees intelligence operations, the very committee that issued the report--saying that some country (or countries) actively aided the worst terrorist attack against the US.

[ex-Texan]

This should have been BREAKING NEWS! ....

But the American Media has been stonewalling the story since at least December 11, 2002. Why?

[philetus]

But the American Media has been stonewalling the story since at least December 11, 2002. Why?

Because the American media is involved with taking America down.

[Peach]

Big story is right. How about writing letters to Shelby et al and asking for answers? How about letters to the editors of major newspapers pointing this out? I'll start working on mine but we need more than a few voices to make a change.

[ex-Texan]

Any bets on which country did this outrageous act?

I will suggest two: Syria and Saudi Arabia, because otherwise there would be no need for secrecy.

[friendly]

IRAQ!!!!!!!!

[philetus]

My bet would be the Saudi's.

[bybybill]

I`ll bet it was Norway. Never did trust those guys, after all, they eat ludefisk

[Peach]

Let's not just bet and speculate amongst ourselves. We're preaching to the choir at this forum. Let's write editorials quoting this PBS show and ask for answers. When the voices get loud enough, answers will be demanded, and PERHAPS we will get some truth.

[big bad easter bunny]

YUP!

[steveegg]

At the risk of sounding conspiratorial, I'll say Iraq for the planning and Saudi Arabia for the money and manpower.

[friendly]

Bush is so ferociously dead set against Iran, Iraq, and North Korea. I have to believe that Iraq is numero uno on the short list of terrorist states to be liberated.

[Husker24]

If it was Iraq, there would be no secrecy, and we wouldnt be going through with all this U.N crap. Rest assured it was the Saudis, probably one of thier Princes gave money and support to the 9/11 terrorists. It makes me sick that we are still kissing the Saudis asses.

[PoorMuttly]

Those with our weapons HAVE the truth. I am certain they are doing their job. There is an order to doing things, and I suppose they have a clear list in hand already. No ?

[texasbluebell]

SEN. BOB GRAHAM: Yes, going back to your question about what was the greatest surprise. I agree with what Senator Shelby said the degree to which agencies were not communicating was certainly a surprise but also I was surprised at the evidence that there were foreign governments involved in facilitating the activities of at least some of the terrorists in the United States.

Well, if this is accurate language, and I'm betting it is, then there are at least TWO foreign govts involved! Why is this information being hidden from us?

[Republic of Texas]

This will never hit the mainstream news because they support those "mystery" countries. I think we all have a pretty good idea of who they could be anyway.

[Peach]

Typically, I'd like to believe there is an order to these things and we'll find out the truth, but given that Senator Graham said it would be 20-30 years before we find out the truth, I'd say our congressional leadership needs a little push in the right direction - sooner rather than later.

[EaglesUpForever]

Yep, the Saudis, and of course the ISI in Pakistan, though that was fairly well publicized.

[Canadian Outrage]

I agree with you Peach. The Conservatives need to rise up in unison and demand an answer to this question. Saudi Arabia will definitely be one of them, I mean MOSTLY ALL of the highjackers were Saudis. Part of me shivers to think that it might be OUR corrupt Federal Government of Liberals. Chretien is an evil and dangerous man. He's a Clinton butt-kisser and a United Nothings butt boy. I wouldn't be surprised at ANYTHING I found out that he had done along with his liberal merry band of lying thieves!

[PoorMuttly]

The president, and cabinet know. Does the likes of Daschle et.al. need to know details ? Enough of them do...and they STILL behave this way. Need To Know. These rubes don't, and will only tip off our...all of OUR enemies to the specifics of what we know...and who we're coming for. We have a Captain we pay to do it. Let him steer...I think. When he needs the audience, who live/die by his actions, to pipe in, I think he will ask. He SAID we wouldn't be told...and that's exactly what he is doing. 'Seems to me, anyway. This guy read a report...that they GAVE him. They know.

[Canadian Outrage]

And don't forget Russia. They will sell nuculear materials, weapons ANYTHING, to ANYBODY. I don't believe that Russia is a friend of the US at all. They are playing games and dirty ones at that. They can't be trusted and in fact there is an Arab-Russian alliance taking place even as we speak. Big mistake for Bush to trust Russia on anything.