Sept. 11 commission draft harshly critical of FBI, CIA

[Kadie]

Sept. 11 commission draft harshly critical of FBI, CIA

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press

Posted: Tuesday June 8th, 2004, 4:20 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday June 8th, 2004, 4:20 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - Draft portions of the Sept. 11 commission's final report offer a stinging rebuke of the FBI and intelligence agencies but refrain from assigning blame to individuals in government to avoid the appearance of partisanship, several commissioners say.

The 10-member panel still is wrestling over recommendations to shore up the intelligence gaps and communications breakdowns that allowed the hijackers to succeed, four commissioners told The Associated Press in separate interviews.

"There's broad consensus that major changes are needed. This is not just a question of running faster, jumping higher," said Republican commissioner John Lehman, a former secretary of the Navy. "We need to ensure the fusion and sharing of all intelligence that could have helped us to avoid 9/11."

Among the ideas under consideration is a domestic intelligence agency modeled after Britain's MI5.

Democratic commissioner Timothy Roemer said FBI Director Robert Mueller's recent proposal to improve domestic surveillance by creating an intelligence service within the bureau is another option under review by the panel but might not be enough.

more... http://www.bakersfield.com/24hour/nation/story/1424209p-8745200c.html

[bagnana]

1. whitewash piece of crap.

I can't bear the thought of the IDIOTS in the WH getting away scott free when they clearly failed to do their job. "Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in the U.S." Nuff Said. Why is it partisan to point out that they screwed up?

[yardwork]

2. I totally agree with you!

What is this? "Because of Watergate the FBI couldn't communicate or upgrade their computers....blah blah blah."

"We need a new and more powerful intelligence agency blah blah blah...."

How come Clinton was able to prevent terrorist attacks despite the same same limitations, and doing without yet more layers of government intrusion?

Gee, maybe because Clinton's administration was competent?

Or maybe they really wanted to stop terrorist attacks, instead of just letting them happen?

Boy this makes me mad!

[Zhade]

11. Just keep speaking the truth about 9/11.

The Whitewash Commission aside, people are starting to realize the Official Story is full of holes.

We must continue to speak up, even as they try to bury the truth.

[MsMagnificent]

3. Was "White House" there but in invisible ink?

Geebus priest... this guy who's masquerading as our president is the TRUE teflon pres!

WHEN will We The People be told the fucking TRUTH??!

[mn9driver]

4. Freeh. Tenet. Rice.

The information was there. Avoid "the appearance of partisanship" my lily-white *ss. Was chasing Bill's winkie avoiding "the appearance of partisanship"?

These three, at least, should swing.

[pinto]

5. Lehman blames Watergate????

"The restrictions on the FBI after Watergate prohibiting them from modernizing and computerizing their data systems (and) from keeping track of watchlists and investigations" were among the biggest obstacles to terror prevention, Lehman said. "It made it impossible for the FBI to share information even within the bureau."

Anyone know the restrictions Lehman cites?

[bpilgrim]

6. none DARE say they - neoCONs - are BUTT NAKED! and have been for YEARS@!

PNAC should be in the HEADLINE bullet on EVERY report now comming out if the nyt let alone the rest of our COWARD media lap dogs think we bout to move on with one weak a$$ apology on page c16 :argh:

peace

[fearnobush]

7. 911 Commission of Whores and Liers. What Fucking Truth These

bastards will not get away with this. They will be haunted and hunted down for the truth. Fucking Whore administration OSP all it's focus on Iraq and missle defense, a summer of warnings and no airport alerts or Clinton era warnings i.e. LAX stopped attemped, Y2k bombing warnings, plot foiled. And the media fuckers never metion these. Unbefuckinglievable.

[qwertyMike]

8. Come the coup d'etat . . .

that commission is toast.

To the Gulag!!!!!

[Pastiche423]

9. Is every member of the 9/11 commission

naive, stupid, bought off, terrified

or

WHAT?

Did that article say final report?

Nothing has finally been answered!

:mad:

[Zhade]

12. Kean has financial ties to Khalid bin Mahfouz - ObL's brother-in-law.

They're business partners, through the joint Amerada Hess/Delta Oil Caspian project.

This "commission" might as well be called 'Warren II', for all the lies and unanswered questions it's produced.

[struggle4progress]

10. Senators Urge C.I.A. to Declassify Critical Report

The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee are pressing the Central Intelligence Agency to agree to a broad declassification and release of the panel's 400-page report, which is highly critical of the agency's prewar performance on Iraq.

The agency and, ultimately, the White House have the power to decide how much of the report should be declassified, giving them great influence over a document that will focus on mistakes related to Iraq and its illicit weapons. The Senate could vote to release classified material even over White House objections, but such a step would be rare.

The jockeying pits Senators Pat Roberts of Kansas and John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, the ranking Republican and Democrat on the panel, against the top C.I.A. officials who must approve decisions involving declassification. Both senators have signaled their belief that the fullest possible disclosure of the agency's performance on Iraq is in the public interest.
<snip>

"I feel very strongly that the great majority of this report should be made public," Mr. Roberts said. "Our report is a good one. It's right, and the American people certainly deserve to see it."
<more>

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/09/politics/09INTE.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. The failure in intelligence was in the WH

and the leadership of the misadministration. Bu$h, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld and Myers are the one who failed, yet the 9-11 Whitewash Commission refuses to even ask them what did they do that morning and why.

Instead, they continue to kiss their royal butts and look to place the blame everywhere else, except where it belongs. What a shame. Why don't they just disband and quit wasting everyone's time? The truth is the only thing they should be concerned about, but appearances and protecting Bu$hCo seem to be their highest priority.

[truthisfreedom]

14. MAJOR. CHANGES. NEEDED. ok, that's easy enough. VOTE!

unless they use extra-legal means to maintain control, they are all toast.