NationStates Jolt Archive


9-11 Commission Seek More Information from Bush

Petsburg
20-06-2004, 20:09
Article here (http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=70547433-44E2-4E69-8772D5E6513C956D)


Leaders of the commission investigating the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States are downplaying differences with the White House over a possible link to Iraq. But at the same time, they make clear they want more information from top figures in the Bush administration.

The two men at the top of the commission are trying to prevent a partisan split between Republicans and Democrats on the panel. As a result, they are trying to ease differences over a potentially explosive issue: ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's ties to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

In a staff report issued a few days ago, the commission said there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein collaborated with al-Qaida in attacks on the United States. Commission staffers said they found proof of contacts but no working relationship.

But the White House - which used Iraq's ties to terror as a rationale for war - continues to insist there was a direct connection to al-Qaida. On Thursday, after the commission released the interim staff report, Vice-President Dick Cheney indicated that he had information that was not in the hands of the panel. He spoke in an interview with CNBC - a cable television outlet in the United States.

Reporter: "Do you know things that the commission does not know?"
Cheney: "Probably."
Reporter: "And do you think the commission needs to know them?"
Cheney: "I don't know what they know. I do know they did not talk with any original sources on this subject that say that [are quoted] in their report."

When asked about those comments, Commission Chairman Thomas Kean urged the vice-president to turn over any additional information he might have. Appearing on ABC television's This Week, Mr. Kean stressed the staff report was an interim document and the final full commission report remains a work in progress. "Obviously, if there is any information still that has to deal with the subject of the report, we need it and we need it pretty fast. We'll ask for it and see. If the administration has information we don't have, then hopefully we will have it very soon," he said.

Thomas Kean is the top Republican on the independent panel which was established by Congress with the approval of the White House. Lee Hamilton is the senior Democrat. He joined the call for any additional information that might be in the possession of the vice-president. And he told ABC that any apparent differences with the administration on the issue of Iraqi links to al-Qaida may be a matter of semantics. "All of us understand that when you begin to use words like 'relationships' and 'ties' and 'connections' and 'contacts,' everybody has a little different view of what those words mean," he said.

Both Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton emphasized that the commission's task is to investigate the September 11 attacks, and not the run-up to the war in Iraq. They noted that while the Bush administration has spoken about Saddam Hussein's ties to terror, it has never said that Iraq teamed with al-Qaida to actually carry out the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil.

On NBC's Meet the Press, commission member John Lehman made clear he hopes the controversy over this one issue dies down, noting the panel needs to avoid potential partisan disputes as it prepares its final recommendations. "I think that you are going to see unanimous recommendations on the intelligence community from our commission. And they are going to be based on shocking findings of gross malfunctions in the intelligence community," he said.

The commission's report is due on July 26. The White House will review the document to make sure no sensitive national security information is revealed before it is released to the public.
Incertonia
20-06-2004, 22:39
Why anyone still believes a word Dick Cheney says is beyond me. He's a cheat and a liar and a war profiteer of the highest degree and he ought to be in jail.
Berkylvania
20-06-2004, 22:56
Why anyone still believes a word Dick Cheney says is beyond me. He's a cheat and a liar and a war profiteer of the highest degree and he ought to be in jail.

Amen.
Tuesday Heights
21-06-2004, 04:36
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.
Formal Dances
21-06-2004, 04:38
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.
Stephistan
21-06-2004, 04:41
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.
Formal Dances
21-06-2004, 04:45
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.

New evidence is with the commission Stephistan. The new evidence supports the link. They are checking it out and veryifying it.
Stephistan
21-06-2004, 04:50
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.

New evidence is with the commission Stephistan. The new evidence supports the link. They are checking it out and veryifying it.

Did Iraq ever talk with OBL? I'm sure they did, as probably did every Arab country.. but.. I bet the Americans talked with OBL more during the USSR/Afghanistan war.. I bet more meetings went on between Rummy and Saddam then OBL ever had with Saddam.. Does that make the good 'ol USA a terrorist state? There is NOTHING to link Al Qaeda to Saddam. Don't forget Al-Zawkari lived in the no-fly zone, protected from Saddam by American forces.. Lest we forget!
Friends of Bill
21-06-2004, 04:51
Why anyone still believes a word Dick Cheney says is beyond me. He's a cheat and a liar and a war profiteer of the highest degree and he ought to be in jail.He hasn't done anything that Clinton didn't do first, and with your total support.
Stephistan
21-06-2004, 04:54
Why anyone still believes a word Dick Cheney says is beyond me. He's a cheat and a liar and a war profiteer of the highest degree and he ought to be in jail.He hasn't done anything that Clinton didn't do first, and with your total support.

That's right.. because lying about a blowjob under oath.. Yes OATH people.. he lied about a blowjob is the same as sending over 800 young men and women off to die for a lie.. Excuse me if I just don't follow your logic
Formal Dances
21-06-2004, 05:09
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.

New evidence is with the commission Stephistan. The new evidence supports the link. They are checking it out and veryifying it.

Did Iraq ever talk with OBL? I'm sure they did, as probably did every Arab country.. but.. I bet the Americans talked with OBL more during the USSR/Afghanistan war.. I bet more meetings went on between Rummy and Saddam then OBL ever had with Saddam.. Does that make the good 'ol USA a terrorist state? There is NOTHING to link Al Qaeda to Saddam. Don't forget Al-Zawkari lived in the no-fly zone, protected from Saddam by American forces.. Lest we forget!

Stephistan, I'm going to watch my mouth here because you are a mod and i'm only a little kid. USSR/Afghanistan was a different time and place.

However, I find your comments unbecoming of a game moderator. Your a Canadian and I'm an American! I don't care what you Canadians think of what is going on, however, you are very stupid into discounting the fact that there COULD BE a LINK between Hussein and Bin Laden. Just because they didn't find it at first doesn't make it so.

Zarqawi might've been protected but Saddam knew he was there. If he wanted too, he could've gotten him. He didn't. Zarqawi fled there and is now trying to stay alive. I bet that when they investigate this new evidence, that they will find it truthful and thus establish that link between them. SO GET YOUR HEAD UP INTO THE SUNLIGHT!

My last post, i'm off to bed! I'll respond in the Morning if I'm able too.
BackwoodsSquatches
21-06-2004, 05:21
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.

New evidence is with the commission Stephistan. The new evidence supports the link. They are checking it out and veryifying it.

Did Iraq ever talk with OBL? I'm sure they did, as probably did every Arab country.. but.. I bet the Americans talked with OBL more during the USSR/Afghanistan war.. I bet more meetings went on between Rummy and Saddam then OBL ever had with Saddam.. Does that make the good 'ol USA a terrorist state? There is NOTHING to link Al Qaeda to Saddam. Don't forget Al-Zawkari lived in the no-fly zone, protected from Saddam by American forces.. Lest we forget!

Stephistan, I'm going to watch my mouth here because you are a mod and i'm only a little kid. USSR/Afghanistan was a different time and place.

However, I find your comments unbecoming of a game moderator. Your a Canadian and I'm an American! I don't care what you Canadians think of what is going on, however, you are very stupid into discounting the fact that there COULD BE a LINK between Hussein and Bin Laden. Just because they didn't find it at first doesn't make it so.

Woah kid....shes expressing her opinion..thats allowed.
Secondlyn Hussein and Osama could never get along.
Osama is a crazy fundamentalist,a nd Hussein is a secular leader.
Osama considers Hussein an infidel.
People have been trying verd hard to establish a link between the two, but so far..there doesnt seem to be one.


Zarqawi might've been protected but Saddam knew he was there. If he wanted too, he could've gotten him. He didn't.

and do what? Get his troops killed by the american soldiers that where guarding him?


. I bet that when they investigate this new evidence, that they will find it truthful and thus establish that link between them. SO GET YOUR HEAD UP INTO THE SUNLIGHT!

Dont hold your breath.
.

Also.....do you know what flaming is?
Incertonia
21-06-2004, 06:37
Well, come on, Bush definitely knows how and why and what actually caused Sept. 11th.

I doubt it and for your information everyone, new info has also been given to the commission on the link between Al Qeada and Hussein.

...........And the conclusion was... No links.. no evidence to say they ever agreed on any thing.

New evidence is with the commission Stephistan. The new evidence supports the link. They are checking it out and veryifying it.I can give you a connection--In 1981, Saddam Hussein was visited by a person working for the Defense Department, Donald Rumsfeld. Donald Rumsfeld is currently the Secretary of Defense for George W. Bush, whose father, former President George H. W. Bush, was a member of a defense contracting company named the Carlyle Group, of which the Bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia was also a member. There you go--Hussein connected to Bin Laden, and the conduit is the Bush family.

Somehow I doubt that's the "evidence" Formal Dances is talking about, but hey, it's a better and stronger connection than anything Cheney has come up with.