16.11.03
New obstacles for 9/11 commission's access to documents
The Bush administration has put up new obstacles in the way of obtaining White House documents relating to 9/11. Specifically, we see that the administration and the 9/11 panel have reached an agreement that limits the latter's ability to acquire the presidential daily briefings:
Here's one question: if the administration was guilty of massive criminal incompetence, how else would we ever find out, except via these documents? Or is this something the American public has no right to know?
But we find out that Roemer himself seems to be a little dense about the issue:
Given their refusal to turn over the documents, which scenario do you think is more likely, Timmy?
(Link via Antiwar.com)
The Bush administration has put up new obstacles in the way of obtaining White House documents relating to 9/11. Specifically, we see that the administration and the 9/11 panel have reached an agreement that limits the latter's ability to acquire the presidential daily briefings:
Tim Roemer, a panel member who was also denied White House documentation when he sat on a congressional committee studying 9/11, says more hurdles put up this week by Bush may mean the world will never really know what the president knew.So, not only are these secret documents not being handed over, but there was a secret deal concerning their fate whose terms are not being released... Nothing to see here, move along.
The White House and the bipartisan commission, headed by former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean, a Republican personally chosen by Bush, have struck a compromise on the commission's demand that they have access to the Presidential Daily Briefs (PDBs), the highly classified intelligence documents made available to only Bush and his innermost circle.
Neither side is officially releasing the terms of the compromise but Roemer says the access will be restricted to a handful of commission members and the documents will be truncated.
...
Some of the 10 members, likely including Roemer, will not actually see anything under the deal. Only four can see PDBs, and then only portions the White House deems relevant - and even then, the members' comments about the top-secret briefings will be vetted by the White House.
Here's one question: if the administration was guilty of massive criminal incompetence, how else would we ever find out, except via these documents? Or is this something the American public has no right to know?
But we find out that Roemer himself seems to be a little dense about the issue:
"What I find surprising," Roemer said, "is that there are two things which can most help the Bush administration and they won't co-operate.Yes, that's certainly true... but it's also entirely possible that they will not provide exculpatory evidence but rather the opposite: that the intelligence community did its job and that there was a smoking gun provided to the president.
"This report could prove there was no warning; there was no smoking gun provided to the president. It could also prove that the intelligence community did not do a proper job of putting the position to him.
"And he won't provide access to these things."
Given their refusal to turn over the documents, which scenario do you think is more likely, Timmy?
(Link via Antiwar.com)
