9/11 Congressional inquiry results

December 12, 2002 4:23 PM

The final report of the joint Congressional committee investigating the Sept. 11 attacks was released yesterday, criticizing the intelligence agencies for their failure to prevent the attacks. Senator Shelby also released a minority report, calling for senior officials to be held accountable. But perhaps more provocative is what isn't in the reports: classified information about Saudi Arabian links to U.S.-based terrorists which may not be declassified until the archives are opened in 30 years. [More inside]
posted by homunculus (14 comments total)

Senator Graham said in an interview on the NewsHour,

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.

Meanwhile, the White House is insisting that Kissinger is not required to disclose a list of his business clients for potential conflicts of interest. I suspect it will be a long time before we learn the full story behind Sept. 11, if ever.
posted by homunculus at 4:30 PM on December 12, 2002

Oops, my first sentence may have been misleading: the first link is a summary of the committee's recommendation to create a Director of National Intelligence. The real criticism is in Shelby's report. Apologies for the sloppiness.
posted by homunculus at 5:01 PM on December 12, 2002

I suspect it will be a long time before we learn the full story behind Sept. 11, if ever.
posted by the fire you left me at 6:44 PM on December 12, 2002

The classified report may stay so for decades, but the huge "complete 9-11 timeline" covers most of this ground (but from public sources). Read it and cringe.
posted by troutfishing at 7:24 PM on December 12, 2002

The Iraq-al Qaeda Connection
posted by hama7 at 7:43 PM on December 12, 2002

The Iraq-al Qaeda Connection "Iraq has provided training to al Qaeda members in areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs."

And that helped them fly planes into buildings, how?
posted by Iax at 10:46 PM on December 12, 2002

Others are less convinced than Kristol: Officials: No hard evidence in nerve agent report.

If Bush were to provide clear evidence of an al Qaeda/Iraq connection, I would quickly add my voice to the hawks', especially if the connection existed before 9/11. But he hasn't and I am still unconvinced.

As for the classified information on the Saudis, maybe it has something to do with Bandar's Bombshell.
posted by homunculus at 11:03 PM on December 12, 2002

If our intelligence people cannot manufacture plausible proof of an Iraq-al Qaeda connection, we need new people.
posted by Opus Dark at 11:37 PM on December 12, 2002

Off topic, but not really:

An Essay by Timothy McVeigh

Was Tim McVeigh an agent of Iraq?

Even the Salon.com Soviets chime in on this one:

Did Timothy McVeigh have Iraqi helpers?

McVeigh-Iraq Connection Alleged

Iraq and terrorist bombings seem to go together like stink and ....well you know the rest.
posted by hama7 at 2:57 AM on December 13, 2002

So if Salon.com are Soviets then it is fair to asert that the Weakly Standard writers are "objectively" Nazis. Just wish you would get off it hama7 and discuss the issues instead of attacking the messengers. BTW, your argument about Iraq and terrorism is very weak. A much better argument could be made about Henry Kissinger and terrorism. Shall we punish Henry while we're at it?
posted by nofundy at 4:47 AM on December 13, 2002

just a few technical difficulties here in the ol usa is all.....
posted by specialk420 at 7:32 AM on December 13, 2002

Shall we punish Henry while we're at it?

Yes! I wholeheartedly support a platform of lobbing cruise missiles at Henry Kissenger from 1500 miles away for a few months, before embarking on a smart bombing campaign that will destroy Henry Kissenger's ability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. Then we should roll hundreds of tanks over Henry Kissenger in a show of strength that will incite Henry Kissenger's oppressed masses to rise up in revolt.

Ahem. Sorry 'bout that. Feeling better now.
posted by Vetinari at 9:13 AM on December 13, 2002

Did I miss the big announcement, or have they yet to release the name of a single person who shorted United & American airlines and the insurers/reinsurers?
posted by trondant at 1:03 PM on December 13, 2002

Kissinger steps down as chairman of 9/11 panel
posted by homunculus at 4:14 PM on December 13, 2002