-Caveat Lector-
>From http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020609-22093908.htm
}}}>Begin
The Washington Times
www.washtimes.com
September 11 attacks called avoidable
Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published 6/9/2002
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee said yesterday that the
September 11 "hijackers could have been stopped" had U.S. officials acted on
intelligence information available before the terrorist attacks.
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, in an interview that aired yesterday on
CNN, called September 11 the "worst example of what happens when information is
not shared and is not acted upon."
"There was plenty of information available before September 11. I think historians
are going to find, tragically, that, had it been acted upon, the hijackers could have
been stopped," Mr. Leahy said on CNN's "Novak, Hunt & Shields."
The Democratic chairman, whose committee is holding public hearings examining
the failure of top FBI officials to take seriously leads given to them by field agents
about the possibility of hijackings and planes being flown into the World Trade
Center, joins at least two others on the Judiciary panel who have said they believe
the September 11 attacks could have been prevented, given the clues that were
available.
Last week, Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, said, "I don't believe
any longer this is a matter of connecting the dots. I think they had a veritable road
map. And we want to know why they didn't act on it. I think there was a distinct
possibility of preventing 9/11."
Likewise, Sen. Herb Kohl, Wisconsin Democrat, told CBS: "It appears that the FBI
had information enough and resources at its disposal to possibly unravel the terrorist
plot before September 11."
Sen. Bob Graham, Florida Democrat and chairman of the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat and a
member of the Judiciary Committee, have both said Americans can expect to learn
through the congressional inquiries now under way of other circumstances in which
federal investigators failed to follow up on intelligence leads before September 11.
President Bush has acknowledged the FBI and CIA should have done more with
the intelligence they had, but he has said he thinks it's unlikely they could have
stopped the terrorist attacks. In his weekly radio address yesterday, the president
called on Americans to push members of Congress to pass legislation this year to
create a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security to fight terrorism.
The nation needs "dramatic reforms to secure our people at home I'm asking for
your help in encouraging your representatives to support my plan," said Mr. Bush,
whose proposal would consolidate dozens of federal agencies � including the
Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Customs Service, the Coast Guard, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Border Patrol and the Secret Service
� and hold them responsible for protecting Americans against another terrorist
attack.
The president's radio message was followed by the Democratic response
delivered by House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, Missouri Democrat. He
urged Congress to enact the legislation creating the new department by September
11 as a tribute to more than 3,000 Americans who died in last year's attacks.
On CNN's "Saturday Edition," Sen. Richard C. Shelby, Alabama Republican and
ranking member on the intelligence committee, said he has long pushed for a
"massive overhaul of our intelligence agencies." While Mr. Shelby says he does not
know if the new department will solve the kinds of intelligence failures the joint
House
and Senate intelligence panels and the Judiciary committee are uncovering in their
investigations, he said he thinks it will improve things.
"But I believe it will help a lot. I think we have to have something better than
what
we do today. We've got to have somebody that's going to take control of the security
of this country in the domestic way," Mr. Shelby said.
He said he believes it is possible for Congress to complete work on the
authorization measure to establish the new department by September 11.
Asked if he believes it's a problem that the FBI and CIA will not be part of the
new
department, Mr. Leahy said: "It's going to be a problem if the kind of balkanization
that has existed for decades between those two agencies continues." He said he
recognizes the current directors are "trying hard to break down those walls" but said
whoever is appointed secretary of homeland security must get them "to cooperate
and work closer together."
Copyright � 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Return to the article
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
