News Intelligence Analysis
The Bush Administration "Is Clearly Obstructing the Investigation of 9/11"
Reported by Katherine Yurica
Several newspapers reported on October 21, 2003 that the 9/11 Commission had reached a level of frustration with the Bush Administration’s refusal to supply documents requested by the commission. The foot dragging of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) caused the commissioners to vote unanimously to subpoena records from the agency. According to a news report from GoMemphis, the commission has been seeking data relating to the crucial twenty-nine minutes between the time the FAA knew that a commercial airliner had been diverted from its course and notification to the North American Air Defense Command. The Commission’s obvious question is, why did it take so long? The plane in question eventually plowed into the Pentagon.
Today, October 26, 2003, the New York Times is reporting that the 9/11 Commission is about to subpoena the White House, stating the administration continues to withhold several highly classified intelligence documents from the panel. The article, written by Philip Shenon of the New York Times, quotes Thomas H. Kean, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, “Any document that has to do with this investigation cannot be beyond our reach. I will not stand for it. That means that we will use every tool at our command to get hold of every document.”
News talk show host John Rothmann of KGO, 810 am San Francisco said this morning (October 26, 2003) “The administration is clearly obstructing.” Rothmann said, “It is beyond my comprehension. The White House is resisting an investigation.” Rothmann, who is a Democrat, worked in the Nixon White House as an adviser (until he resigned in alarm before the Watergate scandal broke) along with John Dean a Republican, who served as Counsel to the President.
Rothmann pointed out the 9/11 Commissioners who are speaking out on this topic including Slade Gorton, the former very conservative Republican Senator from the state of Washington, are the “equivalent of Elliot Richardson, the Republican Special Prosecutor in the Watergate scandal, who would not allow the White House to cover-up.” Nixon's firing of Elliot Richardson was called the “Saturday Night Massacre.”
Rothmann went on to say that he believed “There's nothing to hide. It’s like Dick Cheney not wanting to release who he met with. Why not?” Rothmann, who bristles with dislike if any one mentions the possibility of a “conspiracy,” pointed out the fact, “President Bush didn’t even want to appoint the commission in the beginning.” It’s clear, he said, “The White House is having to answer questions they don't want to answer.”
The commission is hoping for an extension of its deadline in order to send a message to the Bush Administration and the agencies involved that says the dragging of heels and refusals will not get them off the hook. Senator John McCain said that if the families of the victims will get behind the commission, congress and the American people will have to join with them.
Katherine Yurica was educated at East Los Angeles College, U.S.C. and the USC school of law. She worked as a consultant for Los Angeles County and as a news correspondent for Christianity Today plus as a freelance investigative reporter. She is the author of three books. She is also the publisher of the Yurica Report.
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Related articles:
Where Was George?
Compelling Evidence for Complicity
John Dean on the 9/11 Report
Philip Shenon: 9/11 Commission Reports Delays & Intimidation
N.Y. Times Editorial on 9/11
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