Oct 05 2005

Able Danger, Senate Report, 10/05/05

Published by at 9:15 am under Able Danger/9-11,All General Discussions

Rowan Scarborough has a story out today in the Washington Time which claims the Senate Intelligence Committee will be producing a summary report on Able Danger in the coming weeks:

The Senate Intelligence Committee has taken closed-door statements in an inquiry that could clear up whether the intelligence program Able Danger identified September 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta a year before the attack.

A spokesman said yesterday that the committee likely will release a report or a statement in the next two weeks that makes conclusions, or at least determines the facts.

But a final verdict could come sooner from the intelligence committee, based on closed-door briefings already provided by Mr. Shaffer, Capt. Philpott and Pentagon officials.

What about the other people the DoD had identified who collaborated the Able Danger claims? What about Eileen Presser and her recollections of events? What about the Colonel who told JD Smith he had just cost him his job when the purge occurred in the spring of 2000? What about the FBI agent who tried to set up the meetings with SOCOM in the summer of 2000 with Shaffer?

What about the DoD Counsel Office and those who decided to execute the purging of data and barring of contact???

The Pentagon thus far has refused to allow Mr. Shaffer and Capt. Philpott to testify in open session, as requested by Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican. Officials say such testimony would violate the practice of not testifying on classified programs in public.

It is not a law, it is a ‘practice’. And I think knowing what happened trumps establishment procedures. I also find it hard to believe there has never, ever been open testimony on classified programs. That is pure spin. They can develop rules on what cannot be discussed in open verses closed sessions. They do it all the time regarding policy discussions.

And what about the attacks by the DIA on Shaffer?

All this is a desparate attempt by DC insiders to sweep an uncomfortable event under a convenient rug – the Intelligence Committee.

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