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Condoleezza Rice Was "Bombarded" with Warnings Before 9/11, Commission Biased Against Clarke

Posted by Faiz Shakir, Think Progress at 5:28 AM on March 8, 2008.


9/11 Commission staff director Philip Zelikow was not interested in pursuing criticisms against Rice.
condirice

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New York Times reporter Philip Shenon’s new book — The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation — paints a damning portrait of Condoleezza Rice. Shenon argues that Rice was “uninterested in actually advising the President,” but was instead more concerned with being his “closest confidante — specifically on foreign policy — and to simply translate his words into action.”

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald prints an extract from Shenon’s book which provides further details about Rice’s incompetence. “Emails from the National Security Council’s counter-terrorism director, Richard Clarke, showed that he had bombarded Rice with messages about terrorist threats” before 9/11, Shenon writes. Some examples:

“Bin Ladin Public Profile May Presage Attack” (May 3)

“Terrorist Groups Said Co-operating on US Hostage Plot” (May 23)

“Bin Ladin’s Networks’ Plans Advancing” (May 26)

“Bin Ladin Attacks May Be Imminent” (June 23)

“Bin Ladin and Associates Making Near-Term Threats” (June 25)

“Bin Ladin Planning High-Profile Attacks” (June 30)

“Planning for Bin Ladin Attacks Continues, Despite Delays” (July 2)

But 9/11 Commission staff director Philip Zelikow was not interested in pursuing criticisms against Rice. Zelikow — who had worked closely with Rice on the Bush transition team in 2000 and 2001 — “made it clear to the team’s investigators that Clarke should not be believed, that his testimony would be suspect.”

When 9/11 Commission historian Warren Bass uncovered a smoking gun email from Clarke to Rice written on September 4, 2001, which asked, “Are we serious about dealing with the al-Qaeda threat?,” Zelikow reverted to defending Condi. Bass then threatened to resign:

“I cannot do this,” Bass declared… “Zelikow is making me crazy.”

He was outraged by Zelikow and the White House; Bass felt the White House was trying to sabotage his work by its efforts to limit his ability to see certain documents from the NSC files and take useful notes from them. … Bass made it clear to colleagues that he believed Zelikow was interfering in his work for reasons that were overtly political - intended to shield the White House, and Rice in particular, from the commission’s criticism.

The former weapons inspector in Iraq — David Kay — passed word to the 9/11 Commission that he believed Rice was the “worst national security adviser” in the history of the job.

Digg!

Tagged as: 9/11, rice, 9/11 commission, clarke, zelikow, bus administration

Faiz Shakir is the Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Editor of ThinkProgress.org and The Progress Report.


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isn't it nice
Posted by: walldodger1969 on Mar 8, 2008 6:21 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
To know what really happened and not being able to do a DAMN thing about it. We pass this info to our "friends" (republicans and democrats),and get shrugs and so what looks.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: isn't it nice Posted by: willymack
Why Not A New 911 Investigation?
Posted by: ronheri on Mar 8, 2008 7:08 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There remain so many unanswered questions surrounding the events of 911, (arecent zogby poll revealed that over half of its respondents thought a new investigation was warrented). It's bad enough that the twin towers collapsed in a manner suggesting controlled demolition; when no steel framed structure has EVER collapsed after a fire, but how about #7 which collapsed in 10 seconds, in controlled demolition style, hours after the twin towers and was not hit by any airplanes, but had two fires on the upper floors. Bush and Cheney delayed the investigation for a year and only agreed to testify, if they could go together and not under oath. The list of reasons to reopen the 911 investigation is almost endless. Give me one good reason not to.

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» 911 was an inside job... Posted by: makeadifference
And The Question Is...?
Posted by: magistre on Mar 8, 2008 7:09 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Was the Bush Whitehouse criminally negligent or criminally involved?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Sorry, that should have been a 5. Posted by: KeepsonTickn
» RE: And The Question Is...? Posted by: monkeywrench
» RE: And The Question Is...? Posted by: mainspark
» RE: And The Question Is...? Posted by: desidid
» RE: And The Question Is...? Posted by: Alex Hidell
THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SHOULD INVESTIGATE 9-11
Posted by: RegCrowder on Mar 8, 2008 7:13 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I COULD SEE FROM WATCHING ON TELEVISION THAT THE 9-11 COMMISSION WAS A SHAM. NOW, EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.

I think that it is important that a legitimate investigation of 9-11 be conducted. Personally, I think the proper body to conduct a legitimate investigation into 9-11 would be the International Criminal Court. I think so many of the US security and law enforcement (an oxymoron in the US, of course) agencies have their fingerprints all over the attacks that it is impossible for any governmental body WITHIN the US to conduct a legitimate investigation.

Today, of course, the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction might be questionable. But that's not really a problem. The US, having withdrawn its support for and participation in, the court, has nothing to say about its jurisdiction. So, the nations still participating are free to amend its jurisdiction.

I think finding out just how 9-11 happened, who did it, who made it possible, AND why the President of the United States was so desperate to prevent a legitimate investigation are matters of great importance to the whole world.

Many in the US government would like to see the truth come out. There are many on the US government payroll who are not ready to be made into partners in mass murder. They took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States. And they weren't kidding when they did it.

When Colin Powell was reading faked communications intercepts to the UN Security Council session on Iraq, the US State Department staff was publishing ACCURATE transcriptions of those same intercepts on the State Department website.

The FBI "wanted" poster on Usama bin Laden says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about 9-11. If you ask the FBI why, they will tell you: The FBI has no evidence connecting Usama bin Laden to the 9-11 attacks.

When the FBI tried to cover up its cooperation with a Turkish espionage ring operating within the FBI headquarters in Washington, the Justice Department Inspector General's report on the matter was more or less truthful.

As usual, the rich, the powerful and privileged betray the nation without a second thought. But unknown, unseen patriots continue to survive within the US govenrment, although in very small numbers.

So, don't give up hope. There are A FEW people within the US government who are not willing to quietly go along with the US President's monstrous crimes.

There is hope that some day the world may be able to know the truth about 9-11. Let's get together at The Hague in about five years and make it happen.

REG CROWDER
http://www.RegCrowder.com

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Clarke's problem was he didn't have ChevronTexaco behind him
Posted by: channing on Mar 8, 2008 8:28 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Condoleezza Rice was not incompetent and neither was Philip Zelikow, both were/are doing exactly what the PNAC-Coup at the White House needed. Being in the loop meant knowing damn-well what Al-CIAda and Osama bush Laden was up to. Poor Clarke had no oil pipeline deals, no oil tankers named after him, hadn't served at Halliburton/KBR or participated in PNAC, so how was he supposed to know that Al-CIAda & 9/11 was just a compartmentalized black-op?

"Zelikow — who had worked closely with Rice on the Bush transition team in 2000 and 2001"

Gee... what transition? You mean all the PNAC appointees at the FBI, FAA, DoD, DIA, NSA, FEMA, DoJ, NORAD and other critical agencies, any one of which could have single-handedly blown the whistle on 9/11 in advance during "honorable" times? You mean the appointees who scrapped Clinton's Email Preservation System? You mean the scrapping of Able Danger people and the 35+ International Intelligence Agencies who also warned the White House in advance? Condi, Zelikow, I'm telling you, have done their job exactly as any War Criminal would.

9/11 is the foundation of the PNAC-led USCoup Inc., they HAD to get 9/11 done if Afghan Pipelines and Iraq/Iranian OIl to fill them was to happen... that damn Saddam and the Taliban wanted no part of ChevronTexeco, Halliburton/KBR and were moving away from US currency to boot, who could survive those Violations?

Nice new write-up on Halliburton/KBR's history here.

Anyone who believes in the principles of the US Constitution cannot afford NOT to investigate 9/11, this USCoup Inc. is a done deal even if a few heads roll, while the real corPIRATES are raking in our children and grandchildren's world.

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» A minor correction - Posted by: LeftWright
» You're quite welcome, channing Posted by: LeftWright
» RE: Let me follow that up... Posted by: channing
Odds of failure
Posted by: mkdelta69 on Mar 8, 2008 9:51 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
One late night of surfing 9/11 I ran into sight of mathematician giving probabilities on all the failures of 9/11. Some of the numbers were huge. I didn't save it and couldn't find it again.

Has anyone run into some page like that?

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Bush didn't even want a 9/11 investigation
Posted by: CJC on Mar 8, 2008 11:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Shakir doesn't mention that there was a 9/11 commission only because the Jersey Girls (4 widows) went on a warpath and made enough of a public fuss that even the Bushies couldn't ignore it. It was incredible to me at the time that an investigation wasn't launched within weeks. According to "The 9/11 Commission Report" the law establishing the commission was passed in November 2002. There were 12 public hearings from March 31, 2003 to June 17, 2004. Testimony under oath only began in the 7th hearing, Jan 26-27, 2004.

Bush's first choice to head the 9/11 commission was Henry Kissinger, but he and his consulting firm had dirty hands in some way and so that was scotched pretty quickly.

So it should be no surprise that there was an ongoing effort to suppress and limit the investigation. Clarke testified on March 23-24, 2004 (just after the publication of his book and his appearance on '60 Minutes' on March 21). One of the commissioners found out about the 8/6/01 PDB (President's Daily Brief from the CIA) and made Condoleezza Rice (April 8, 2004) reveal the title, which was "Bin Laden determined to strike in the US." But HE DID NOTHING! Went out to cut brush in Crawford or something; didn't even give Tenet a call.

As Clarke's book ("Against All Enemies," March 2004) makes clear he was shunted aside and demoted as soon as the Bush White House opened for business. They were interested in tax cuts and planning a war in Iraq (that from Paul O'Neill, Treasury Secy, in Ron Suskind's book, "Price of Loyalty.") They had no interest in international terrorism. Whether this was sheer stupidity and ignorance or something more sinister I don't know.

And after these public hearings and Clarke's book the country reelected Bush in November 2004.

It's always good to go as far back as one easily can to reports from the time.

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Rice not incompetent ....
Posted by: Shakti on Mar 8, 2008 1:38 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Bush administration did not want to prevent the attacks of 9/11. This was all part of the plan, and it worked out well for them.

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There are Individuals
Posted by: chicano2nd on Mar 8, 2008 2:03 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
who are black and they are proud as well they should be. There are others who call themselves Africa-American, and they are proud and well they should be. And there are those that are "yow suh, no m'am." They are befitting the N word. Condelezza Rice comes to mind.

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SO WHY DO WE NEED TELEPHONE SURVEILLANCE ?
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Mar 8, 2008 2:09 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When you consider all the warnings that were ignored, why tap phones? Apparently they don't pay attention anyway. Richard Clarke is much more credible than overhearing a conversation. Funny thing, as soon as we know something for sure they blow it off. As though everything worth knowing is 'classified'. What's right infront of us doesn't matter. I hope the '8 year hoax' is over soon. ANNA

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STRONZALEEZZA
Posted by: fg on Mar 8, 2008 9:30 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
should have been fired on 9-12-01 . . .

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oxheadone
Posted by: oxheadone on Mar 10, 2008 12:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The current criminals are the democrats in Congress who fail to impeach Bush and Cheney for their crimes. 9/11 and the stupid public response to the 'wild west' Bush behavior made it possible for the Bush administration to virtually destroy the best of the US. We should have used the CIA connection to the Taliban (we bought and paid for them to drive the Russians out of Afganistan)to destroy Al Aaida - they would have enjoyed it and for not very much money. Voting to attack Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11)was inexcusable. We destroyed our best ally against Iran.

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Off the Wall
Posted by: ProgressiveManiac on Mar 10, 2008 5:48 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A very interesting interview was broadcast on the January 27 edition of the radio program, Vote Rescue. Details are provided of how a citizen can bypass the prosecutor's office and file criminal charges against a public official directly. The discussion concerned Texas state officials, but the approach may also work at the federal level.

Are there any attorneys reading this who could offer an opinion?

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Incompetence or deliberate neglect?
Posted by: ibolyap on Mar 10, 2008 6:16 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Bushies seem to inhabit their own world where nothing penetrates. I don't believe that they actually knew what would happen on 9/11. They're initial reactions were so confused and disoriented. I think it was gross incompetence. They had a memo from the previous administrtation that warned them about possible terrorists attacks but they did nothing out of contempt for Clinton. Ms Rice has always done what Bush wants her to do. But they were able to turn that horrendous event to their benefit and they have been wielding it ever since.

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» RE:Sure, they KNEW! Posted by: GrannyBgood
sin of omission
Posted by: schnoggi on Mar 10, 2008 8:39 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
what is most telling about all this is how little real investigation has gone into ANY of the irregularities. Even if every single thing people are asking about somehow turned out to have a good explanation, the way BushCo has behaved, refusing to investigate, stonewalling, sandbagging anyone with a story to tell, circling the wagons: all of this is very, very suspicious. I hope it reaches a tipping point, and it might; recently i had a conversation with my brother in law, who is exactly the kind of person you'd expect to roll his eyes and laugh at any kind of conspiracy talk, but he agrees this glaring omission of pursuit of any of these loose ends is most damning. these bastards need to brought to daylight.

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Here's what I think (in case it matters)
Posted by: willymack on Mar 10, 2008 11:32 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All this silly noise about nineteen losers, none of whom could even pilot a single-engine Cessna, let alone a jet airliner, acting on orders from a "fugitive" in a cave halfway around the world, pulling off multiple highjackings, hitting the Twin Towers with two of those planes and causing them to fall at freefall speed into their own footprints (and as a bonus, WTC building #7 with NO COLLISION needed), hitting the Pentagon with a Boeing 757 with such speed and precision that it left only a sixteen foot hole and absolutely No bodies of passengers, or 757 aircraft parts. Then, there was Flight 93, which was brought down by courageous passengers in such a manner as to produce nothing but a smoking groove in the ground near Shanksville, Pa., no body parts, engines wings, or seats. How can one explain all this? Magic, of course! Since it was magic, no one could predict, let alone control the events, therefore NO ONE IS TO BLAME, except, of course those terrorist magicians.

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Theoretically, what reason might they have allowed the bombing?
Posted by: harryf200 on Mar 10, 2008 12:52 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Consider this:

Historical data suggests that Winston Churchill started the bombing of German civilians, bombing centres of civilian population, to draw the German airforce into bombing OUR civilians. Madness??? Nope - by doing that, the German bombers were drawn away from our military airfields.

So, what theoretically possible reason could the US Government have in allowing 9/11 to happen? Well?? What do you think?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Theoretically, what reason might they have allowed the bombing?
Posted by: harryf200 on Mar 10, 2008 12:52 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Consider this:

Historical data suggests that Winston Churchill started the bombing of German civilians, bombing centres of civilian population, to draw the German airforce into bombing OUR civilians. Madness??? Nope - by doing that, the German bombers were drawn away from our military airfields.

So, what theoretically possible reason could the US Government have in allowing 9/11 to happen? Well?? What do you think?

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Why hide such things as the reminence of Flight 97, and......
Posted by: common intelligence on Mar 10, 2008 9:35 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What is the problem with showing "their" evidence? There is not one resason to not show the people Flight 97 (or was it 93). Where is the one that flew into the pentagon? Where is the plane that landed in the field?

The whole secrecy thing is a cover up
Other wise there is no cover up!
"Deductive reasoning my dear Watson".

Obama and Hillary as well as McCain are part of the cover up too unless they use their newly appointed offices to come, to open the curtain of doubt, and reveal the truth.

The whole presidential election is just another distraction tactic stategicly synchronized in time to keep people emotionally distratced.
To reinforce the short attention spans of the stupified masses.

Not one scrap of any plane was anywhere to be seen or has been. But they got a monumnet there to commemorate it. Where in hell are planes?

Just showing it could clear a lot of misinformation up. But whos?

The MSM is controled by the CIA, FBI, NSA, HLS. as long as people are constantly distracted by the propaganda machine and the subjects are noy brought for front it's all just a conspiriousy terrory.

I wish there was a God who would blaze a rath on all the criminals in Washinton. But I have little hope but to teach my children well. It is they that will reveal the truth long after Bush is dead.
But I want the head!

One more thing. What happened to all the gold that was recovered under the towers?

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» No, no, no, no... Posted by: zipper696