9/11 Panel Head Assails Delay (Inquiry Might Have to Be Limited)

Chairman Warns That Inquiry Might Have to Be Limited

The independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks will have to consider scaling back the scope of its inquiry and limiting public hearings unless Congress agrees by next week to give the panel more time to finish its work, its chairman said yesterday.

Former New Jersey governor Thomas H. Kean (R) also said in an interview that the commission has not decided whether to accept an offer from the White House under which President Bush would meet privately with a small delegation, rather than with the panel as a whole.

Kean's comments indicate that two of the most important issues facing the 10-member bipartisan panel have yet to be resolved just three months before its current deadline of May 27. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, created in late 2002 after months of fierce congressional debate, has been hobbled by a series of disputes with the Bush administration over access to documents and other issues.

The White House reversed course earlier this month and announced it would support a two-month extension of the commission's deadline, to July 26, with the panel shutting down a month later. But House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has said he is opposed to any delay. Many Republicans fear that a later deadline would put the release of a potentially damaging report on the terrorist attacks in the middle of the presidential campaign.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55891-2004Feb19.html

Bush should have NO right to decide what/how his testimony will be in front of the commission...nor anyone else in this adminstration.

Democrats-Shut it down, tell the American people a real investigation will convene when the Democrats take back the House.....that might motivate Americans to vote if they want real answers and justice for the 3000 who died on 9/11.

that they want to subpoena his butt to appear before them. In the context of the immediately convened congressional investigation into a NIPPLE, this whole protracted process is surreal. Is this bizarro world?

I think that yelling to the press might be an actual possibility (either that, or Terry McAuliffe is trying desperately to hold onto his job).

I just wish he'd be a little more outspoken about this. I'm also puzzled beyond comprehension about the silence re: chimp's handpicked "independent" committee on weapons "intelligence", whats going on?

So we've got the rest of our lives to look for the nonexistent WMDs in Iraq, but the 9/11 commission has to hurry up?

http://www.wgoeshome.com

administration has played politics with the 9-11 commission every single stinking time they accusse the democrats of playing politics. Those bastards. They accuse the dems of it every day. The public needs to be reminded that the dems "might" be playing politics with AWOL but the 9-11 commission? 3,000 people have extended families who want answers. Fuck them for fucking with this.

I think most people see the Iraq invasion as justice for what happened Sept. 11. The voices that need to be heard are the families of the victims. I heard Kristin and the other 3 widows from New Jersey on NPR last week but that is not enough. This needs to be made a HUGE issue during this election season:
"What is bush* hiding that he won't let the investigation continue?"

That HE KNEW this was going to happen and just ignored it.

They are hiding, hiding behind the 9-11 commission and the pre-war intelligence commission. By the time we get the REAL truth, it will be to late.

Goddamnit, this should be bigger than than ANY politics and a justifiable case made to the public that these assholes are stonewalling. THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE!!

TOLL FREE to Capitol Hill. It's a free transfer number. You just ask for whichever office you want, House and/or Senate.

First thing in the morning, CALL one (or, better yet, at least two, including one republi-CON) and let them know WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND A DECENT INVESTIGATION!!! ONE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE WHITE HOUSE TO CALL THE SHOTS!!!

:grr:

:kick:

If he has nothing to hide, there should be no problems.