Ashcroft Disputes Claims in Woodward Book

[sabra]

http://www.missourinet.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=23B5E8E0-EF67-4530-9DE3110C10F8EC23&dbtranslator=local.cfm

Ashcroft Disputes Claims in Woodward Book

A new book charges that the Bush Administration had been warned about a possible terrorist attack on American soil and didn't take the threat seriously. The book by Bob Woodward of The Washington Post has caused quite a stir in Washington and a rash of denials by those in the administration, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft of Missouri. Ashcroft says he never received such a briefing. And, former senior intelligence officials say a briefing about al-Qaida in July of 2001 discussed the possibility of attack, but didn't provide the nature of a possible attack or whether the attack would take place within the United States or American targets overseas. At that time, al-Qaida had already killed Americans in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and East Africa.

[gratuitous]

1. Show us your calendar, Mr. Ashcroft

Should be easy enough to prove that you never were at the meetings or received the briefings. Oh that's right; the conduct of officials in the Bush administration is off limits to public disclosure or comment.

So, why did you stop flying commercially in late July, seeing as how you hadn't had any briefings or been to any meetings about possible attacks?

[maddezmom]

2. the State Dept already cleared this up for us

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2541635

He's a liar and always has been.

[mod mom]

3. Oh...he just happened to stop flying in July 2001 for no reason?

[babylonsister]

4. Woodward may be lots of things, but I have yet to see anyone

able to dispute the truths in this book. I think Woodward covered his behind well, knowing he'd get the full spin treatment from those he's pointing fingers at. And for that, I say, "well done!"
It's his job, I realize, but still nice to see no one can find any cracks.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. You guys mean that the CIA didn't provide the date, flight numbers, and

seat assignments for you?

[Mika]

6. A "threat assessment" caused Ashcroft to stop flying commercial then

Ashcroft Flying High
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2001
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/26/national/main303601.shtml

Fishing rod in hand, Attorney General John Ashcroft left on a weekend trip to Missouri Thursday afternoon aboard a chartered government jet, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart.

In response to inquiries from CBS News over why Ashcroft was traveling exclusively by leased jet aircraft instead of commercial airlines, the Justice Department cited what it called a "threat assessment" by the FBI, and said Ashcroft has been advised to travel only by private jet for the remainder of his term.

"There was a threat assessment and there are guidelines. He is acting under the guidelines," an FBI spokesman said. Neither the FBI nor the Justice Department, however, would identify what the threat was, when it was detected or who made it.

A senior official at the CIA said he was unaware of specific threats against any Cabinet member, and Ashcroft himself, in a speech in California, seemed unsure of the nature of the threat.

"I don't do threat assessments myself and I rely on those whose responsibility it is in the law enforcement community, particularly the FBI. And I try to stay within the guidelines that they've suggested I should stay within for those purposes," Ashcroft said.

Asked if he knew anything about the threat or who might have made it, the attorney general replied, "Frankly, I don't. That's the answer."

Earlier this week, the Justice Department leased a NASA-owned G-3 Gulfstream for a 6-day trip to Western states. Such aircraft cost the government more than $1,600 an hour to fly. When asked whether Ashcroft was paying for any portion of the trips devoted to personal business, a Justice Department spokeswoman declined to respond.

All other Bush Cabinet appointees, with the exception of Interior and Energy with remote sites to oversee, fly commercial airliners. Janet Reno, Ashcroft's predecessor as attorney general, also routinely flew commercial. The secretaries of State and Defense traditionally travel with extra security on military planes.

The Justice Department insists that it wasn't Ashcroft who wanted to fly leased aircraft. That idea, they said, came strictly from Ashcroft's FBI security detail. The FBI had no further comment.