NYT: Bush Aides Block Clinton's Papers From 9/11 Panel

[Trajan]

Bush Aides Block Clinton's Papers From 9/11 Panel
By PHILIP SHENON and DAVID E. SANGER

Published: April 2, 2004


ASHINGTON, April 1 — The commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks said on Thursday that it was pressing the White House to explain why the Bush administration had blocked thousands of pages of classified foreign policy and counterterrorism documents from former President Bill Clinton's White House files from being turned over to the panel's investigators.

The White House confirmed on Thursday that it had withheld a variety of classified documents from Mr. Clinton's files that had been gathered by the National Archives over the last two years in response to requests from the commission, which is investigating intelligence and law enforcement failures before the attacks.

Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, said some Clinton administration documents had been withheld because they were "duplicative or unrelated," while others were withheld because they were "highly sensitive" and the information in them could be relayed to the commission in other ways. "We are providing the commission with access to all the information they need to do their job," Mr. McClellan said.

The commission and the White House were reacting to public complaints from former aides to Mr. Clinton, who said they had been surprised to learn in recent months that three-quarters of the nearly 11,000 pages of files the former president was ready to offer the commission had been withheld by the Bush administration. The former aides said the files contained highly classified documents about the Clinton administration's efforts against Al Qaeda.

The commission said it was awaiting a full answer from the White House on why any documents were withheld.

-snip-

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/02/politics/02PANE.html?hp

[Terran]

1. That's a relief!

"We are providing the commission with access to all the information they need to do their job," Mr. McClellan said.

For a minute I was worried they were hiding something. </sarcasm>

[MO_Dem]

2. So, Scott McClellan says

they are witholding information that could be relayed to the commission in other ways! Just what does that mean, I wonder. I suspect they want to do a little (or a lot) right-wing white-washing to the facts and spin it to their advantage. This administration seems to have an incurable case of dishonesty.

[tabasco]

3. They probably show Clinton was actually doing something.

Contrasted to Bush, who was focused on funnelling money to corporations with the Star Wars boondoggle.

[Rex]

4. Stick a fork in this Misadministration! They're done!

Those papers (I would bet the farm) are full of evidence that the Clinton WH make it obvious that terrorism was Clinton's main concern to relay to the incoming Bush Regime.

How much ya wanna bet?

[avenueb]

5. subphoena them

if the commission lets them get away with this, then this commission is full of shit.

[never cry wolf]

6. Shouldn't the commission decide

just what is duplicative and unrelated? This is just TOTAL bullshit!

[koopie57]

7. the Bush administration

is making fools out of each and everyone of these people. Republcans and Democrats alike. I've done some stupid things, but I have never showed off my stupidity if front of the world. These Stooges, I mean Republicans, are being used and what gets me is they are so proud of it. I kissed George Bush's ass....I'm special!!! Look at me!!!!! Hey, I suck*d his wee wee....I'm more special than you!

[fearnobush]

10. More like, "look at me, * gave me his rusty trombone. Yeah, it hurt

a little but I did it for my party leader.

[fearnobush]

8. Subphoena them Now.

If these papers are kept under lock and key, Then we do have a whitewash of a comission.

[Mel]

9. yea right! liars!

they are holding Clinton's papers back because they know those papers are going to prove Clinton was doing his damn job when it came to terrorism and they weren't!

That's the night and day difference between a Rhodes Scholar President and a C average my Daddy had to buy my way into College Frat Boy selected pResident!

[DrWeird]

11. Isn't Clinton testifying?

Boy, wouldn't that be bad for the WH if Clinton testified that he was briefed on the possibility of terrorists crashing planes into the WTC.

[Old and In the Way]

15. It never dawned on me Doc, but

could this be the hour of payback for BC?

What a delicious irony that the man who the RW tried to impeach may have the power to totally discredit the RW in his 9/11 hearing testimony.

I've wondered why he has been so damn quiet over the past 2-1/2 years with regards to 9/11....maybe he will have his revenge and help in getting justice served for the 3000 Americans who lost their lives under the watch of these buffoon-criminals.

[indie_voter]

12. Please forgive this outburst in advance

WHAT WILL IT TAKE?!! Joesixpack better wake up soon. I am sick of this drip drip drip.

I want a flood.

NOW.

Okay. I feel a bit better. Thank you for your patience.

[0007]

13. This White House crime cabal is pissing me off.

Like turning over junior's AWOL military records, after they scrubbed 'em. Like telling folks his business dealings with Harken Oil was open to the public. It wasn't. Like Cheney refusing to turn over the Energy papers. Ken Lay who?
Like daddy bush expunging his cocaine arrest. The Medicare Bill scam that was suppose to cost 395 billion and now its 545 billion. Halliburton, the Carlyle Group. junior has 2.7 million jobs for the American people one day and then the next day they say they made a mistake.
No WMD, but we have 600 dead soldiers, for what? Talking to God. Thomas Kean chairing the 911 Investigation is the biggest joke of the decade.

If your not outraged your not paying attention.

[Beetwasher]

14. I'm Sure The Big Dog Will Have Something To Say About This

I'll bet those docs are a goldmine...