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Diverting Justice: John Ashcroft and the politics of distraction
By Mike Whitney
Al-Jazeerah, September 7, 2004
On the day that FBI special agent, Colleen Rowley testified before a Senate subcommittee investigation the details of the 9-11 attacks, the Justice dept. preempted the hearings by making the “surprise” announcement of the capture of “dirty bomber”, Jose Padilla at Chicago’s O’ Hare Airport.
Understandably, media attention shifted immediately to cover this “new” threat to our nation’s security. Attorney General John Ashcroft, of course, failed to mention that the hapless Padilla had been “wrapped up” three weeks earlier and that the charges levied at him in the press were entirely without merit. (No charges have ever been filed against Padilla who still remains imprisoned three years later)
If the public had the opportunity to hear Rowley’s testimony, most of which was excerpted from a 17 page memo directed to FBI chief, Robert Mueller, they would have seen that the FBI was directly involved in suppressing investigations of terrorist suspects in the US prior to 9-11. The orders for such action could have only come from the White House; from those who had a vested interest in making sure that terrorists were successful in penetrating our security systems so they could carry out their mission.
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http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2004%20opinions/September/7%20o/Diverting%20Justice%20John%20Ashcroft%20and%20the%20politics%20of%20distraction%20By%20Mike%20Whitney.htm