The Most Important Question Gen. Hayden Needs To Answer

[journalist3072]

From my perspective, the most important question Gen. Hayden needs to answer, is why the National Security Agency failed to translate the communication between the Al Qaeada operatives that it intercepted on September 10, 2001.

Just in case some people have forgotten:

On September 10, 2001, the NSA intercepted communication from Al Qaeda members that said "tomorrow is zero hour" and "the match begins tomorrow."

However, they did not translate those intercepts, until September 12, the day after the attacks.

Why was it that the NSA did not do same-day translation of these intercepts?

What good does it do to listen in on Al Qaeda, if you are going to sit on your behind and WAIT to translate what it is you intercepted?

That's the primary question I'm interesting in hearing him answer.

[chicofaraby]

1. I suspect the BushCo answer to that would be...

"Why do you hate America?"

[journalist3072]

2. And our response should then be

Why did YOU hate America so much that you sat on your ass and waiting until AFTER we were attacked, before translating the Al Qaeda communication you intercepted BEFORE we were attacked.

LIHOP

[AnnieBW]

3. Because of the Lack of Resources

It's been publicly stated many times that NSA did not have enough Arabic linguists on staff to translate it in 2001.

No, the main question that someone needs to ask Hayden is WHO WAS THE CUSTOMER for the phone networking project. NSA didn't just do this on their own. Someone had to want that information. Who was that someone? The Office of Special Plans? Rummy? Deadeye Dick?

[journalist3072]

4. Your first sentence gets at the heart of my question

What is the point of intercepting these communications from Al Qaeda, if we aren't serious about translating them?

Obviously if you are intercepting communication from foreign sources, you KNOW you will need translators. They should have ensured that they had enough Arabic linguists on staff to translate these intercepts.

They don't get a pass from me because they didn't have enough personnel on staff.

It makes you wonder how serious they were.