Did the 9/11 Commission make a deal to keep some facts secret for 5 years?

[originalpckelly]

Not many people noticed this during Mr. Ben Veniste's interview in the wake of the Clinton-Fox News Sunday interview:
"BLITZER: Now, I read this report, the 9/11 Commission report. This is a big, thick book. I don't see anything and I don't remember seeing anything about this exchange that you had with the president in this report.

BEN-VENISTE: Well, I had hoped that we had -- we would have made both the Clinton interview and the Bush interview a part of our report, but that was not to be. I was outvoted on that question.

BLITZER: Why?

BEN-VENISTE: I didn't have the votes.

BLITZER: Well, was -- were the Republican members trying to protect the president and the vice president? Is that what your suspicion is?

BEN-VENISTE: I think the question was that there was a degree of confidentiality associated with that and that we would take from that the output that is reflected in the report, but go no further. And that until some five years' time after our work, we would keep that confidential. I thought we would be better to make all of the information that we had available to the public and make our report as transparent as possible so that the American public could have that."

^^That gentleman's agreement is the reason I believe we don't know about Rice, and it is the reason that Ben Veniste lied and Zelikow lied. Pretty fucked up isn't it? Both parties agreed to keep quiet, no one has ever worried about what happens when people in both parties agree to lie to all of us; we may have to start worrying about that more.

This is a video of the interview on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer from Crooks and Liars, with this important and overlooked part; see it yourself:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/09/26/what-did-bush-...

[blm]

1. And why Terry McAuliffe ignored machine rigging and election fraud tactics

from the RNC for FOUR YEARS.

[philly_bob]

49. Please explain connection between election fraud and 9/11 commission

I don't see from this discussion why McAuliffe didn't confront election fraud.

[blm]

53. If establishment Dems agreed to NOT disclose 9-11 findings before election

it's not difficult to assume - based on the fact that McAuliffe never lifted a finger to counter RNCs vote suppression efforts for four years - that McAuliffe also agreed to look the other way before the election.

And apparently, Clinton's other boy, Carville, was caught passing info about Ohio to Matalin on election night according to Woodward's book. So, it ALL smells to me.

[philly_bob]

56. Thanks for connecting the dots. Still not sure.

It certainly is a fact that McAuliffe just rolled over on election machine fraud. As did most of the Dem establishment -- Carter, Kerry, Gore, etc. I sort of figured it was because they were unable to believe the immensity of the fraud. If it was a deal between GOP and Dems -- well, let's talk about that after November. Would need to discover a smoking gun, someone who says Dems agreed to accept election theft. We don't have that yet.

I didn't read the book and figure Carville/Matalin could be just pillow talk.

Tie up 9/11 and a stolen election into a single stinking bundle and you have evil of mythical proportions.

[blm]

58. Except McAuliffe was the one in CHARGE of securing the votes for ALL Dems

and ALL Dem candidates for FOUR YEARS - long before a nominee is known. So, he was the one TELLING Kerry that the DNC's Voter Integrity office was on top of the issue....fact is, it wasn't AT ALL. McAuliffe would have lied to ANY Dem nominee about the work they were(n't) doing.

AFTER is too late for rigged machines, soit's a distraction to point a finger at a candidate, when it's the Dem party INFRASTRUCTURE that is charged with assuring the machines are secured BEFORE the vote and votes are counted state by state.

Both Gore and Kerry won - Cleland, too. But the Dem party INFRASTRUCTURE was too weak and too naive to get their votes counted.

[philly_bob]

61. What's McAuliffe doing now? Chairing Hillary's campaign?

You got me curious, mlb.

What's McAuliffe doing now?

According to this Sept. 26 article in The Hill:

"Since he stepped down as DNC chairman after the 2004 election, he has been involved with about a dozen private companies by his own estimate. He said he has raised money for investment funds and real estate deals, and even dabbled in the energy sector. He has also served on the advisory board of Carret Asset Management, an investment firm in New York."

Source: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Fro...

According to the same article, he says he will chair Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign next year:

"Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has told business associates and Democratic donors that he will chair Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) presidential campaign next year, according to several Democratic sources."

I can't make much sense out of all this.

[philly_bob]

62. Another harsh view of McAuliffe

Here's a 2004 portrait of McAuliffe that's quite critical.

http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair10192004.html

However, strategically, this may not be the best time for the bashing of DLC-style Democrats with deep pockets.

After a Democratic victory in November, it shall be most interesting to revisit the question of the complicity of the corporate wing of the Democratic Party in the blunders of the past 6 years: Bankruptcy Bill, 9/11 Commission, Oil War in Iraq, Election Machine Fraud.

[blm]

68. Well, a President Kerry would mean a follow up of President Edwards with

no chance for a Hillary Clinton campaign.

[elehhhhna]

70. ding ding ding YOU WIN!

[originalpckelly]

2. I cannot believe no one else noticed this, you know it did happen...

on national television. I think Ben Veniste is itching to get this out there, as you heard he didn't want the interview with Bush and Cheney (and I bet other facts like the Rice-Tenet meeting) to stay quiet, but he was outvoted. He is breaking the silence and no one is there to listen.

[originalpckelly]

3. I think interview was even on Crooks and Liars.

No one followed up. Now we find out something more. I want to know what the other Democrats didn't want released that they would overrule Ben Veniste, who obviously seems dedicated to bi-partisan blame for 9/11.

[flyarm]

63. AT THE TIME THE COMMISSION REPORT CAME OUT IT WAS ON ALL THE MEDIA

and it was worn out on the internet..this is not new news!

fly

[mod mom]

4. WTF a gentlemen's agreement over the security of the U.S.? Did NSA

spying have anything to do with this "gentlemen's" agreement?

[originalpckelly]

9. I think so. Pelosi knew about it the whole time she was leader...

It is the unknown story, because no one in Washington is willing to piss off both parties. However, I think both Republicans and Democrats at the bottom of either party might be interested in these agreements. (This is speculation based upon the undeniable facts, no one has admitted to this like the 9/11 commission agreement.)

[krkaufman]

60. I would hope that Democrats would take Bush's declaration ...

... that "the party of FDR, and the party of Truman ... has become the party of cut-and-run" as the end of any pretense of bipartisanship in regards to the run-up to September 11th.

The Rethugs need to be hammered for their failure to protect the country before 9/11 and their abject failure and negligence in the aftermath.

Absence of oversight and accountability is the legacy of this Republican-controlled period.

[tex-wyo-dem]

38. Exactly what I have been thinking...

My suspicion has been that Bushco has been using the wiretapping info to blackmail whoever they need/what to.

There is no other conceivable reason to bypass the FISA courts.

It's Nixon all over again with the "enemies list"

[followthemoney]

40. Sneak and Peek Patriot act provision legalized the transgressions ...

of Watergate. Nixon's CREEP breakins could be argued to be legal enough to this supreme court.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. This is unconscionable. A committee that was suppose to restore

the public's trust, was making political deals. Ben Veniste's silence helped give the Republican's the last two elections. There has to be a law already on the books to prosecute anyone who silenced information of this magnitude.

[KittyWampus]

6. What choice did Veniste have? No Commission? At least now some

info is coming out.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Something is very wrong here. THAT's my point.

This was vital information. Holding this information back assuredly gave the second term to Bush. Why was Veniste even obligated to such a vote? Aren't there laws on the books that state that the government cannot gag information that might harm the public welfare, safety and health? There was such a law in the Florida Statutes before Jeb came into office.

[elehhhhna]

44. Isn't there ONE FUCKING PATRIOT left in Washington?

[originalpckelly]

46. Who knows? I don't anymore...

I am willing to bet they all have some sort of criminal background.

[indepat]

7. What has happened to this once land of the free and home of the brave

when gentlemen from both sides of the aisle can't bear to tell us what the people in power are up to and have done: complete takeover of all levers of power by a group of extreme RW zealots who are systematically destroying the Constitution and this Republic for they have a different idea in mind. Yet tens of millions of Amerikans support their actions in its totality. Utterly mind-boggling.

[originalpckelly]

12. I think they are worried, both parties seriously fucked up before 9/11.

Clinton had the less important infancy of al-Qaeda during his time as President, and Bush had the most important months before 9/11. In other words while Clinton had more time, Bush had the most important time; in my view because of that they share nearly equal blame for 9/11. But both parties don't want the American people to know how badly they fucked up, and hence this agreement.

[indepat]

20. Clinton surely might not have done enough, but if W did anything at all,

I completely missed it.

[The Count]

54. Equal blame? Sounds like a GOP mantra.

Every time they are caught in something " both parties did it.
Enron, Abramoff - and now thanks to you 9/11. Sorry, not buying it as I followed this story and read Richard Clarke's book.

[Vincardog]

57. both parties seriously fucked up before 9/11 is a GOP TALKING POINT

[Double T]

16. Government seems to have been OVERTHROWN by the extreme RW......

and funded and supported by corporate america. May explain why many Dems go forward lockstep with their head down.

[glitch]

39. Much closer to the truth IMO. Rather than covering Dem inaction far more

likely being blackmailed for future campaign contributions and media access, such as they are.

[Lars39]

8. K&R

Another deal!

[originalpckelly]

35. So many these days, aren't there?

Sickening!

[KittyWampus]

10. Blame this on Philip Zelikow & not Veniste. Zelikow was totally in contol

STOP blaming democrats for pity's sake.

[originalpckelly]

14. If Ben Veniste had spilled the beans...

the information would have come out earlier. Though I'm glad he is speaking now.

[Supersedeas]

52. his appointment to the committee was key--that alone should be fleshed out

[Solly Mack]

11. LMAO. Had enough yet America?

I'm sorry if anyone's offended by my laughter but damn...doesn't do any good to yell "Wake Up! when you're saying it in your sleep and America is full of people talking change in their sleep.

The system is corrupted. Until you accept that you can't fix it.

[kentuck]

15. Sounds like the Warren Commission...

cover-up the truth.

[originalpckelly]

18. Well they did at least agree to spill the beans some years later...

but only after the 2008 presidential elections. One must wonder why that would be so important.

[Tin Man]

17. 5 years = 2 election cycles. Gotta protect viability of Pres. Rice

Coincidence?

Or maybe the republican controlled 911 Commission intendted to whitewash the truth of Bush Admin failures until * was out of office and his successor (someone like Condi, perhaps) had been elected in 2008? Hmmmmm.....

[kentuck]

19. Another word for it:

Cover-up..

[originalpckelly]

21. A cover-up indeed. And quite sickening, but these are not the first facts

to come forward which were not included in the 9/11 Commission Report. One other is that an operative who worked for al-Qaeda , was also employed the Pakistani Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI) agency. This little tidbit may be found in this film by the Jersey Girls 9/11 Press for Truth. And this is one of many facts left out.

When the full truth is not told, people lose confidence in those who are supposedly telling them the truth. The often wacky conspiracy theories about 9/11 are the direct result, if one cannot trust the official account, other more politically convenient theories will fill the void. (In this case the involvement of President Bush in the 9/11 tragedy.)

I think those people who come up with theories have no reason but to think them, and they should not really be ridiculed, for their instinct is right: the full honest truth remains to be told.

[tlsmith1963]

83. Good Point

The conspiracy-theories are only spreading because the Bush admin. is too secretive. I have even become susceptible to them, and I usually think conspiracy-theories are silly. It's the era we are living in. It's scary, & people don't have access to enough information.

Tammy

[nashville_brook]

30. conspiracy

[savemefromdumbya]

22. what is confidential? The public should know!

[originalpckelly]

23. Hopefully this part of the interview will be given more attention.(nt)

[pberq]

24. Kick & Nominated - Thanks for posting this

[originalpckelly]

25. It just kind of made sense after reading this Rice interview crap.(nt)

[leveymg]

26. Did the 5 year embargo apply only to Bush and Clinton's testimony?

Now we know there were other facts kept secret from the public about which several officials who testified may have committed perjury. How do we resolve this?

Congressional hearings in January. Then appoint a Special Prosecutor.

[originalpckelly]

28. I believe it is reasonable to say other things were omitted in light Rice,

her interview, and the lack of that warning appearing in the report. There are tons of loose ends which have given those who are skeptical and watchful fodder for implausible conspiracy theories. (They aren't to blame, the fucked up commission is, they violated the trust of this nation.)

[elehhhhna]

71. Fitz is gonna be a busy guy.

[chill_wind]

27. kicking and recommended nt

[nashville_brook]

29. so like, can we agree that there is a CONSPIRACY here, afterall?

why or why not...

[originalpckelly]

31. Well not in the way that most of the popular theories suggest...

but yes there certainly was a conspiracy to deceive our people from certain damaging facts. Don't trust me, listen to Ben Veniste.

[nashville_brook]

34. okay then.

[leftofthedial]

32. they made a deal to keep the truth buried forever

if at all possible

[originalpckelly]

33. Five years is not forever. But it is innappropriate...

for a commission tasked with getting the whole truth to make secret deals that keep the whole truth from being known, mainly because it would be very damaging.

[blm]

72. 5 years IS forever in that it was meant to cover THREE election cycles.

The Supreme Court decisions made WOULD effect generations to come.

[peacetalksforall]

36. Dick and George fought investigation and only settled for

an investigation of the intelligence services. Now we learn that their is a five year block on what they said? And the Commission agreed to it?

Is this to create credibility and an excuse for the killing that has gone down until they are safely out of the WH and other Republicans can be elected?

I totally dismiss and condemn the entire effort of the Commission.

We should have had a criminal investigataion from the beginning. 9-11 was a criminal act. Privately funded. Private citizens carrying it out (if you believe terrorists planned and executed it).

It is crystal clear that this is a corporate attack on the people of the ME and that the Commission protected the corporations and their (the corporatstions) operatives in politics that they placed in the government to work for them.

[babydollhead]

37. kick

[lostnotforgotten]

41. The Reason I Am Now Independent

We the people can no longer trust anyone in a position of power to tell us the truth when it really matters.

[originalpckelly]

43. While I am totally disgusted with all those in Congress, I remain a Dem...

The people at the bottom and their beliefs are most like my own. They usually have a beautiful dedication to the truth, so I remain a Democrat.

[Imagevision]

42. Bush said it would be unfair for 9-11 report to be released before 2004

election, "unfair"?? - It was unfair to the voters NOT to have the information in order to cast their votes!!

[BelgianMadCow]

45. Thank you!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

for spotlighting this admission.

[originalpckelly]

47. Sorry I didn't see it, but I am glad someone interpreted it the same...

way. Now I am confident most people will see it as such.

[rosesaylavee]

48. Come on, its not like they work for us, right? n/t

[me b zola]

50. k&r

[fooj]

51. Shouldn't this be sent to K. Olbermann? He'll report it.

[flyarm]

64. ti was on all the news when the report came out and it was all over the

internet at the time..i remember posting it many many times..as were others..extensively

fly

[farmbo]

55. The first '08 candidate (Dem or Repub) who advocates a"New. 9/11 Comm..."

...created with unrestricted subpoena powers, a paid staff, and commissioners from all walks of life (Engineering, Fire Fighters, Victim's families, Covert Intelligence-- not just political flunkies) will enjoy a groundswell of popular support.

Let's hope that forward-looking candidate is a Democrat!

[krkaufman]

59. Ben-Veniste points reporters to Zelikow

Ben-Veniste bounces reporters to Zelikow for explanation of why the official 9/11 Commission Report didn't include any mention of the Rice July 10 or later Ashcroft/Rumsfeld meetings.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/...

Rumsfeld, Ashcroft received warning of al Qaida attack before 9/11
By JONATHAN S. LANDAY, WARREN P. STROBEL and JOHN WALCOTT
McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Mon, Oct. 02, 2006

...

Ben-Veniste confirmed to McClatchy Newspapers that Tenet outlined for the 9/11 commission the July 10 briefing to Rice in secret testimony in January 2004. He referred questions about why the commission omitted any mention of the briefing in its report to Zelikow, the report's main author. Zelikow didn't respond to e-mail and telephone queries from McClatchy Newspapers.

...

[EVDebs]

65. Fascism on the Installment Plan

Gee whiz, with Dems like these who needs Republicans ?

[bananas]

66. Five years from Aug 21, 2004 is Aug 21, 2009

Commission ended on Aug 21, 2004
Five years later is Aug 21, 2009
Five months after the next president is sworn in (Jan 20, 2009).

[rodeodance]

67. meanwhile ---Where is PHASE II?

[GeorgeGist]

69. Chickenshits can't stand to handle the truth...

so leave it for someone else to clean up while they make their getaway.

[librechik]

73. K ick

[robertpaulsen]

74. To the top! Thanks for letting me know about this, blm!

[blm]

77. You're welcome - - - and

where have you been?

[robertpaulsen]

78. Still living in a place I used to call The Land of the Free.

I guess my participation here has been pretty sporadic since the Plame Threads of 2004, back when I thought America still had a chance to be resuscitated. It's hard to stay positive when even so many progressives still relegate so many of the neo-con crimes against this country to the tinfoil trash can. But I appreciate what you're doing, and still try to raise my own voice when I can.

[blm]

79. Hey, we do what we can. I think more people are catching on to the BIGGER

story that we see, though.

[robertpaulsen]

80. Raising consciousness makes me happy.

42% of Americans believing the Original Conspiracy Theory of 9/11 is bullshit makes me happy. I know the numbers are growing where election fraud is concerned too, so that is good.

[blm]

82. I hear you. It seems like we've been battling for a century.....

and in a poetic way, I guess we have.

[pauldp]

75. kick . nt

[helderheid]

76. K & R

[DesertRat]

81. kick

[FogerRox]

84. kickin for WE the Pepole.

[blm]

86. and We the other People.

.

[bobbie]

85. Wow, I didn't think I could still be shocked, but this is appalling

kick

[tiptoe]

87. kick