9/11 Panel Unlikely to Get Later Deadline

[kskiska]

Hearings Being Scaled Back to Finish Work by May; Top Officials Expected to Testify

President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided to oppose granting more time to an independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, virtually guaranteeing that the panel will have to complete its work by the end of May, officials said last week.

A growing number of commission members had concluded that the panel needs more time to prepare a thorough and credible accounting of missteps leading to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But the White House and leading Republicans have informed the panel that they oppose any delay, which raises the possibility that Sept. 11-related controversies could emerge during the heat of the presidential campaign, sources said.

With time running short, the 10-member bipartisan panel has already decided to scale back the number and scope of hearings that it will hold for the public, commission members and staffers said. The commission is rushing to finish interviews with as many as 200 remaining witnesses and to finish examining about 2 million pages of documents related to the attacks.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A28025-2004Jan18?language=printer

[Stephanie]

1. President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided

Somebody explain to me why THEY get to decide? I am in a serious rage right now. I am OUTRAGED. Bush WILL PAY for his crimes. And it will be in this lifetime.

[dusty64]

16. A real suprise!

completely ignored by the Pravda press as well as the earlier story re: some of the blatant and disgusting conflicts of interest of the panel members. Can there really be any further question that this whole thing is a sham whitewash? My only question is why did the Democrats go along? Didn't they get to appoint half the members, are any of the candidates saying anything about this?

[grasswire]

2. why did Dems allow the WH to make...

...so many determinations regarding this investigation?

It must be time to start an investigation of the investigation!

[Leilani]

3. Because they are outnumbered

The Repukes run it all.

Unless we win this election, we will truly be living in a dictatorship.

[gandalf]

12. The climate seems to be pro-Bush

Theoretically the Democrats could aggressively insinuate that Bush has something to hide if he wants to abandon the search for the 9/11 truth prematurely. But somehow that seems to be unpatriotic.

It is comparable to the O'Neill issue: Not what O'Neill said and what it meant about the "integrity" of the WH counts but only if he had published a secret report.

[htuttle]

13. That 'climate' you speak of is far from natural

It's more like unending 'background propaganda muzak' coming from the mainstream media, especially the sad excuse for 'news' on CNN/MSNBC/FAUX. It didn't just 'happen' -- it was a purchase.

Otherwise, you're right.

[DemonFighterLives]

4. Shrub better snap to it and provide information

Instead of stonewalling. Ideally an investigation could have taken place by now 2+ years after the fact. Compared to the Kennedy murder investigation we'll only have another 50 or so years before the truth comes out. Whether we get to the truth or not, this bunch has to go.

[lefty_mcduff]

5. There was little chance of much new info

coming out. This will be a whitewash. Bush is stonewalling, setting the (scant) budget, and now setting a completely unrealistic timetable. Bastards will pay when the Karma Gods come to settle up.

[qanda]

6. They are so obvious

And yet, no one seems to call them on it. This is outrageous!

I guess they don't want to mess up Bush's New York photo-op with the truth about what actually took place on 9-11.

[maddezmom]

7. bushco looking to sweep this under the rug

[cthrumatrix]

8. I have faith that "something" will happen to expose this evil man....how

can you possible get away with such obvious behavior. What difference wouldit make to him if it ran for 5 yrs?

Only if you afraid of what may be found...no other answer.

[SoCalDem]

9. How long did Ken Starr have???

The 3000 killed should at least warrant an investigation as long as the pantysniffers had for the Starr report.. And how long did they have for whitewater...for the travel office report....the fbi files ....

It's certainly odd that the repubes only want never-ending investigations when it is for sex or money...

I hope the 9/11 widows & widowers do not let this one go :(

[gandalf]

11. And what huge amounts of money!

Lewinsky + Whitewater around $90 millions, whereas only $12 mill. for the 9/11 panel.

Was there a deadline for Starr at all?

[psychopomp]

10. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't

Typical Shrub, he opted to pay later. He doesn't expect to have to answer to any of the questions that are pending before the comission. However, a candidate with the spine to put this question before the American people can make this an unavoidable eventuality.

I'll support the candidate that makes an issue of this in the election.

[RedSock]

14. working only few days a week

and as far as i can tell, they are still working on the commission stuff only 1 or 2 days a week. even with the may deadline approaching ....

more from WP:

"With time running short, the 10-member bipartisan panel has already decided to scale back the number and scope of hearings that it will hold for the public..."

and

"Public hearings in coming months will include testimony from key Cabinet members in the Bush and Clinton administrations. The likely roster will include Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, CIA Director George J. Tenet ..."

and

Kristen Breitweiser: "We've had it. It is such a slap in the face of the families of victims. They are dishonoring the dead with their irresponsible behavior."

Amen.

Rumsfeld and Tenet in public hearings? FUN! (Assuming they are asked something other than softballs.)

[DemonFighterLives]

15. You got that right

Anyone who opens the Pandora'a box in this case could be a hero.
:kick:

[indy thinker]

17. So I guess they wont investigate

Why Jeb Bush signed this on 9/7/01

http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/orders/2001/september/eo2001-261-09-07-01.html

[eek]

18. media-pestering campaign?

is there or can there be an agitation campaign on this?

y'know, blanketing with LTTE's, bombarding newscasts and whatnot?

Sheesh how many months anddollars for a blowjob?