Kerry Statement on Allegations Made in Senator Bob Graham's New Book 'Int

[seemslikeadream]

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Mark Kitchens of Kerry-Edwards 2004, 202-464-2800; http://www.johnkerry.com

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Sen. John Kerry released the following statement today on allegations made in Sen. Bob Graham's (D-Fla.) new book:

"Sen. Graham is a respected member of the United States Senate and a former chairman of the Intelligence Committee. These are serious allegations being made by a well respected and informed leader. If the White House and the FBI did in fact block an investigation into the ties between the Saudi government and the 9-11 hijackers, then this would be a massive abuse of power. We need an independent investigation into these allegations immediately to determine if the very agencies charged with investigating the war on terror have been compromised by White House politics."

Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.

http://www.usnewswire.com/
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35678

[NMDemDist2]

1. hehehe go Johnny GO! eom

[Catshrink]

4. Go Johnny GO!

[goclark]

48. Go Go Go Go Johnny Go!

Johnny Go!

Kick them right between the teeth!

[BootinUp]

2. This is serious shit.

Do you hear us now George?

[molly]

3. The Sauds have their tenacles into every facet of

this government. Unless we change leadership, we women will be wearing a different dress. Iraqi women had many opportunities that most - except Jordan - women do not enjoy.

[gristy]

5. yeehaa!

60 days, folks. Friggin' POUND 'em every friggin' day.

[seemslikeadream]

6. Graham Charges That Bush Administration Was Engaged in a 'Cover-Up'

Graham Charges That Bush Administration Was Engaged
in a 'Cover-Up' to Protect Saudi Arabia

28 Pages Blacked Out of 9/11 Report Focuses on a
Saudi Who Befriended Two of the Key Hijackers

NEW YORK, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In his new book, "Intelligence Matters,"
Florida Sen. Bob Graham, former co-chair of the joint House-Senate panel
investigating 9/11, charges that the Bush administration was engaged in a
"cover-up" to protect a key ally, Saudi Arabia. Graham claims the president
coddled the Saudis and pursued a war against Saddam Hussein that only diverted
resources from the more important fight against Al Qaeda.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040905/NYSU004 )
Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff reports in the September 13
issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, September 6), that Graham was furious
when the White House blacked out 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission's final
report that dealt with purported Saudi links to the 9/11 plot. Graham says
much of the deleted evidence centered around the activities of a mysterious
Saudi then living in San Diego named Omar al-Bayoumi, whom Graham calls a
Saudi government "spy." Al-Bayoumi befriended two of the key 9/11 hijackers,
Khalid Almihdhar and Nawaf Alhazmi, when they first arrived in the country.
Graham notes that al-Bayoumi was essentially a "ghost employee" of a Saudi
contracting firm called Ercan, whose owner was an alleged early supporter of
Osama bin Laden. He also had repeated contacts with a Saudi diplomat in Los
Angeles who was later thrown out of the United States on suspicion of having
terrorist ties. But Graham's conclusions about al-Bayoumi conflict with the
conclusions of the 9/11 Commission report.
Philip Zelikow, the staff director of the commission, noted that his panel
had access to more material than Graham did and ultimately got the chance to
question al-Bayoumi. They concluded that he had no connection to 9/11. "We've
spent hours and hours with Bob on this," says Zelikow, who believes Graham
doesn't seem open to new evidence. "He's got all these details. But it's like
they're frozen in amber." Yet even Zelikow acknowledges that Graham may be
right when he says the FBI never fully unraveled a Qaeda support network that
helped the hijackers -- and they still may be out there.

Read article at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5915547/site/newsweek /

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-05-2004/0002244367&EDATE=

[Dover]

10. How do you think this ties in with Israeli spy-gate?

From what I've read, there sure seems to be a significant path of information which leads from the spy-gate to 9/11 as incentive for the neocon agenda. I'm less clear how the Saudis tie in.

[Eloriel]

18. Makes Kerry's statement look weak and limp, doesn't it? n/t

[uhhuh]

47. Not Even A Little Bit

Graham is in a position to make these allegations, Kerry is not. Do you have Gov. Dean's statement about this topic? The only one I could find was from months ago:


"Environmental issues are national security issues. While the Administration does nothing to curb oil consumption, where does our oil money end up?It flows through governments in the Middle East to terrorist organizations who teach their children to hate the United States. Indeed, those 28 pages redacted from the September 11th report - those 28 blank pages - speak volumes about where our oil money goes."




Kerry didn't distance himself from this and said there should be an investigation about this. How is that weak and limp?

I have been a big supporter for Dean, and voted for him in California in our late primary, but I've had it.

Kerry needs our support now.

[Red_Viking]

19. Didn't Isikoff hound Clinton?

He has his own personal agenda. Plus we know how "bipartisan" the 9/11 Commission was. I'd take anything Isikoff said with several grains of salt.

This is undoubtedly damning if Kerry can keep up media pressure.

:dem:

RV

[A_Possum]

39. There's more info tying Saudi to 9/11 than there is tying saddam to

9/11

A lot more. But the obvious seems to escape everyone.

[Ediacara]

7. This is sure to get

minimal news coverage unfortunately....

[slinkerwink]

8. that's amazing!

[seemslikeadream]

9. 9/11 hijackers tied to Saudi government, Graham says in book

By Frank Davies, Knight Ridder | September 5, 2004

Graham also disclosed that General Tommy Franks told him on Feb. 19, 2002, four months after the invasion of Afghanistan, that many important resources -- including the Predator drone aircraft crucial to the search for Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda leaders -- were being shifted to prepare for a war against Iraq.

Graham, who was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee from June 2001 through the buildup to the Iraq war, voted against the war resolution in October 2002 because he saw Iraq as a diversion that would hinder the fight against Al Qaeda terrorism.

He oversaw the Sept. 11 investigation on Capitol Hill with Representative Porter Goss. According to Graham, the FBI and the White House blocked efforts to investigate the extent of official Saudi connections to two hijackers.

Graham wrote that the staff of the congressional inquiry concluded that two Saudis in the San Diego area, Omar al-Bayoumi and Osama Bassan, who gave significant financial support to two hijackers, were working for the Saudi government.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/09/05/911_hijackers_tied_to_saudi_government_graham_says_in_book/

[Jackpine Radical]

25. And guess who gets paid off for aiding the stonewall...

oversaw the Sept. 11 investigation on Capitol Hill with Representative Porter Goss

Goss, now proposed as head of CIA.

[hansolsen]

11. Good, but not enough. Ghraham on MTP today and just barely got a

mention of this topic. We need to tee this up where ever we can.

[belle]

41. Jon Stewart should have him on The Daily Show.

[Joylaughter]

12. Thank God For John Kerry

I believe we have a winner now. This is what the mainstream needed to hear. BOb Graham is a national hero for stepping forward. The traitors must be exposed and removed. John Kerry is showing incredible leadership with his statement.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Why don't we deserve the truth? No time like the present!

So great seeing Kerry's not wasting any time! Thanks, seemslikeadream.

[seemslikeadream]

17. Your welcome JudiLyn

I heard yesterday he's the only one that gets to smoke (cigars) at Barb and George's place during his many visits.

[Judi Lynn]

24. Republicans are so sociable, aren't they?

And he visits frequently. What a treat.

What could be more fun than a nice long visit with those folks?

[goclark]

49. I thought they didn't like Muslims

One minute they call them terorists and the next minute they are having friendly,comfortable chats in the living room.

You have to be pretty cozy to sit on the arm rest of anyone's couch.

If Georgie's guest was getting ready to board an airplane, he would be a red alert.

Ooops, sorry, he is a Saudi and in bed with the BushCrooks. He is the exception to the rule.

Do you think that OBL is in the same bed too?

[Stevendsmith]

14. Oh, yes, the media will be all over this. You betchya! (n/t)

[Junkdrawer]

15. Shit?... Meet Fan...

:bounce:

[jackofhearts]

16. Its up to Kerry to make this an issue

And if he does not relent and keeps up the heat...keeps up the accusations that bush is covering a Saudi connection (which of Moore's movie focused on big time) he can turn this around. Every speech must now contain a mention of this. Kerry better take this and use it as a suppository on bush and rove.

This is far more serious than the swift lies...Kerry HAS to make this an issue.

[merh]

59. If Kerry can turn up the heat on this and keep it boiling until October

then Moore's F911 will be released on DVD - talk about impact!

We have to keep this alive

[MuseRider]

20. GREAT statement!

My husband and I were just talking about this and we figured it would be something most people didn't ever hear about or that it would be reported quietly and dropped. This statement almost assures me that something will be done, even if nothing major before the election it will put some more doubt out there for those who are teetering between Bush* and Kerry.

[Catfight]

21. Will Kerry call for an investigation by an independent council? n/t

[seemslikeadream]

22. Silly Bob Graham, where does he get ideas like that

[Judi Lynn]

27. Let me be the first,perhaps,to congratulate you on this exquisite montage

It's the BEST! So many of our favorites, even the spokesman we see regularly on Meet the Press, etc., in the lower left corner directly, keeling on the grass. Superb!

Is there any room for this beauty?

[seemslikeadream]

32. What is with all this hand holding?

:hi:

[AngryOldDem]

31. This needs to be spread all over

You want to know who REALLY runs the country, folks? Take a look at these. If anyone's paying attention, Bush loses in a landslide, and the Bush "dynasty" is over. Just how badly has the family sold us out?

Kerry needs to keep hitting on this every day, and Graham must be heard as well.

[Guaranteed]

23. Fuck....YEAH!!!!!!!!

YOU GO JOHN!!

[indepat]

26. I had a dream that all 9-11 mysteries would be revealed on 1/22/05,

shortly after GWB is re inaugurated.

[truthisfreedom]

28. maybe you got the date wrong.

we can only hope.

[G_j]

29. "independent investigation "

now we're talking!

"Kerry wins, lame duck Bush impeached" I like the sound of that.

[A_Possum]

30. DU'ers, make this important book a bestseller

Maybe you've seen this in other threads on this topic, but I'll post here too. DU'ers IN TWELVE HOURS took this book from a sales rank of 7000 last night (when we started our pre-order push) to 49 this morning.

Interest and excitement about this book will translate into media attention, interviews for Graham to get the word out, and momentum for the facts here.

Obviously Kerry is gonna HIT on this one. Help him out. Get the book to #1 on Amazon, and watch it gain momentum from there.

Also, media blitz your local print and radio media, anywhere that books are talked about or reviewed; tell them you've heard about this book, ask if they are going to review it, talk about it at book clubs.

Many many many books "get legs" in the local media. The publisher is always on the lookout for this kind of momentum and will respond with additional printings and media push, but WE have to show that the demand for this IMPORTANT INFORMATION is out here.

Even if you can't afford the book (which you can read at the library, make sure to put it on request so your library will buy a copy) you can help create attention with buzz. It's one way around the big corporate media block. It's happened before and we can make it happen again.

Oh Edit: oops forgot link to Amazon

[seemslikeadream]

33. BUY THIS BOOK

:hi:

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

34. O.K., so you and Edwards are in the Senate. PROPOSE AN IND. COMMISSION

Otherwise, this is just a bunch of hot air. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND PROPOSE A BILL TO RE-INSTATE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION. Put your word to work!

JB

[seventhson]

35. He spoke the words - it is NOT just hot air. Frankly- I am GLAD that

Kerry is FINALLY saying ANYTHING about this.

His speaking up is HUGELY important and should not be lightly dismissed in this way.

No independent commission or investigation would be effective until AFTER the election anyway and would be viewed as extremely partisan.

I agree that we need this but I do NOT agree that the time is NOW for a Bill on the subject. Plenty of time to investigate PROPERLY onve Bush is OUT of Washington.

Then we can send them ALL to prison.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

36. Kick. Yeah, do it. n/t

[Zorra]

37. Golly, I wonder why Bu$h has not called for an investigation?

Could it be that he is afraid evidence will be uncovered that would result in his being arrested, tried and imprisoned for treason for his part in the 9/11 conspiracy?

[molly]

44. Because - see post # 43

[Gloria]

38. Those hand-holding pictures should be plastered all over TV in an ad

sometime in the future, as things heat up....And I hope Kerry heats things up!

[unfrigginreal]

40. Now, that's the shit!

Way to go JK! Swing that sledgehammer.

[susu369]

42. Sen. Graham is indeed respected

I've had this feeling for a long time that Sen. Graham knows MUCH more about the 9-11 background than he has revealed—even with this latest revelation. In fact, I believe this knowledge is what prompted him to run for president. However, probably because of ethical standards, he has held his hand.

My two cents worth...

:-)

[bvar22]

43. My favorite:

Credits to MoPaul whose work is superb. I understand some artistic license was taken with this photo, but it does capture the reality of the incestuous homosexual relationship between bush* and the Saudis.

[kwolf68]

45. No we know why Graham wanted to get in

He has a big smoking pile of shit on Bush and knew this nation needed him out of there.

[Disturbed]

46. Further evidence...

that the Neo Fascist have a stranglehold on Congrees is that no one, not even any Dems demanded that those blacked out pages of Saudi complicity be made public.

[kimchi]

50. Kerry is turning up the heat.

Graham was my second choice, after Kucinich. I do believe the Senators have the goods on some evil mofos. Let us do our part to get out the word.

[Tight_rope]

51. Kerry came out "Swinging" after the RNC...and we love it....

He waited to hear what lies they would say towards him and if they continued with the same all damn lies about the economy, healthcare, the war in Iraq and the same bullshit story about the world being safe now that we have Saddam. George Bush* you jackass, tell it to the Russians now.:spank:

[struggle4progress]

52. kick for Bush, Riggs Bank, Bandar's wife, and the 9/11 hijackers

:kick:

[Spiffarino]

53. Thanks for making my night, seemslikeadream

I'll go to bed with visions of Shrubby in handcuffs, doing the perp walk right out of the White House...

:yourock:

[napi21]

54. Can Graham be in trouble for revealing this info?

I know he's not running again, but this info was obtained through confidential intelligence hearings, wasn't it? At what point does that stuff allowed to be revealed?

Don't misunderstand, I think it's great that he did, but I'm concerned that instead of this turning on ShrubCo, they could make the BIG deal about a Senator on the Intelligence Committee releasing "secret Info"!

[Gore1FL]

55. I would imagine

anything he writes on this order has to be combed through -- The WH had to do the same for Paul O'neil's and Richard Clarke's books (among others)

[Matilda]

56. Wow! Looks as if Kerry has given his minders the heave-ho.

No more "hands off the President" rubbish.

It's about time - there's not long to get the message out there.

[A_Possum]

57. INTELLIGENCE MATTERS is at #21 this morning, up from #49

on Amazon.

We're not in the top ten yet, but going from 7000's to #21 in 24 hours is gonna turn some heads at both the publisher and at Amazon, I can assure you!

*******Graham on MTP yesterday:

MR. RUSSERT: Senator Graham, I'll give you the last word.

SEN. GRAHAM: And I would say that one thing this administration needs to do is to come clean with the American people. They are dramatically overusing classification, not for national security reasons but in order to protect political embarrassment. I think we lay out the case in this book of the extent to which Saudi Arabia was a key part of making 9/11 happen, and yet this administration has taken every step to obfuscate, avoid and cover up Saudi Arabia's actions.

MR. RUSSERT: To be continued. Bob Graham, new s--book, "Intelligence Matters: The CIA, FBI, Saudi Arabia, the Failure of America's War on Terror."

Meet the Press, 9-5-04

It's IMPORTANT to keep getting pre-orders in for this book, PARTICULARLY since Graham made statements like these on a television appearance yesterday, and Kerry also made a statement.

Orders for the book NOW will correlate with public interest generated by this media exposure, and therefore add to momentum for MORE media exposure. That's how the game works.

If you can't afford to buy the book, call your library and ask them to order and put you on the list. Also contract local media with the media blaster and indicate your interest in hearing reviews and discussions about the book and the topics in it. Many many times it's the interest generated at the local level that gives a book the "legs" that break it out to bestseller status.

This is a head-on battle with the lying "unfit" trash that's taking up space on the list. Freepers show their loyalty by getting out the wallet. We have to do the same, or the media will rightfully say, "Nobody cares, why should we?"

If you've already ordered one for yourself, get a Kerry friend to order one too. If you can afford, buy some for Christmas presents! Heck, buy a couple copies and donate them to the local Kerry campaign headquarters!

[Ernesto]

58. kick

This could be the biggest thing since Dick Clarke!

[struggle4progress]

60. kick

:kick: