Orlando Examiner: Bush Warning Letter to 911 Commission Leaked, Do Not Probe too Deeply
If you were an investigative commission for a crime with subpoena powers, the FIRST people you would want to question are the suspects. Talk about the people who know too much. The tone is thuggish, barely concealed threat. Argue that "the protection of Americans from future attacks" is at stake. The way they protected us when they let bin Laden escape at Tora Bora.
From an Orlando Examiner write up:
"According to a document obtained by the ACLU under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on Tuesday March 16, the 9/11 commission was warned on Jan. 6th, 2004 by high-level administration officials to "not cross the line" in the investigation of the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. The high-level administration officials included Attorney General John Ashcroft, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and CIA Director George J. Tenet. The ACLU described it as a fax sent by David Addington, then-counsel to former vice president Dick Cheney."
From text of the letter itself:
"There is, however, a line that the Commission should not cross. the line separating the Commission's proper inquiry into' the September 11, 200J attacks from interference with the Government's ability to safeguard the national security, including protection of Americans from future terrorist attacks. The Commission staffs proposed participation in questioning of detainees would cross that line.
As the officers of the United States responsible for the law enforcement,...we urge your Commission not to further pursue the proposed request to participate in the questioning of detainees."
