New 9-11 Commission Report Chastises US on Nuclear Protection
Jim Kouri, CPP
November 15, 2005
The federal government continues to get failing grades for its protection of nuclear weapons from terrorists, according to a report by members of the 9-11 commission. The report was also critical of the government's handling of terrorism suspects saying that it is undermining America's image in the Muslim world.
Intelligence reports have shown that Al-Qaeda has sought nuclear weapons for a decade, but according to the chairman of the commission, Tom Keane, the most striking thing to they found was that the problem is being tepidly addressed. The commission also noted that half the nuclear materials in Russia are inadequately protected.
The bipartisan commission was established by the US Congress to investigate the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by Osama bin Laden's Al -Qaeda network that killed nearly 3,000 people. It recently came under fire for failing to investigate claims made by members of a secret military intelligence unit, code-named "Able Danger." Apparently, the commission continues to ignore Able Danger allegations that their intelligence was never shared with the FBI because of rules -- some of which were promulgated by commission member Jamie Gorelick, a former Deputy Attorney General during the Clinton Administration. Gorelick had issued a memo in 1995 prohibiting the sharing of intelligence between the law enforcement and intelligence communities.
In addition, the commission was criticized for not delving into the intelligence failures during the Clinton Administration. For instance, the panel never explored the problems created by an executive order prohibiting CIA operatives from using "unsavory characters" as "assets" or confidential informants. In other words, CIA agents could not use drug dealers, gunrunners or terrorists as confidential informants.
The commission completed its original mandate after submitting its final report in July 2004, but commissioners continued to function as the 9-11 Public Discourse Project, which is concerned with monitoring the progress of the implementation of the commission's recommendations.
Not surprising, the commission attributed the lack of progress to the complexities involved in implementing reforms coupled with a highly partisan government that prone to distraction even from top agenda items by political considerations and fingerpointing.
Part of the 9-11 commission report stressed the need for political leaders to work together to safeguard the US, but commission members claim they've seen the government become more partisan and more lacking in unity.
Intelligence reports have shown that Al-Qaeda has sought nuclear weapons for a decade, but according to the chairman of the commission, Tom Keane, the most striking thing to they found was that the problem is being tepidly addressed. The commission also noted that half the nuclear materials in Russia are inadequately protected.
The bipartisan commission was established by the US Congress to investigate the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by Osama bin Laden's Al -Qaeda network that killed nearly 3,000 people. It recently came under fire for failing to investigate claims made by members of a secret military intelligence unit, code-named "Able Danger." Apparently, the commission continues to ignore Able Danger allegations that their intelligence was never shared with the FBI because of rules -- some of which were promulgated by commission member Jamie Gorelick, a former Deputy Attorney General during the Clinton Administration. Gorelick had issued a memo in 1995 prohibiting the sharing of intelligence between the law enforcement and intelligence communities.
In addition, the commission was criticized for not delving into the intelligence failures during the Clinton Administration. For instance, the panel never explored the problems created by an executive order prohibiting CIA operatives from using "unsavory characters" as "assets" or confidential informants. In other words, CIA agents could not use drug dealers, gunrunners or terrorists as confidential informants.
The commission completed its original mandate after submitting its final report in July 2004, but commissioners continued to function as the 9-11 Public Discourse Project, which is concerned with monitoring the progress of the implementation of the commission's recommendations.
Not surprising, the commission attributed the lack of progress to the complexities involved in implementing reforms coupled with a highly partisan government that prone to distraction even from top agenda items by political considerations and fingerpointing.
Part of the 9-11 commission report stressed the need for political leaders to work together to safeguard the US, but commission members claim they've seen the government become more partisan and more lacking in unity.
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