ABLE DANGER - Ben Veniste backpedals

Officer Says Pentagon Barred Sharing
Pre-9/11 Qaeda Data With F.B.I.
By PHILIP SHENON, NY Times

What a day. Reading this article dredged up excruciating memories of monitoring the 9:11 Commission investigations televised on C-Span, and my constant wincing at the the volatile and accusatory comments and statements by members of the "which-(administation)-hunt", conducted by those bozos who call themselves the 9:11 Commission. And to think this bunch preyed on the emotions of us all.. that "we're here as a partisan group to protect our country" BS.

Can you see the steam pouring from my ears?

Considering that, from the onset, the Commission's conduct resembled a Bush lynch mob more than an investigative body, it comes as no surprise that the first Commission member to start the official back pedalling - ala, pointing the finger at others to blame for lack of ABLE DANGER's inclusion in the Commission's report - was Ben-Veniste.

Here was a man who undeniably was among the worst for displaying pompous arrogance, treating those giving testimony that may implicate any but the present administration with the greatest distain. He was an embarrassment then. And worse yet, he's not done opening his mouth and changing feet even today.

A commission spokesman did not return repeated phone calls for comment. A Democratic member of the commission, Richard Ben Veniste, the former Watergate prosecutor, said in an interview today that while he could not judge the credibility of the information from Colonel Shaffer and others, the Pentagon needed to "provide a clear and comprehensive explanation regarding what information it had in its possession regarding Mr. Atta."

"And if these assertions are credible," he continued, "the Pentagon would need to explain why it was that the 9/11 commissioners were not provided this information despite request for all information regarding to Able Danger."

Really? Blaming the Pentagon are we now?

The Commission's power was above all that. The members proudly stood behind their lofty goal. They could have called just about anyone on the carpet, forcing them to cooperate. They had the eyes of the nation - nay, the world - upon them for the proceedings. None could refuse without suffering the consequences... an erosion of confidence by the American public and the international community.

The Commission had ample glimpses of the evidence ABLE DANGER compiled. How was it Lt. Col. Shaffer phrased it? Something akin to - and I paraphrase - "the commission received two briefcases full of documents on ABLE DANGER. That wasn't even a 20th of what existed".

But what the Commission *did* receive was enough. Documents or not, they had ample testimony and hints at what ABLE DANGER had in their possession. Enough to easily warrant an all-out dig into the program further.

It appears, however, they must also have known what a Pandora's Box would be opened if they demanded more. Otherwise, why would they have deliberately buried it?

Today, as those with a conscience who tried to speak up so long ago again come forward, the Commission is being shown for the frauds they are - petty politicos busy formulating their excuses to save their sorry, polical butts.

When it came to distain, not far behind Ben Veniste was Ms. Gorelick - a voice conspiciously silent considering ABLE DANGER was information which, by all accounts to date, she should have been intimate. Was it not the nation's legal teams who deigned the information impossible to pass on to the FBI under the current laws?

I specifically tuned into the Fox Report tonight to hear the interview with Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer - a member of that supposed "non-existant" operation - speak out about his efforts to get anyone in the nation's security gurus to pay attention to their findings. The interview was intolerably short, considering the magnitude of the subject. However the interviewer was not one of Fox's big guns. I guess we will all have to wait for the MSM to catch up to the information network on the subject. But it is an issue that will not be silenced anymore.

Colonel Shaffer said he assumed that by speaking out publicly this week about Able Danger, he might effectively be ending his military career and limiting his ability to participate in intelligence work in the government. "I'm proud of my operational record and I love what I do," he said. "But there comes a time - and I believe the time for me is now -- to stand for something, to stand for what is right."

Were there but more holding office in this country that felt the same. Looking at the options for 2008, I'd say Lt. Col. Shaffer may have a shot at holding a signicant office. He's certainly demonstrated himself as a cut above our current power mongrels. If not, there's always the typical route that sleazy celebs take.... books, TV movies. Hey, if notorious mistresses and disgruntled, closet-activist military mothers can make headlines and money, I have to hope an honest military man with his values and loyalties in place can as well, right?

It is time the "CYA" mentality in Washington was stopped dead in it's tracks. Those with information need to start confessing truths... now.

As for those who deliberately discarded the obvious in order to protect their political futures? They are on trial with the nation. This goes far beyond bloated budgets and pork spending. This is American lives at stake. And those that passed over on the truth - in full knowledge of our dead of 9:11 - should be make to pay dearly with all they hold dear - their reins of power.