Ex-State Department Security Officer Charges Pre-9/11 Cover-Up

http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn03092006.html

By ALEXANDER COCKBURN


.....

Another prominent figure suspected of quashing the truth is Dietrich L. Snell, the Senior Counsel and Team Leader of the Official 9-11 Commission. Peter Lance writes extensively in his books Cover Up and 1000 Years for Revenge about Snell's shenanigans in cherry-picking evidence and excluding credible witness testimony, including information collected by the Defense Department's Able Danger Unit concerning pre-9/11 sightings of Mohammed Atta, one of the nineteen suspected hijackers. These allegations are now resurfacing in the news. The Associated Press (AP) reported on February 15, 2005 that U.S. Representative Curt Weldon, the vice Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee advised the public that the Able Danger Unit had identified Atta more than a dozen times before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Weldon also reportedly said the secret team found "a problem" in Yemen two weeks before the deadly Al Qaeda attack on the USS Cole in 2000, of which the ship commander was not told. Former (unidentified) members of the 9/11 Commission reportedly dismissed Weldon's findings.

My experience in the Philippines also appears to overlap Snell's involvement in the Murad case that Snell prosecuted. The Cooperative Research 9-11 Timeline (www.cooperativeresearch.org) contains a very peculiar account entitled: Early 1998:Prosecutors Turn Down Deal That Could Reveal Bojinka Third Plot.

The entry said: "Abdul Hakim Murad, a conspirator in the 1995 Bojinka plot with Ramzi Yousef, Khalid Shaik Mohammed, and others, was convicted in 1996 of his role in the Bojinka plot. He is about to be sentenced for that crime. He offers to cooperate with federal prosecutors in return for a reduction in his sentence, but prosecutors turn down his offer. Dietrich Snell, the prosecutor who convicted Murad, says after 9-11 that he doesn't remember any such offer. But court papers and others familiar with the case later confirmed that Murad does offer to cooperate at this time. Snell claimed he only remembers hearing that Murad had described an intention to hijack a plan and fly it into the CIA headquarters. However, in 1995 Murad had confessed to Philippine investigators that this would have been only one part of a larger plot to crash a number of airplanes into prominent U.S. buildings, including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a plot that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed later adjusts and turns in the 9-11 plot. While Philippine investigators claim this information was passed on to U.S. intelligence, it's not clear just which U.S. officials may have learned this information and what they did with it, if anything. Murad is sentenced in May 1998 and given life in prison plus 60 years. After 9-11, Snell goes on to become Senior Counsel and a team leader for the 9-11 Commission. Author Peter Lance later calls Snell "one of the fixers, hired early on to sanitize the Commission's final report." Lance says Snell ignored evidence presented to the Commission that shows direct ties between the Bojinka plot and 9-11, and in so doing covers up Snell's own role in the failure to make use of evidence learned from Murad and other Bojinka plotters. .

I know who the intelligence officials were at the U.S. embassy at the time of Murad's arrest and interrogation. These are the same officials who discounted the threat information I received about Rana. Do these people have something to hide? You bet they do!

Peter Lance was entirely correct when he told CNN anchor Lou Dobbs in a December 5, 2005 interview that the 9-11 Commission was essentially "a whitewash" and that it intentionally limited its investigation to 1996-forward. He said the Commission moved the plot's origin "to 1996 from 1994"and in so doing omitted information that linked Mohammed Atta to the terrorists responsible for the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Lance said Congress should put Dietrich Snell under oath to find out why the 9-11 staffer prevented the Able Danger information from getting to the 9-11 Commission.

Clearly, the 9-11 Commission's decision to use 1996 as the date that the 9-11 plot originated was also designed to omit the information that I obtained concerning Tariq Rana, and the connection he had with the Al Qaeda operatives who conceived the 9-11 plot.

.....

And even worse, Karmilowicz believes, "this breach of policy has now become the norm in the post 9-11 world, whereby the State Department has now been co-opted by CIA and the Defense Department to allow people to be abducted and killed rather than apprehended. In one case I suspect that because information was compartmentalized, an attack may have been allowed to proceed ­ in Jeddah in December 2004, ­ and five people were killed." . Karmilowicz likes to remind us how John Negroponte, the former Chief of Mission in the Philippines, who directed and approved the efforts of the various agencies at post, "was rewarded for his complicity in this cover-up, appointed the Director of National Intelligence, the person who approves secret renditions, eavesdropping, and the abduction and assassination of terrorist suspects".

Karmilowicz cites AP's Mathew Barakat and Peter Yost as reporting that Rob Spencer, the U.S. prosecutor in the Moussaoui trial in federal court in Alexandria, gave an opening statement to the jury in which he claimed that if Moussaoui had come clean -- i.e., informed the law enforcement establishment of his knowledge of the 9-11 plot -- in 2001, the FBI would have been able to use his records to locate 11 of the 19 September 11 hijackers, including all four pilots. Spencer also said the government would have kept those conspirators off airplanes and would have altered airport screeners to confiscate small knives and boxcutters. "Who in their right mind", Karmilowicz says, "would believe such a statement given what I observed and experienced in the Philippines?"

who cares about all this conspiracy stuff? Al Gore was the legal chief executive after 2k election, yet bush took the office.....also, bush's father is rumoured to have overseen the team that shot jfk, and his grandfather reportedly gave hitler vital financial assistance long before hitler bacame a war criminal.....

$2 Trillion in Counterfeit U.S. Bonds Seized (2/20/01)

abcnews.go.com/sections/w...10220.html

Billions and Billions
$2 Trillion in Counterfeit U.S. Bonds Seized

By Adam Brown
The Associated Press

M A N I L A, Philippines, Feb. 20 — Officials said today they have seized more than $2 trillion in counterfeit U.S. Federal Reserve bonds and arrested one suspect in the southern Philippines.

Police also showed reporters stacks of counterfeit Japanese yen and Argentine peso notes in various denominations, a few fake one-dollar bills and some other currencies seized Saturday.

Police and staff from the U.S. Embassy arrested a Filipino man in the southern city of Cagayan de Oro with the falsified currencies and U.S. bonds along with German and Argentine bonds — a total counterfeit haul of $2,157,044,400,000.

‘Very Good Quality’

The fakes were of "very good quality" but some of the bond denominations do not exist, said David Popp, a U.S. Treasury Department representative.

The U.S. bonds, totaling more $2 trillion, were in denominations ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to $500 million. The bonds of other countries were in denominations as small as $30.

Popp said the large bonds may have been meant for a major "lost treasure" scam.

"Very frequently these fraudsters weave a tale that there's these long-lost Federal Reserve bonds hidden away or found in a plane crash," Popp told a news conference.

The raid on the house also found two metal boxes from the U.S. Federal Reserve, said Nestor Gualberto, Philippine National Police superintendent.

Some Smuggled Out of the Country?

He said police charged Archie Mingoc with counterfeiting and were seeking five others. He said some of the bonds had been sold in the southern Philippines and that police were trying to discover whether others were smuggled out of the country.

"We know they were selling some bonds to very curious buyers — businessmen in the area," Gualberto said. "We're still ascertaining where they're coming from."

The raid follows two other large-scale seizures in Mindanao in December 1999 and February 2000, when a combined $110 billion in "good quality" fake bonds and currency were found.

Cagayan de Oro, 500 miles southeast of Manila, is in the southern region torn by at least three guerrilla uprisings.

Two Muslim separatist groups are fighting to carve homelands out of the region, while communist guerrillas are fighting to overthrow the government.

Strife in the poverty-stricken region also makes it home to kidnapping and other crime.
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn03092006.html
A Pakistani linked to that Manila plot, and also to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency may still be at large. The security officer charges a U.S. cover-up of possible involvement by the Pakistani ISI in the 9/11/01 attack on the Trade Towers. Although given these same leads, the Official 9/11 Commission failed to investigate them.

BUDDY BUDDY
http://www.gsnmagazine.com.nyud.net:8090/images/aug_05/atta.jpg
DO THE MATH

24 MINUTES

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MILITARY ORDER WATCH THIS VIDEO

http://www.bushflash.com/buddy.html

in eastern Europe, the renditions, the other secret prisons around the world, the Abu Ghraib/Guantanamo torture and deaths, and the domestic spying were all about--the Bush junta covering its tracks on 9/11, torturing people to find out who knew what, and killing witnesses/whistleblowers regarding this and other crimes--as well as killing business enemies (arms/drugs/child slavery, whatever).

I don't think the American people are stupid or sheeple (like some DUers do). Some 60% of them were against Bush's war on Iraq BEFORE the invasion (Feb. '03)--before all the lies were exposed and the full horror of it was known. They didn't trust Bush THEN, in big numbers, and still don't, with a big majority opposed to all Bush policy. But they are somewhat naive on how fascist juntas operate, and also in realizing that a fascist junta has taken place, here.

I had an interesting conversation with a very intelligent, savvy friend, in which I told her about the election system--two rightwing Bushite corporations, Diebold and ES&S, gaining control of the tabulation of our votes with 'TRADE SECRET," PROPRIETARY programming code, and virtually no audit/recount controls. And here's what she said: "But the Democrats wouldn't let that happen, would they?"

She didn't see that the issue is not what the Democratic leadership "would" do; the issue is what they DID do. They DID let it happen--for whatever reasons of fear, corruption or complicity.

She wanted to think that, however disappointing the Democratic leaders have been on important matters, there is still something that works in our political system, a "check and balance" against fascist control over our election system, that is, the Democratic Party's own self-interest.

She's not a stupid person, nor a pollyanna--she's just not used to the utter depravity of fascism--its ruthless corruptive powers, and its use of fear (blackmail, assassination, anthrax in the mail, etc.) --and can't quite fathom it.

I think a lot of Americans are like this. They're not uninformed. They're not stupid. They're in denial--it's a different thing entirely. It's an emotional thing--an emotional block against acknowledging that we are suffering a JUNTA.

They've been led down the garden path, it's true--like the proverbial slow boil of the frogs--with ever-increasing corporate power over everything--over our public airwaves, over the military, over the writing of our laws, over our public resources and systems (privatization), over the tax code, over trade policy, etc.--slow boiled over several decades. These fascists didn't rescind the First Amendment guarantee of free speech, for instance--they just took over all the possible mediums of speech--TV, radio, print (except this one--so far anyway) and made access to the commons exhorbitantly expensive and limited. They've privatized speech--and meanwhile have destroyed the "town square," the community centers/meeting places, with gigantic multinational chains like Walmart and "private" shopping malls, and of course with freeways and cars, so that there are almost no natural "common ground" meeting places any more in the U.S. You can meet other "shoppers" but God forbid that you hand them a protest pamphlet or carry a protest sign. (The shopping malls and the Walmarts will give you endless grief--threaten you, call the cops, forbid signs of any kind, try to confine you to some obscure corner, etc, etc. These are NOT public squares--though they should be.) The five fatcat CEOs who control all news and opinion meanwhile blast narrow rightwing views in our ears on the radio and on TV and put on a sort of dumbshow of 'free speech,' but it's just insidious noise. And then--the coup de grace--they use their media monopolies to literally create an "enemy" and a war, and to make it seem as if people support it, when even their own opinion polls tell them that people don't.

The slow boil. From Walmart to Abu Ghraib--and unlimited, uncheckable government crime.

We've ended up with an ILLUSION of democracy, with truly evil people running our government, and the people who have been "slow boiled" can't quite believe how utterly vile it is--and that they themselves are the frogs who are being cooked. It is an understandable sort of blindness or denial, for which I feel a lot of compassion. It's very human--and also I think it derives from a belief, a faith, in democracy and in human progress. They just don't want to--and can't--believe that this dreadful coup has happened here, to us. They KNOW things are not right. I think they go in and out of focus on it. And they feel quite demoralized and depressed sometimes--and fall back on thoughts like, "Well, we'll throw them out in the next election." And when you tell them that that can't happen any more*, they just stare at you.

---------------------------

*(Actually, I DO think that the fraudulent electronic voting systems CAN be overwhelmed by a huge turnout---because, a) I think they have to be pre-programmed to certain percentages (or at least that was the case in 2004), and b) the fascists don't want to expose their fraudulent election system to too much scrutiny-- it's too important to them to keep it in place.)

--------------------------

My inspiration these days comes from Latin America--where leftist governments have been elected over the last several years, often by big majorities, in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela and Bolivia, virtually the entire map of South America. Peru will likely be next. And this revolution is moving north--it looks like Mexico is going to elect the leftist mayor of Mexico City as president this year. One of the keys to this astonishing, profound and historic revolution is TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS--the result of years of dedicated work by grass roots activists, local civic groups, the OAS, EU election monitoring groups and the Carter Center.

And when you think what Latin America has suffered, and what it has overcome, you cannot help but be inspired. It CAN be done. Peaceful, democratic revolution CAN happen, even here. Ask Michele Batchelet and Evo Morales!

-------------------------

Some resources:

www.votersunite.org (MythBreakers - easy primer on electronic voting--one of the myths is that HAVA requires electronic voting; it does not.)
www.verfiedvoting.org (great activist site)
www.UScountvotes.org (monitoring of '06 and '08 elections)
www.solarbus.org/election/index.shtml (fab compendium of all election info)
www.freepress.org (devoted to election reform)
www.TruthIsAll.net (analysis of the 2004 election)
Sign the petition (Russ Holt, HR 550, great bill-has 169 sponsors). http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html
www.debrabowen.com (Calif Senator running for Sec of State to reform election system)
www.votepa.us (well-organized local group of citizen activists in Pennsylvania, where important legal issues are at stake, including state's rights over election systems)

Also of interest:

Bob Koehler (-- four recent election reform initiatives in Ohio, predicted to win by 60/40 votes, flipped over, on election day, into 60/40 LOSSES!--the biggest flipover we've seen yet; the election theft machines and their masters are now dictating election policy!)
www.tmsfeatures.com/tmsfeatures/subcategory.jsp?file=20051124ctnbk-a.txt&catid=1824&code=ctnbk

Amaryllis (Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia lavish lobbying of election officials - Beverly Hilton, Aug. '05)
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x380340

-------

Throw Diebold, ES&S and all election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW!

:think: :patriot: :woohoo: :patriot: :think:

Song of Choice

Early every year, seeds are growing
Unseen, unheard, they lie beneath the ground
Would you know before the leaves are showing
That with weeds all your garden will abound?

If you close your eyes, stop your ears
Hold your mouth, how can you know?
The seeds you cannot see may not be there
The seeds you cannot hear may never grow

In January you've still got the choice
You can cut the weeds before they start to bud
If you leave them to grow higher, they'll silence your voice
And in December you may pay with your blood

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth and take it slow
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn't know

Everyday another vulture takes flight
There's another danger born every morning
In the darkness of your blindness the beast will learn to bite
How can you fight if you can't recognize a warning?

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth and then you know
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn't know

Today you may earn a living wage
Tomorrow you may be on the dole
Though there's millions going hungry, you needn't disengage
For it's them, not you, that's fallen in the hole

It's alright for you if you run with the pack
It's alright if you agree with all they do
If the fascist's party slowly climbing back
It's not here yet, so what's it got to do with you?

The weeds are all around us and they're growing
It will soon be too late for the knife
If you leave them on the wind that around the world is blowing
You may pay for your silence with your life

Close your eyes, stop your ears
Close your mouth, they're never there
And if it happens here, they'll never come for you
Because they'll know you really didn't care

Peggy Seeger


"Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer, ein Volk"



One Hope, One people, One country, One leader.
One Hope, One people, One country, One destiny.

Stand up be brave my people we're here to stay, for a thousand years.
An oath you've spoken, can never be broken, you'll pay, in blood and tears
Never tire, never doubt, never falter, never slacken, Just believe in me.
Stand up, shout loud, stand proud, in what we will we will achieve.

One Hope, One people, One country, One leader will set you free
One Hope, One people, One country, One destiny for a thousand years

Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk.

It's not enough just to say you love your country, its not enough.
It's not enough to get down on your knees and pray, it's just not enough.

The price is high, the price you have to pay is your freedom, surrender yourselves.
Mothers send me your blue-eyed blonde-haired boys and let me see them, blue-eyed blonde-haired boys.

One Hope, One people, One country, One leader will set you free.
One Hope, One people, One country, One destiny for a thousand years.

Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk,
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Furher, Ein Volk.

One Hope, One people, One country, One leader will set you free
One Hope, One people, One country, One destiny for a thousand years.

How and Why Fascists Overtook the American Government
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2152568

George W Bush is a NAZI Stooge
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2418676#2423787

Nazis in the Republican Party
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1872652

time for another Bush/Nazis thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=199853

How the Bush Family Wealth is Linked to the Jewish Holocaust
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=311500

The Ghost of Adolph Hitler: Nazi Influence in America by John Stanton
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=572722

Enough with the "_______ is worse than/ as bad as Hitler"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1730317