I don't read spy novels, nor do I adhere to conspiracy theories. Michael Moore holds no interest for me (the last movie I saw was Shrek 2) and I don't have the head to read Seymour Hersh. But, I am concerned over the state of the world, and the absence of true leadership, and stuff like accountability and justice.
The following article is comprised of a variety of both reputable and, admittedly, more debatable sources. Yet, it brings up issues that should be of great concern to all of us. It also transcends partisan political lines and truly bridges the gap between Democrats and Republicans, Israeli leftists and rightists, and all thinking individuals - whether liberal, conservative or undecided. It doesn't matter if your heart rallies to the cause of justice for Daniel Pearl, justice for Jonathan Pollard, or justice for all. Anyone with concern for either the future of America and/or of Israel should take heed and grapple with the information below and learn to ask questions, as we're all in this together...
"On the morning of Sept. 11, Goss and Graham were having breakfast with a Pakistani general named Mahmud Ahmed -- the soon-to-be-sacked head of Pakistan's intelligence service. Ahmed ran a spy agency notoriously close to Osama bin Laden and the Taliban." (Washington Post, May 18, 2002)
In additon to Congressman Goss, Senator Graham and the Pakistani Intelligence chief, it should be noted that the other participants in the meeting were Senator [Democrat] Jon Kyl, the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, and Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Maleeha Lodhi. The meeting was in session when the first plane hit.
It seems that SIS head General Mahmud Ahmed "...lost his job because of the 'evidence' India produced to show his links to one of the suicide bombers that wrecked the World Trade Centre. The US authorities sought his removal after confirming the fact that $100,000 were wired to WTC hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan by Ahmad Umar Sheikh at the instance of General Mahumd." (Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2001)
It appears that sources close to deceased Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Pearl say that prior to his beheading in Pakistan on January 29 or 30, 2002, "he was working to uncover links between the intelligence services and terrorism." (The Guardian, April 5, 2002)
This week, President Bush nominated Porter Goss, the former CIA agent and Republican Congressman [Florida], to head the CIA. Coincidentally, it was Goss and Senator Bob Graham [D-Florida] who co-chaired the bi-partisan congressional inquiry on 9/11. But under the circumstances, they should have been the ones questioned by the first commission. One has to wonder why the apparent conflict of interest was "overlooked" by the powers-that-be.
In an article published by Global Outlook, author Michel Chossudovsky notes that "While the Washington Post scores in on the 'notoriously close' links between General Ahmad and Osama bin Laden, it fails to dwell on the more important question: what were Rep. Porter Goss and Senator Bob Graham and other members of the Senate and House intelligence committees doing together with the alleged 9/11 'money-man' at breakfast on the morning of 9/11."
Seeing as these law makers and intelligence specialists were well-acquainted with the inner-workings of the spy network in Pakistan, I find it odd that the ever-diligent media didn't question the earnestness of following statements by Goss and Graham when they appeared on the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on December 11, 2002.
Senator Graham: "I was surprised at the evidence that there were foreign governments involved in facilitating the activities of at least some of the terrorists in the United States."
Rep. Goss: "You all know that we've worked very hard trying to create a clearer accountability trail for people with responsibilities here..."
Senator John Kyle, had this to say: "To defeat terrorism, we must not only go after the terrorists themselves, but also track, expose, and cut off terrorists' access to financial and logistical support. That is why we must continue our efforts to connect the dots between the horrific attacks of two years ago and those who supported the attackers." (National Review Online, September 100, 2003)
But Senator Kyle, as sincere as his comments may be, was among those sharing danish and coffee with the Al-Qaeda-connected general on the morning of 9/11. And yet, he chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security.
Even if the original relationship was well-intentioned and mutated due to an increasingly complex world, there was indeed an ISI (Pakistani Intelligence), CIA, Al-Qaeda connection.
Furthermore, as government representatives for the State of Florida who have worked with the intelligence community, and have a good relationship with Florida's influential business and private sector, Graham and Goss should have been barred from chairing the 9/11 inquiry on purely ethical grounds. It must be remembered that in addition to being Saudi, a good number of the of the hijackers had lived in Florida and attended well-respected flight schools in the area. Atta had received US military training and there are reports that CIA operatives were also trained at those schools.
I haven't read the book The New Pearl Harbor by David Griffin, but the Baltimore Sun had this to say: "...there is a very good synopsis of the ISI, which is the Pakistani intelligence service. He shows the direct connections between the CIA, the ISI, and Mohamed Atta. He makes a very convincing case that the Pakistani ISI had been helping to plan 9/11 for a long time."
It seems that for all of the touting of America's seeming fool-proof democratic system of checks and balances, it is hardly immune to corruption and scandal - especially when elections are forthcoming and George Bush openly declares that "Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror..."
There are increasing suspicions and calls for accountability.
In a recent article entitled "Politics and Terrorism Alerts Don't Mix", conservative George F. Will, columnist for the Washington Post, calls on the government to be aware of public temperament at a time when "cynicism is aggravated by government insensitivity to suspicions that already are rampant..." He writes that, "...if a terrorism alert is based on intelligence some of which is years old, the government should say so immediately." He goes on to site a "non-fanatic" article that appeared in last month's New Republic, which he feels is evidence of the public's growing disbelief. That article claimed, "...that the Bush administration was pressuring Pakistan to deliver a 'high-value target' (HVT) in time for the November election. A Pakistani intelligence official says a colleague was told during a spring visit to the White House that 'it would be best if the arrest or killing of (any) HVT were announced on 26, 27 or 28 July' during the Democratic convention."
Now here's an interesting twist, Tony Karon, columinst for Time magazine feels that although Israel's candor and ability to admit a mistake may "shock Americans," that kind of honesty "has been distinctly lacking in Washington's investigation of the 9/11 attacks." He notes that "Israeli leaders freely admit that the growth of Hamas was partly a tragedy of their own making."
What's the historic mistake that American leaders are loathe to admit?
"It is generally accepted among historians.... [that] the program to recruit, arm, train and deploy [bin Laden¹s organization] involved three U.S.-allied intelligence agencies, those of Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia working in conjunction with the CIA, which was coordinating America's own covert assistance to the Afghan jihad." (Time magazine, April 8, 2004)
As an Israeli, I can tell you firsthand that the blemishes and blunders are embarrassing to look at - especially when the media is so focused on Israel and the mistakes that we make and scandals we create. But maybe that honesty about our imperfections and our open struggle with choices is the key to the survival of our nation, and is what true freedom is all about. What appears to the world (and to many Israelis) as political, security and economic chaos, may actually be part of a painful growth process.
American Jews should not be blinded by the perfectly beautiful and slick piece of election propaganda entitled "President George W. Bush: A Friend of the American Jewish Community". Nor should they fall for what I'm sure will be a stunning production, in response, by Democratic candidate John Kerry. There's something quite rotten under the facade.
For those American Jews who feel that I'm jeopardizing the alliance that both Israel and Diaspora Jewry enjoys with the American government and its representatives, please be assured my efforts are directed towards rectifying the relationship.
If the American-Jewish relationship is based solely on unquestioning subservience, then you might as well be living in ancient Egypt, Babylon or Rome.
Asking questions in no way conflicts with your loyalty to the United States government, as it is your duty and right as a citizen of a democratic state. But more importantly, it is your obligation as a human being who has been commanded by G-d to "choose life" and "pursue justice".
If Porter Goss, who was intimately involved in the intelligence community during America's years of historic foreign policy blunders, becomes head of the CIA, then America, the American Jewish community and Israel has a lot to be concerned about. He will more than likely continue to court Pakistan, Egypt and the Saudis, rather than expose the depths of negligence and take corrective measures - it's just too embarrassing to do otherwise. But more about that in Part 2 of this article.
The following article is comprised of a variety of both reputable and, admittedly, more debatable sources. Yet, it brings up issues that should be of great concern to all of us. It also transcends partisan political lines and truly bridges the gap between Democrats and Republicans, Israeli leftists and rightists, and all thinking individuals - whether liberal, conservative or undecided. It doesn't matter if your heart rallies to the cause of justice for Daniel Pearl, justice for Jonathan Pollard, or justice for all. Anyone with concern for either the future of America and/or of Israel should take heed and grapple with the information below and learn to ask questions, as we're all in this together...
"On the morning of Sept. 11, Goss and Graham were having breakfast with a Pakistani general named Mahmud Ahmed -- the soon-to-be-sacked head of Pakistan's intelligence service. Ahmed ran a spy agency notoriously close to Osama bin Laden and the Taliban." (Washington Post, May 18, 2002)
In additon to Congressman Goss, Senator Graham and the Pakistani Intelligence chief, it should be noted that the other participants in the meeting were Senator [Democrat] Jon Kyl, the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, and Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Maleeha Lodhi. The meeting was in session when the first plane hit.
It seems that SIS head General Mahmud Ahmed "...lost his job because of the 'evidence' India produced to show his links to one of the suicide bombers that wrecked the World Trade Centre. The US authorities sought his removal after confirming the fact that $100,000 were wired to WTC hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan by Ahmad Umar Sheikh at the instance of General Mahumd." (Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2001)
It appears that sources close to deceased Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Pearl say that prior to his beheading in Pakistan on January 29 or 30, 2002, "he was working to uncover links between the intelligence services and terrorism." (The Guardian, April 5, 2002)
This week, President Bush nominated Porter Goss, the former CIA agent and Republican Congressman [Florida], to head the CIA. Coincidentally, it was Goss and Senator Bob Graham [D-Florida] who co-chaired the bi-partisan congressional inquiry on 9/11. But under the circumstances, they should have been the ones questioned by the first commission. One has to wonder why the apparent conflict of interest was "overlooked" by the powers-that-be.
In an article published by Global Outlook, author Michel Chossudovsky notes that "While the Washington Post scores in on the 'notoriously close' links between General Ahmad and Osama bin Laden, it fails to dwell on the more important question: what were Rep. Porter Goss and Senator Bob Graham and other members of the Senate and House intelligence committees doing together with the alleged 9/11 'money-man' at breakfast on the morning of 9/11."
Seeing as these law makers and intelligence specialists were well-acquainted with the inner-workings of the spy network in Pakistan, I find it odd that the ever-diligent media didn't question the earnestness of following statements by Goss and Graham when they appeared on the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on December 11, 2002.
Senator Graham: "I was surprised at the evidence that there were foreign governments involved in facilitating the activities of at least some of the terrorists in the United States."
Rep. Goss: "You all know that we've worked very hard trying to create a clearer accountability trail for people with responsibilities here..."
Senator John Kyle, had this to say: "To defeat terrorism, we must not only go after the terrorists themselves, but also track, expose, and cut off terrorists' access to financial and logistical support. That is why we must continue our efforts to connect the dots between the horrific attacks of two years ago and those who supported the attackers." (National Review Online, September 100, 2003)
But Senator Kyle, as sincere as his comments may be, was among those sharing danish and coffee with the Al-Qaeda-connected general on the morning of 9/11. And yet, he chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security.
Even if the original relationship was well-intentioned and mutated due to an increasingly complex world, there was indeed an ISI (Pakistani Intelligence), CIA, Al-Qaeda connection.
Furthermore, as government representatives for the State of Florida who have worked with the intelligence community, and have a good relationship with Florida's influential business and private sector, Graham and Goss should have been barred from chairing the 9/11 inquiry on purely ethical grounds. It must be remembered that in addition to being Saudi, a good number of the of the hijackers had lived in Florida and attended well-respected flight schools in the area. Atta had received US military training and there are reports that CIA operatives were also trained at those schools.
I haven't read the book The New Pearl Harbor by David Griffin, but the Baltimore Sun had this to say: "...there is a very good synopsis of the ISI, which is the Pakistani intelligence service. He shows the direct connections between the CIA, the ISI, and Mohamed Atta. He makes a very convincing case that the Pakistani ISI had been helping to plan 9/11 for a long time."
It seems that for all of the touting of America's seeming fool-proof democratic system of checks and balances, it is hardly immune to corruption and scandal - especially when elections are forthcoming and George Bush openly declares that "Pakistan is an ally in the war on terror..."
There are increasing suspicions and calls for accountability.
In a recent article entitled "Politics and Terrorism Alerts Don't Mix", conservative George F. Will, columnist for the Washington Post, calls on the government to be aware of public temperament at a time when "cynicism is aggravated by government insensitivity to suspicions that already are rampant..." He writes that, "...if a terrorism alert is based on intelligence some of which is years old, the government should say so immediately." He goes on to site a "non-fanatic" article that appeared in last month's New Republic, which he feels is evidence of the public's growing disbelief. That article claimed, "...that the Bush administration was pressuring Pakistan to deliver a 'high-value target' (HVT) in time for the November election. A Pakistani intelligence official says a colleague was told during a spring visit to the White House that 'it would be best if the arrest or killing of (any) HVT were announced on 26, 27 or 28 July' during the Democratic convention."
Now here's an interesting twist, Tony Karon, columinst for Time magazine feels that although Israel's candor and ability to admit a mistake may "shock Americans," that kind of honesty "has been distinctly lacking in Washington's investigation of the 9/11 attacks." He notes that "Israeli leaders freely admit that the growth of Hamas was partly a tragedy of their own making."
What's the historic mistake that American leaders are loathe to admit?
"It is generally accepted among historians.... [that] the program to recruit, arm, train and deploy [bin Laden¹s organization] involved three U.S.-allied intelligence agencies, those of Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia working in conjunction with the CIA, which was coordinating America's own covert assistance to the Afghan jihad." (Time magazine, April 8, 2004)
As an Israeli, I can tell you firsthand that the blemishes and blunders are embarrassing to look at - especially when the media is so focused on Israel and the mistakes that we make and scandals we create. But maybe that honesty about our imperfections and our open struggle with choices is the key to the survival of our nation, and is what true freedom is all about. What appears to the world (and to many Israelis) as political, security and economic chaos, may actually be part of a painful growth process.
American Jews should not be blinded by the perfectly beautiful and slick piece of election propaganda entitled "President George W. Bush: A Friend of the American Jewish Community". Nor should they fall for what I'm sure will be a stunning production, in response, by Democratic candidate John Kerry. There's something quite rotten under the facade.
For those American Jews who feel that I'm jeopardizing the alliance that both Israel and Diaspora Jewry enjoys with the American government and its representatives, please be assured my efforts are directed towards rectifying the relationship.
If the American-Jewish relationship is based solely on unquestioning subservience, then you might as well be living in ancient Egypt, Babylon or Rome.
Asking questions in no way conflicts with your loyalty to the United States government, as it is your duty and right as a citizen of a democratic state. But more importantly, it is your obligation as a human being who has been commanded by G-d to "choose life" and "pursue justice".
If Porter Goss, who was intimately involved in the intelligence community during America's years of historic foreign policy blunders, becomes head of the CIA, then America, the American Jewish community and Israel has a lot to be concerned about. He will more than likely continue to court Pakistan, Egypt and the Saudis, rather than expose the depths of negligence and take corrective measures - it's just too embarrassing to do otherwise. But more about that in Part 2 of this article.