- A group composed of widows of 9/11 victims are demanding
the release of a key CIA report.
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- "The report, prepared by the CIA's inspector general,
is the only major 9/11 government review that has still not been made
publicly available," Michael Isikoff reported in January. "When
it was completed in August 2005, Newsweek and other publications reported
that it contained sharp criticisms of former CIA director George Tenet
and other top agency officials for failing to address the threat posed
by Al Qaeda, as well as other mistakes that might have prevented the attacks."
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- In a statement obtained by RAW STORY, September 11th
Advocates Patty Casazza, Monica Gabrielle, Mindy Kleinberg, and Lorie Van
Auken write, "Almost six years have passed since the attacks of September
11, 2001, yet critical information continues to be withheld from the American
public regarding the attacks.
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- "In 2002, after reviewing the evidence produced
by the Joint Inquiry of Congress into the 9/11 Attacks, both Republican
and Democratic Congressmen agreed that a CIA Inspector General review into
individual responsibility was necessary," the statement continues.
"Faced with the facts, these Congressmen understood that accountability
in the Intelligence Community was crucial."
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- The 9/11 widows add, "Their intent was that a final
declassified CIA/IG report be released to the public and where deemed
appropriate by the report, for personnel at all levels to be held accountable
for any omission, commission, or failure to meet professional standards
in regard to the events of September 11, 2001. To date, despite enormous
efforts from the Senate Intelligence Committee, nothing has happened."
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- According to 9/11Truth.org, a petition entitled "The
Public's Right to Know - Declassification and Release of Documents"
(link) garnered over 15,000 signatures and was "hand delivered...to
lawmakers in Washington, DC."
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- Further excerpts from September 11th Advocates' statement:
Michael Isikoff wrote in his January 2007 Newsweek article that, "When
it [the CIA/IG report] was completed in August 2005, NEWSWEEK and other
publications reported that it contained sharp criticisms of former CIA
director George Tenet and other top agency officials for failing to address
the threat posed by Al Qaeda, as well as other mistakes that might have
prevented the attacks."
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- Isikoff goes on to say, "What's really behind the
intelligence community's refusal to release the report, the senators suspect,
is a desire to protect the reputations of some of the main figures."
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- Since sources and methods are not revealed in a declassified
report, national security is protected and thus not an excuse for withholding
this document. Since when does embarrassment meet any standard for keeping
a government report secret? Isnâ¤t it time for our elected
and appointed officials to do the job that they were sent to our Nation's
Capitol for: to protect the public and not reputations?
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- Americans have the right to know that the problems identified
in this report have been addressed and corrected. We have the right to
know that competent people are serving us in strategic positions - our
safety and security depends on it. Incompetence costs lives.
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- Legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden D-OR
and Kit Bond R- MO, calling for the release of the 9/11 CIA/IG report,
already exists, has passed the Senate and has strong bipartisan support.
Yet, the White House and the CIA continue to refuse to release the already
declassified version of the report.
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- It is sadly and abundantly clear that, once again, only
heightened public pressure on the Administration and the CIA will force
accountability. We call on the public and the press to demand the release
of the declassified version of the 9/11 CIA's Inspector General report.
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- Patty Casazza
- Monica Gabrielle
- Mindy Kleinberg
- Lorie Van Auken
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