MORE STONEWALLING….In a craven attempt to win back the admiration of all those readers who were upset when I wrote about my distaste for Robert Scheer a few weeks ago, today I’m going to link to a Scheer column worth quoting:
The Bush administration is suppressing a CIA report on 9/11 until after the election, and this one names names. Although the report by the inspector general’s office of the CIA was completed in June, it has not been made available to the congressional intelligence committees that mandated the study almost two years ago.
….According to [an intelligence official who has read the report], who spoke to me on condition of anonymity, release of the report, which represents an exhaustive 17-month investigation by an 11-member team within the agency, has been “stalled.” First by acting CIA Director John McLaughlin and now by Porter J. Goss, the former Republican House member (and chairman of the Intelligence Committee) who recently was appointed CIA chief by President Bush.
….”What all the other reports on 9/11 did not do is point the finger at individuals, and give the how and what of their responsibility. This report does that,” said the intelligence official. “The report found very senior-level officials responsible.”
….”The agency directorate is basically sitting on the report until after the election,” the official continued. “No previous director of CIA has ever tried to stop the inspector general from releasing a report to the Congress, in this case a report requested by Congress.”
Jane Harman, who’s a Democrat but also a pretty straight shooter, said she is “very concerned” about the CIA’s unwillingness to deliver the report ? as well she should be, since there’s not much chance it would be getting held back if it were critical of Democrats, is there?
Sounds like it’s time for a leak….
