Posted on 08/18/2005 7:47:30 PM PDT by americaprd
The former intelligence officer who says that a Defense Department program identified Mohamed Atta and three other hijackers before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks said yesterday that many of his allegations are not based on his memory but on the recollections of others.
Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, who has been on paid administrative leave from the Defense Intelligence Agency since his security clearance was suspended in March 2004, said in a telephone interview that a Navy officer and a civilian official affiliated with the Able Danger program told him after the attacks that Atta and other hijackers had been included on a chart more than a year earlier.
But because he was not intimately familiar with the names and photographs of suspected terrorists, he did not realize that hijackers were listed until it was alleged to him after the attacks, Shaffer said. All of the charts that could support his claims have disappeared, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"The former intelligence officer who says that a Defense Department program identified Mohamed Atta and three other hijackers before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks said yesterday that many of his allegations are not based on his memory but on the recollections of others. "
This is NEWS!!!!
Que sound of house of cards collapsing.
Paid adminstrative leave for 17 months - - what gives there? If this were an anti-Bush guy we'd be all over him for that. Or would we?
The Washington Post, that great source of investigative journalism, is pouring water on this story.
Wash Post chimes in.
I thought I read the suspension was lifted; it was over like $60 worth of personal calls. And he was promoted last year so it's unlikely his security clearance is still in effect.
bump
Washington Compost so typical!!!
Uh, no, it's not news. Shaffer has never said that HE ID'd Atta to the Executive Director of the 9/11 Commission.
Weldon has said that Able Danger operatives ID'd Atta for the 9/11 Commission and those people have yet to come forward.
Shaffer said that he met with Pentagon/DOD brass on Monday and they are trying to find a way for the others to come forward; some are covert.
And taken to Fort Marcy Park...
That really needs to be explained firmly.
IIRC, the suspension was for $60 worth of personal phone calls. I would hope we wouldn't be all over someone with that kind of triffling situation who has a background like this guy if he was anti-Bush. This guy has risked his life for his country.
"Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, who has been on paid administrative leave from the Defense Intelligence Agency since his security clearance was suspended in March 2004"
Great way to lead off a story. I guess this means Able Danger isn't getting a Woodward and a Bernstein.
What needs to be explained firmly? That someone used a business phone for personal calls?
Don't you suppose that Weldon has looked into it pretty carefully and decided the guy is credible?
They'll do everything they can to discredit him.
In Sandy Burglar Berger pants?
Hmmmm.
I will withhold coming to any conclusions until some undeniable proof emerges (probably what Sandy Burglar took).
I guess I should have been more specific, the Post does not quote Shaffer just says he said....
I have not heard Shaffer say these exact words.
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