Al-Qaeda trial lands FBI in dock for criminal ineptitude (Must Read!)

[stickdog]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2102266,00.html

This week a wealth of new evidence of how the FBI bungled the Moussaoui investigation became so Pythonesque in its absurdity that even the victims' families were roaring with laughter. Into the witness box stepped Harry Samit, the FBI agent who arrested Moussaoui. He was called by the prosecution but became the star witness of the defence.

He said that he warned his supervisors more than 70 times that Moussaoui was an al-Qaeda operative who might be plotting to hijack an airplane and fly it into a building. He said that he was regularly thwarted by two superiors, David Frasca and Michael Maltbie, from obtaining a warrant to search Moussaoui's flat. He accused the men of being criminally negligent. Mr. Maltbie told him that getting a warrant, which could be troublesome, might harm his -- Maltbie's -- career prospects. Mr. Maltbie has since been promoted.

On Tuesday Ed MacMahon, Moussaoui's defence laywer, cross-examined Michael Rolince, of the FBI. He was there to defend the bureau, but his answers brought down the house. Mr. Rolince was forced to concede that he had never seen an April 2001 intelligence briefing paper warning that bin Laden was preparing to mount an attack, even though he had signed it. Mr. MacMahon then introduced an April 13, 2001, FBI communication, approved by Mr. Rolince, giving warning about bin Laden's threat inside the US. Mr Rolince said that he had not approved it.

"Is it possible for a document to say you approved it if you have not approved it?" the judge asked.

"Absolutely," he replied. With that, the jury, the press benches, the victims' families and the press gallery erupted in laughter.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Now we know why BushCo wants secret detentions and courts

because they know their shit won't ever fly in a real court.

[stickdog]

2. Even more shocking Moussaoui information!

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/context.jsp?item=a120402promotions

FBI Director Mueller personally awards Marion (Spike) Bowman with a presidential citation and cash bonus of approximately 25 percent of his salary. Bowman, head of the FBI's National Security Law Unit and the person who refused to seek a special warrant for a search of Zacarias Moussaoui's belongings before the 9/11 attacks, is among nine recipients of bureau awards for "exceptional performance." The award comes shortly after a 9/11 Congressional Inquiry report saying Bowman's unit gave Minneapolis FBI agents "inexcusably confused and inaccurate information" that was "patently false." Bowman's unit also blocked an urgent request by FBI agents to begin searching for Khalid Almihdhar after his name was put on a watch list. In early 2000, the FBI acknowledged serious blunders in surveillance Bowman's unit conducted during sensitive terrorism and espionage investigations, including agents who illegally videotaped suspects, intercepted e-mails without court permission, and recorded the wrong phone conversations.

FBI Supervisory special agent Michael Maltbie, who removed information from the Minnesota FBI's application to get the search warrant for Moussaoui, is promoted to field supervisor.

David Frasca, head of the FBI's Radical Fundamentalist Unit, is "still at headquarters," Grassley notes. Frasca received the Phoenix memo warning al-Qaeda terrorists could use flight schools inside the US, and then a few weeks later he received the request for Moussaoui's search warrant. "The Phoenix memo was buried; the Moussaoui warrant request was denied." Even after 9/11, Frasca continued to " up roadblocks" in the Moussaoui case.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/MOO208B.html

So now the Bush Administration claims Moussaoui is the 20th hijacker. Yet Special Agent Dave Frasca who downplayed all reports of impending terrorist plots (the Phoenix Memo, French Intelligence Reports, the Moussaoui case, etc.) gets to maintain his highly placed position as does his unit Chief Superior. Furthermore, those FBI leaders who did the most stonewalling occupied "critical positions in the FBI SIOC Command Center post September 11." Rowley is particularly upset that Dave Frasca "actually received a promotion some months afterwards." (Rowley Report p. 5)

[wakeme2008]

3. with the jury laughing at the Messed up FBI

IMHO I can not see Moussaoui getting the DP.

[panader0]

4. Moussaoui is on trial because he had info that could have prevented 911

So why isn't shrub on trial too?

[Dhalgren]

5. My questions about this ridiculous situation:

Why would a small group of highly placed FBI supervisors deliberately thwart investigation into the plot to destroy the WTC prior to the attack? Why would these same FBI supervisors then receive promotions and be awarded citations after their conduct had aided the attackers completing their mission? What does all of this sound like to a rational observer? Why has there been no genuine investigation into the events leading up to and including the attacks on 9/11? Who is wearing the tin-foil now? Bastards...

[Lerkfish]

6. this makes it MIHOP, in my opinion.

if they ACTIVELY stalled attempts to prevent 9/11, then they MADE it happen.
It would only be LIHOP if they knew it was going to happen, but did nothing either way.

the fact that there are stories from multiple sources, all verifying that the govt. PREVENTED people from preventing 9/11.

then that is MIHOP.

(for the newbies: MIHOP: made it happen on purpose; LIHOP: let it happen on purpose)