Why did Ashcroft stop flying commercial jets on July 26, 2001?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/26/national/main303601.shtml

Ashcroft Flying High

(CBS) Fishing rod in hand, Attorney General John Ashcroft left on a weekend trip to Missouri Thursday afternoon aboard a chartered government jet, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart.

In response to inquiries from CBS News over why Ashcroft was traveling exclusively by leased jet aircraft instead of commercial airlines, the Justice Department cited what it called a "threat assessment" by the FBI, and said Ashcroft has been advised to travel only by private jet for the remainder of his term.

"There was a threat assessment and there are guidelines. He is acting under the guidelines," an FBI spokesman said. Neither the FBI nor the Justice Department, however, would identify what the threat was, when it was detected or who made it.

A senior official at the CIA said he was unaware of specific threats against any Cabinet member, and Ashcroft himself, in a speech in California, seemed unsure of the nature of the threat.

"I don't do threat assessments myself and I rely on those whose responsibility it is in the law enforcement community, particularly the FBI. And I try to stay within the guidelines that they've suggested I should stay within for those purposes," Ashcroft said.

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[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Because he took an oath and swore to protect

his own ass before all other Americans. er... maybe it's the other way around? :crazy:

[Timefortruth]

2. Dollars to donuts the 9/11 Commission won't ask.

We all know why.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. If he isn't asked that will be a scandal in itself. eom

[tom_paine]

14. Who would be crazy enough to take you up on THAT bet?

If you find someone...please to also bet them that the sun won't rise tomorrow because you got yourself a real sucker there.

[mmonk]

3. Because some are priviledged

enough to receive info that can save them and the people are not priviledged enough.

[BGrier]

5. Why Don't They Ask?

This is what really angers me about this commission - at least these hearings. So many of the questions don't even seem relevant or are outright red herrings. Bob Kerry and his nutty "why didn't we invade Afghanistan in the nineties" nonsense comes to mind. (Sorry Bob, as a fellow Nebraskan I keep wondering what happened to you).

They're wasting their time when the posters on this board could create a list of infinitely more revealing questions.

I'm afraid this will be another whitewash.

[rockymountaindem]

6. I was mad too.

However, yesterday I found out from another DUer that there are other hearings in the future to deal with what happened on 9/11. It will be at this time that perhaps some of the comittee members will ask why no fighters were scrambled etc.

[RichM]

7. Typo in subject line - you mean 2001, not 2000 n/t

[NNN0LHI]

8. Thank you for catching that while I still had time to fix it n/t

[Zero Gravitas]

9. Dunno

I assumed at the time it was because enough people hated him they thought he was at risk of being assaulted by ordinary citizens.

[Vickers]

10. "Ashcroft ...seemed unsure of the nature of the threat"

Well, that's for certain. He's clueless.

[havocmom]

11. Jet mechanics are know for harboring calico cats in hangers

and Ashcroft knows they are not there just to catch mice... :evilgrin:

[WoodrowFan]

12. he was distracted ..

by the Stewardness boobies and he couldn't cover them with a blue background like he could the statue in the Justice Department.

[Blue_Roses]

13. this is one of the MANY

questions that should have been asked months and months ago. There hasn't been anything about this in the media. For Ashcroft to "not know" why the FBI was requesting him to fly on a private jet should have been an alarm for him to question in itself, however, he's been mute about this.