White House: Intelligence Panel's Finances Will Stay Private

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**a story from Feb.


www.truthout.org/docs_04/021704A.shtml

Intelligence Panel's Finances Will Stay Private

By Eric Lichtblau
The New York Times
Sunday 15 February 2004

WASHINGTON - The White House is declining to make public the financial histories of the commissioners President Bush appointed to investigate American intelligence failures.
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While ethics specialists said members of most federal commissions typically have to disclose their financial interests to the public, the White House pointed to a number of exceptions in foreign intelligence and domestic security. "There are several out there like this. I don't think it's unique," Ms. Healy said.

But experts said the White House's refusal to make public the commission's business links may fuel questions about its independence and taint its investigation into one of the Bush administration's biggest potential political vulnerabilities: the quality of intelligence used to justify the Iraq war and other issues involving unconventional weapons.

The issue mirrors some of the concerns raised in 2002 when a commission was appointed to investigate the Sept. 11 terror attacks, only to have its original chairman and vice chairman step down, in part because of private business interests.
..more..

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1. just one bit of background

on the 9-11 white-wash commission.

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2. kick