FAA audiotape record of 9-11, was withheld, "cut up" into pieces

[steve2470]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/16/10816/1971

by joan reports
Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 07:08:15 PDT

Cross-posted at Booman Tribune
As reported last May by NY Newsday and AP, links below

On September 11, a couple of hours after the planes struck the Trade Center, six air traffic controllers at the Ronkonkoma, Long Island, NY air traffic control center made a 1-hour long tape that recounted the events that morning.

In November 2001, manager Mike McCormick withheld from the "accident package" to the FAA that very tape.

Then, between December and February, another manager cut that tape into small pieces and distributed them into several trash bins.

Though this story briefly surfaced and got some print coverage in May last year, including page 2 of the Washington Post, it disappeared under other stories, including the crescendo of accusations and recriminations over the Abu Graib tortures – and this was not picked up by national broadcasters.

<snip>

[libhill]

1. Interesting

I mean, if they have nothing to hide, what is it that they're trying to cover up?

[rodeodance]

2. really, I do recall reading about this.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. I don't recall ever seeing if the 9/11 Commission interviewed

the six controllers, though. Maybe they went straight to the guy in charge as often is the case...the one who cut up the tape, that is.

[tridim]

3. They're trying to cover up the "stand down"

orders, so LIHOP or MIHOP would proceed as planned.

[papau]

9. I think you're correct - the Otis area was alive with "stand down" talk

when the pilots came back - but now no one will talk about it.

Does seem funny to cut ones speed to 30% of max so that you arive a few minutes late.

Does not prove LIHOP or MIHOP - I think it just shows Bush lack of guts to order a shoot down.

[Bassic]

5. They always have something to hide

It could be that they have a hand in it or it could be that they had the info, didn't think it was serious and now they don't want anybody to know about it (hey one can hope)

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. When I first learned of this shortly after 9/11

and brought it up elsewhere, guess what the reaction was! Hint: It wasn't 'we need to find out why' or 'this should be investigated thoroughly.'

[liberal N proud]

7. Probably the same fate as the video of the object that

hit the Pentagon.

[Skidmore]

8. Why arent those managers being held in contempt or on charges

of destroying evidence? To me, this is criminal and deserves the appropriate charges.

[faithnotgreed]

10. kick for some truth