Hastert’s Turkish Allies Tied to Bin Laden (Sibel Edmonds)

[cascadiance]

This article didn't show up on earlier Sibel Edmond's Google or Yahoo news search hits. It does look to go more in depth taking the info from the Vanity Fair article and cross reference them with other sources to potentially link those Turks in question allegedly buying off Hastert to Bin Laden and Al Queda.

Haven't fully read it yet, but what I have so far looks to be an interesting and more researched analysis...

From:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9775.htm

-----------------------

Hastert’s Turkish Allies Tied to Bin Laden

“If they were to allow the whole picture to emerge… certain elected officials will stand trial and go to prison.” – Sibel Edmonds

By Lynn Grant

08/15/05 "International Post" -- --- CHICAGO, Illinois, Aug 15 (IP) – During the current flurry of September 11th related news, one item has gone largely unnoticed.

Reports of former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds’ allegations concerning improper financial ties between House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Turkish officials and businessman have become a source of discontent for beltway insiders on both sides of the aisle.

However, the recent coverage has not addressed why Sibel Edmonds’ information regarding Speaker Hastert’s dealings with the Turks necessitated an in-depth investigation by the September 11th Commission.

In an August 10, 2005 interview about her reported allegations, Edmonds was asked, “What are you alleging about the Speaker of the House?” Though under a strict gag order, she replied:

“I have been giving all the details to the appropriate channels. And they have been confirmed. And what I have said all along is the fact that as far as the 9/11 is concerned, September 11 is concerned, these departments -- and when I say “these departments,” the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense -- have intentionally blocked the investigations of real -- the real criminals in this country. …

Most of al Qaeda’s funding is… through narcotics. And have you heard anything to this date, anything about these issues which we have had information since 1997? And as I would again emphasize, we are talking about countries. And they are blocking this information, and also the fact that certain officials in this country are engaged in treason against the United States and its interests and its national security, be it the Department of State or certain elected officials.

While alluding to treason, Edmonds’ reply indicates that her allegations about Speaker Hastert are linked to al-Qaeda and the September 11th attacks.
...

[robertpaulsen]

1. Why did this sink?

This is important shit, DU! Here's some more illuminating paragraphs:

For example, when asked in a January 2005 interview if she had any information that would tie the targets of her FBI wiretaps to the September 11th attacks or Osama bin Laden’s organization, Edmonds replied, “Through certain activities with money laundering, and narcotics and illegal weapons procurement. Yes.” (audio)

More specifically, Edmonds wrote in a July 2004 article that she has “firsthand knowledge of ongoing intelligence received and processed by the FBI since 1997, which contained specific information implicating certain high level government and elected officials in criminal activities directly and indirectly related to terrorist money laundering, narcotics, and illegal arms sales.”

Yet Edmonds may not be the only well-known FBI Whistleblower with connections to this 9/11-related investigation in Chicago.

Beginning in the mid-1990s, FBI Special Agent Robert Wright was given orders to investigate several Chicago-based businessmen with ties to Turkey – and Osama bin Laden.

I've not heard of Robert Wright before. His investigation is worth reading!

[robertpaulsen]

2. Looks like Robert Wright has been gagged in his own way by the FBI.

FBI AGENT ROBERT WRIGHT SAYS FBI AGENTS ASSIGNED TO INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS CONTINUE TO PROTECT TERRORISTS FROM CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS

Agents Lied To Federal Court for Wiretap Authority and Compromised Criminal Investigations of Terrorists

FBI Headquarters’ International Terrorism Unit Acted as a “Spectator” While Americans Died at the Hands of Terrorists


(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, represents “whistleblowing” FBI Special Agent (SA) Robert G. Wright, Jr., of the bureau’s Chicago Division, who said today that the FBI continues to dodge accountability and cover-up its negligence and dereliction of duty in pursuing terrorists who pose a direct threat to the United States. SA Wright is the only FBI agent to seize terrorist funds (over $1.4 million) from U.S.-based Middle Eastern terrorists using federal civil forfeiture statutes, prior to the September 11th attacks. The original source of the funds was Yassin Kadi, a Saudi businessman, who is reportedly a financier of Osama bin Laden.

SA Wright points to recent misconduct and falsifications of wiretap warrant applications by FBI agents (signed-off by the former FBI Director, Louis Freeh) to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. Prior to September 11th, SA Wright alleged FBI intelligence agents lied and hid vital records from criminal agents for the purpose of obstructing his criminal investigation of the terrorists in order to protect their “subjects,” and prolong their intelligence operations. SA Wright was stunned to learn recently that some of the FBI intelligence agents that had stalled and obstructed his criminal investigations of terrorists in Chicago had also lied to the judges of the FISA Court in Washington, DC.

SA Wright says that, in his opinion, prior to September 11th, the ITU’s incompetence and repeated failures to support criminal investigations contributed directly to the deaths of five Americans. The ITU’s absolute failure to detect and identify the September 11th terrorist plot, and the radical Islamists that carried it out, is further evidence of the ITU’s negligence, and places the deaths of thousands of Americans at their door.

snip

The FBI continues to illegally refuse the release of SA Wright’s 500 page manuscript, Fatal Betrayals of the Intelligence Mission, that SA Wright submitted for prepublication review in October 2001. In fact, the FBI refused to turn the manuscript over to Sen. Richard C. Shelby, Vice Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Commitee, charged with investigating the FBI’s intelligence failures. The FBI falsely claims that the manuscript contains grand jury material, although SA Wright has publicly available, “open source,” references for all of the material in the manuscript. Schippers, a former federal prosecutor, has suggested that the committee petition U.S. District Court Chief Judge Charles P. Kocoras to disclose any such grand jury material under Criminal Rule 6(e)(3)(D), as matter involving intelligence and counterintelligence.

more...

http://www.judicialwatch.org/printer_2469.shtml

[robertpaulsen]

3. More on Wright's gag order & Oklahoma City link from LA Weekly.

Another FBI Agent Blows the Whistle
New evidence that the Bureau quashed another terror probe before 9/11
by Jim Crogan

snip

The Weekly has learned that Chicago-based special agent Robert Wright has accused the agency of shutting down his 1998 criminal probe into alleged terrorist-training camps in Chicago and Kansas City. The apparent goal of the training camps, according to confidential documents obtained by the Weekly, was to recruit and train Palestinian-American youths, who would then slip into Israel. Recruits at these camps reportedly received weapons training and instruction in bomb-making techniques in the early 1990s. The bomb-making curriculum included the sort of explosives later used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. And government documents state that two trainees came from the Oklahoma City area.

One alleged trainer at the terror camps is now fending off a government lawsuit to seize his bank accounts, car and property for alleged money laundering on behalf of the militant group Hamas. So far, no one has been prosecuted for these alleged terrorism-related activities.

The official government position is that Middle Eastern groups had no involvement in the 1995 bombing carried out by Timothy McVeigh, and that conclusion may stand the test of time. The FBI, however, never fully investigated leads suggesting a different verdict, according to law-enforcement and government sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Congressional investigators are starting to re-examine the entire matter. There's also another troubling question: Why has the FBI dismissed or ignored evidence linking the Oklahoma City bombing to the Middle East? Is it because these leads are unlikely to pan out or because the agency still has something to hide regarding its own intelligence-gathering lapses?

ROBERT WRIGHT'S STORY IS DIFFICULT TO PIECE together because he is on government orders to remain silent. And by extension so are his attorneys when it comes to confidential information. Wright has written a book, but the agency won't let him publish it or even give it to anyone. All of this is in distinct contrast to the free speech and whistle-blower protections offered to Colleen Rowley, general counsel in the FBI Minneapolis office, who got her story out before the agency could silence her.

more...

http://www.prisonplanet.com/another_fbi_agent_blows_the_whistle.htm

[seemslikeadream]

4. Thanks robertpaulsen LOOK AT THIS!

http://www.gsnmagazine.com.nyud.net:8090/images/aug_05/atta.jpg

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=53554&mesg_id=53554

[robertpaulsen]

5. WHOA! How'd I miss that?

Thanks seemslikeadream!

[wiggs]

15. Indira Singh knows Robert Wright too.

Indira and Sibel may know the same stuff.

[cascadiance]

16. Robert Wright is also in Sibel's NSWBC organization

http://www.nswbc.org/membership_list.htm

Still waiting for Colleen Rowley to sign her name to this list. After she's stood up to the Rethugs at Camp Casey, seems like she should also put her name here.

[Al-CIAda]

20. You would think this is important...nt

[seemslikeadream]

6. Speaker Hastert linked to al-Qaeda and the Sept 11 attacks

I like that

:hi:

[robertpaulsen]

7. Me too. I pray for Sibel's safety.

And Hastert's imprisonment.

:hi:

[cascadiance]

8. Saw this link for Cindy Sheehan...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4445941&mesg_id=4445941

advocating nominating her for Profile in Courage Award...

Further down was another person's endorsement for Cindy as for Time's Person of the Year. I actually see the latter for Cindy, as she's definitely having a massive effect on things right now and deserves that accolade.

But as for JFK's "Profile in Courage" award... Damn! I think Sibel deserves that as much as anyone. I think she faces the biggest threat for her stubbornness and her continued fight to be heard about some very important information that can make a huge difference in bringing many to justice in this country. I think one of us (or more if that helps) should try nominating Sibel for this award!

http://www.jfklibrary.org/pica_information.html

This award is supposed to be "normally" for elected officials. But she's got so much more courage than the rest of our government in dealing with issues that SHOULD be dealt with by our elected officials now. I really think if there was a person to get this award Sibel would be it! Hopefully in the coming year, things can change and be resolved enough where they'll actually be able to honor her, and not have her still under wraps someplace!

[robertpaulsen]

9. I wholeheartedly agree. Sibel for Profile in Courage Award!

I love Cindy Sheehan and think what she has been doing is wonderful. But the fact is Sibel has taken greater risks in her hard efforts to expose the Octopus. She deserves just as much attention.

[G_j]

10. kick~

[lostnfound]

11. Sibel's recent interviews have been fascinating.

THanks, I'd missed this one.

[Usrename]

12. Have you seen FormerRepublican

"What Fitzgerald may be thinking as he contemplates Plame leak indictments"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2029771#2033341

esp. posts 15 and 41

Appears they were going to have a gigantic Easter Egg hunt in Iraq.

[robertpaulsen]

17. As Sibel Edmonds herself said...

SE: Essentially, there is only one investigation – a very big one, an all-inclusive one. Completely by chance, I, a lowly translator, stumbled over one piece of it.

But I can tell you there are a lot of people involved, a lot of ranking officials, and a lot of illegal activities that include multi-billion-dollar drug-smuggling operations, black-market nuclear sales to terrorists and unsavory regimes, you name it. And of course a lot of people from abroad are involved. It's massive. So to do this investigation, to really do it, they will have to look into everything.

CD: But you can start from anywhere –

SE: That's the beauty of it. You can start from the AIPAC angle. You can start from the Plame case. You can start from my case. They all end up going to the same place, and they revolve around the same nucleus of people. There may be a lot of them, but it is one group. And they are very dangerous for all of us.

http://www.antiwar.com/deliso/?articleid=6934

Same nucleus. One group.

Can you say BFEE? You betcha!

[Usrename]

22. What do you make of the 200 nuclear triggers purchased for the black mkt?

To me, if you wanted to plant wmd a big concern would be not getting it traced back to yourself. Figure if ya scatter 200 of them buggers around the countryside in little stockpiles that were large enough to be scarey (say five or six in each place) then wait for someone to find them. Iraq's a big country so you need a lot of hiding places to ensure that they get found.


CD: The black-market nuclear parts one?

SE: Yes, by Josh Meyer. From last year. That article gives a very good example of how such a scheme works.

Josh Meyer article referenced by SE

"In court documents filed in Karni's case in Washington, authorities say Humayun Khan, in Islamabad, placed an order with Karni for 200 of the switches last summer, at $447 apiece, and that Khan has links to Pakistan's military and a militant Islamic political group."

http://quicksitebuilder.cnet.com/supfacts/id474.html


Remember the timeline. If they were doing all this in the summer of 2003 they knew there was no nuclear program in Iraq.

[bribri16]

13. If we only had some Dems with guts besides Conyers and Lee.

Everytime they get a public forum they should bring these things up. We all know how the RW pundits always slip in irrelevant-topic gems like this and make the viewers believe its the gospel truth. Where are our fighting Dems?

[wiggs]

14. Indira Singh, Chicago, Sibel, Ptech, 9/11, FBI......

Mention of Chicago reminded me that Indira Singh mentioned the Chicago FBI:

snip

BF: What else did your investigation of Ptech turn up? Didn’t you meet with several employees or former employees of Ptech?

IS: Yes. This goes back to when all of this was being revealed to me, now this is the last week of May 2002. The last day, or June 1 or so, of 2002, lo and behold out of nowhere the Chicago FBI enters the picture. We have agent Robert Wright of the Chicago FBI, who’s giving congressional testimony, and, umm, he stands on the steps of the Capitol, bursts into tears, apologizes to the 9-11 families, the victims, that he didn’t do everything he could to prevent 9-11 from happening, that his investigations were repeatedly shut down. And I almost fell over, because he announced that his investigation was the investigation into Yassan Khadi, the same Sheikh Yassan Khadi who was the money man behind Ptech. And, umm, you could not ask for a more direct connection to 9-11 than that. I will even discount the fact that some ex-Ptech employees told me that, when I went to see them I presented all the Terror List faces, whatever, and they had indicated that they had seen some pass through Ptech, in fact, one or two had mentioned that they thought one of the hijackers had actually passed through Ptech. And I said, did you report this to the FBI? Can you tell me when? Can you get evidence of it? Can you get litigation-quality evidence, something that would stand up? Whatever you can get, give it to me, make copies, give it to the FBI, I still thought they were on our side.

BF: The FBI, you mean.

IS: The FBI. In fact, and this has to be made very clear, there are some extraordinarily real patriotic Americans and good people in the FBI, as has been said by, I believe, Agent Colleen Rowley, one of the FBI whistleblowers’ bosses, that there’s a wall in the FBI, and this has been validated to me by various attorneys in Houston, who are very close to the power bases, and are pretty ticked-off at what’s happening in this country and are speaking out, as are many CIA agents who are very concerned that it has gone too far, as are many NSA agents who are concerned that it’s gone too far, and FBI agents. So we have a lot of people who are speaking out, they’ve kept quiet too long; they’re afraid, they’re afraid of what’s happening to this country. And when I say the Third Reich, what is happening to this country, they say, and I will identify ‘they’ if pressed, they say, will make the Third Reich look like a tea party. I guess we have that many more billion people to control on this planet.

snip

THIS IS IMPORTANT and the entire testimony was transcribed by rman here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=344x4

If the link doesn't work, you can visit the DU Group for Sibel Edmonds and Whistleblowers and read Indira Singh's extraordinary interview about the rabbit hole and who might be involved.

[cascadiance]

18. Here's another article that just showed up...

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/08/25/more_than_a_coincidence.php

August 25, 2005
More Than a Coincidence?

Today (8/25) FNL was still hyping the "Able Danger" story. Curiously (or maybe not) FNL has resolutely ignored other whistleblowers who have made & who continue to make similar allegations about the failures of US intelligence agencies before 9/11/01. Now there are new allegations that pre-9/11 intelligence may reveal bribes paid by Turkish officials to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). But as far as FNL is concerned, the only allegations that matter are allegations that "lawyers" (boo! hiss!) "prevented" (boo! hiss!) our dedicated heroic spies (yay!) from sharing info about Monhammed Atta.

...

Comments: While FNL is blathering on about Able Danger, they're ignoring Sibel Edmonds, If you watch Fox, her name is probably unfamiliar to you. Edmonds, who speaks Farsi, Turkish & Azerbaijani, was hired after 9/11 by the FBI to translate the backlog of pre-9/11 intelligence material. She has accused the government of having considerable evidence that Al Qaeda was planning to strike the US using airplanes as weapons. For that accusation, she was fired by the FBI in March 2002, & is still fighting that firing in the courts (she has appealed to SCOTUS, but they have not yet decided whether to hear her case). Edmonds is under multiple gag orders imposed by the courts at the request of the DOJ, who invoked the "state secrets privilege" (& who have also classified nearly every document relating to her allegations, including an interview she did with "60 Minutes").

Vanity Fair has just (September edition) published an article about her, "An Inconvenient Patriot." This article includes allegations that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) may have been the recipient of secret payments from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors & information. Edmonds says she gave confidential testimony about the payments to congressional staffers, to the Inspector General and to members of the 9/11 Commission. Edmonds says that she heard of the payments while listening to FBI wiretaps of Turkish officials who were under surveillance by the FBI.

The Vanity Fair article is not available online (they want you to buy it at the newsstand, or subscribe), but they do publish their index, which includes this abstract of the article:

AN INCONVENIENT PATRIOT?? Naturalized American Sibel Edmonds went to work as an F.B.I. translator after 9/11. But she says she was fired for sounding the alarm about a colleague's suspicious behavior, then silenced by the "state-secrets privilege." As Edmonds prepares a Supreme Court appeal, David Rose reveals why she's such a threat to the status quo. Photographs by Henry Leutwyler.

[Al-CIAda]

19. .

[robertpaulsen]

21. Kick for Sibel!

:kick:

[evilqueen]

23. Great Thread!

I'm bookmarking this.

Can't nominate once it's over 24 hours. That kind of bites.

[ngGale]

24. THE investigation...

As Sibel Edmonds herself said...
SE: Essentially, there is only one investigation – a very big one, an all-inclusive one. Completely by chance, I, a lowly translator, stumbled over one piece of it.

But I can tell you there are a lot of people involved, a lot of ranking officials, and a lot of illegal activities that include multi-billion-dollar drug-smuggling operations, black-market nuclear sales to terrorists and unsavory regimes, you name it. And of course a lot of people from abroad are involved. It's massive. So to do this investigation, to really do it, they will have to look into everything.

CD: But you can start from anywhere –

SE: That's the beauty of it. You can start from the AIPAC angle. You can start from the Plame case. You can start from my case. They all end up going to the same place, and they revolve around the same nucleus of people. There may be a lot of them, but it is one group. And they are very dangerous for all of us.

http://www.antiwar.com/deliso/?articleid=6934
__________________________________________________

From what I've read and put together: The disinformation campaign, is that the case is so involved and complicated people can't understand it.
The reality is, as Sibel said - it's ONE case. It's simple really!
The puzzle pieces are coming together and we are getting one picture.