Condi and the 9/11 Commission - Arguing roundrules for testifying (Time)

[cthrumatrix]

Condi and the 9/11 Commission
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is apparently not keen on going under oath for the Kean 9/11 commission.
By TIMOTHY J. BURGER WASHINGTON



Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003
Poised to convene its first hard-hitting hearings in January, the federal commission investigating the 9/11 attacks continues to be at odds with the White House over access to key information and witnesses. Two government sources tell TIME that National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is arguing over ground rules for her appearance in part because she does not want to testify under oath or, according to one source, in public. While national security advisers are presidential staff and generally don’t have to appear before Congress, the commission argues that its jurisdiction is broader—and it's been requiring fact witnesses in its massive investigation to testify under oath. The exception: it may not seek to swear in President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Bill Clinton or Al Gore in the increasingly likely event they will be asked to speak to the commission. "I think that it is in their interest to meet with us," says GOP commission member John Lehman, saying that they should be invited, not subpoenaed, and be allowed to appear behind closed doors.

With such high-profile testimony in the offing, it’s no wonder the commission chairman, Republican Tom Kean, was telling reporters last week to expect major revelations from the investigative hearings expected to begin in late January.

He also suggested that the 9/11 attacks might have been prevented if mid-level government officials at various government agencies had done their jobs. As for senior officials like Rice or her predecessor, Clinton NSA Sandy Berger, and their bosses, Kean said the commission was still studying whether they share the blame. Rice could face tough questioning. One Republican commissioner says a comment by Rice last year—that no one “could have predicted that they would try to use a…hijacked airplane as a missile”—was "an unfortunate comment . . . that was, of course, a wrong-footed statement on its face," given that there was years of intelligence about Al Qaeda's interest in airplane attacks.

snip

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,565974,00.html

Only a person who does not want the absolute truth about 911 would inhibit an investigation of 911.

Condi's previous comments on MTP and elsewhere could come back to haunt her.

[SpiralHawk]

1. America needs only one ground rule:

Tell the truth, Condi.

For a change.

That's all that's necessary.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. they must all take "the oath"...bottomline!!!! president Clinton had too!!

[gristy]

3. Oh, man

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is arguing over ground rules for her appearance in part because she does not want to testify under oath or, according to one source, in public.

She knows she is such a crummy liar. And the jig is nearly up!

[Skip Intro]

4. Now why wouldn't she want to be under oath?

Whats the problem condoliar, you swear to tell the truth and then you tell the truth. Surely a member of the oh so Christian bush regime would want nothing less than to be honest.

These damn people work for us - they answer to us. Somebody needs to remind these morons of that. Is it really to the point where it is accptable that our government officials go to such lengths to avoid the truth, to avoid facing "the people" -? Is this ok with the morans?

I would LOVE to hear some bushbot explain how this can be seen as anything other than a liar trying to cover her a$$.

[RBHam]

5. My Orange Alert just moved to Red

"Poised to convene its first hard-hitting hearings in January, the federal commission investigating the 9/11 attacks continues to be at odds with the White House over access to key information and witnesses."

January 11 might be a good day to stay home, especially if you live in a Liberal area of California.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. I think that makes more sense

than being on the lookout for men wielding almanacs.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. Get that liar under oath!

If she's telling the truth, why would she object to being under oath? Maybe next time she'll bother to read the memo.

[truthspeaker]

8. here are some ground rules, Condi

Swear (or affirm) in and answer all questions truthfully, or go to jail for contempt.

[cthrumatrix]

9. maybe NBC will ask her that on MTP next time?....will you Russert?

[KansDem]

10. Hey, Condi! Relax! Take an oxycontin pill...

...then you'll be able to lie like a limbaugh.

[linazelle]

11. This is an eyebrow raiser: why would Condi want to hide on 9/11?

Of course, I know why...she lied about not having foreknowledge of planes hitting buildings. But many don't know and if this gets widespread attention, I think people will begin to see the coverups are far reaching. We know they covered up on the war, energy policies, et al...but when the public learns that they are still trying to cover up over our worst national disaster in decades, heads will roll.