The 28 Blacked Out Pages of the 9/11 Report is no conspiracy theory

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http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2003_cr/s102803.html



Senate Amendment to Declassify the "28 Pages" of the 9/11 Report

Congressional Record: October 28, 2003 (Senate)

Page S13349-S13372




FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004--Continued

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, Senator Leahy asked that I fill in for him
for the next little bit. We have an amendment to offer. We have no one
here from the majority, but I am very confident there is no problem
with the Senator from North Dakota offering an amendment. I ask
unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside so the
Senator from North Dakota can offer his amendment.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The Senator from North Dakota.


Amendment No. 1994

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.

The assistant clerk read as follows:

The Senator from North Dakota {Mr. Dorgan}, for himself and
Mr. Schumer, proposes an amendment numbered 1994.

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

{{Page S13350}}

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: To urge the President to release information regarding
sources of foreign support for the 9-11 hijackers)

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

Sec. . Sense of the Senate on declassifying portions of
the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities
Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 2001.

(a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--

(1) The President has prevented the release to the American
public of 28 pages of the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence
Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks
of September 2001.

(2) The contents of the redacted pages discuss sources of
foreign support for some of the September 11th hijackers
while they were in the United States.

(3) The Administration's decision to classify this
information prevents the American people from having access
to information about the involvement of certain foreign
governments in the terrorist attacks of September 2001.

(4) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested that the
President release the 28 pages.

(5) The Senate respects the need to keep information
regarding intelligence sources and methods classified, but
the Senate also recognizes that such purposes can be
accomplished through careful selective redaction of specific
words and passages, rather than effacing the section's
contents entirely.

(b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate
that in light of these findings the President should
declassify the 28-page section of the Joint Inquiry into
Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the
Terrorist Attacks of September 2001 that deals with foreign
sources of support for the 9-11 hijackers, and that only
those portions of the report that would directly compromise
ongoing investigations or reveal intelligence sources and
methods should remain classified.

<snip>

We ought not to have to come to the Senate floor to ask why the White
House, the FAA, or this or that agency has not already fully cooperated
with the 9/11 Commission. It is in this country's interest to see that
happen.

Mr. President, I ask for consideration of my amendment.

Mr. McCONNELL. Was consent requested, Mr. President? I am sorry, I
didn't hear.

Mr. DORGAN. I asked for consideration of my amendment. I ask
unanimous consent that we waive points of order and have my amendment
be considered.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I object.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in accordance with the precedent of May
17, 2000, I raise a point of order that the amendment is not germane.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The point of order is sustained. The amendment
falls.

Mr. McCONNELL. Thank you, Mr. President.

[jus_the_facts]

1. Neither is this.....or IS IT?

No oaths...no recording nor a stenographer in the room....

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/29/bush.911.commission

Friday, April 30, 2004 Posted: 1:28 PM EDT (1728 GMT)

President Bush: "I'm glad I did it."

"If we had something to hide, we wouldn't have met with them in the first place. We answered all their questions."
-- President Bush

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Thursday he "answered every question" posed to him by the 9/11 commission during what was described as an extraordinary session at the White House with the panel investigating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Bush had only positive words for the session.

"They had a lot of questions and ... I'm glad I did it," Bush said. "I'm glad I took the time."

But the administration initially opposed the creation of the commission. The White House relented amid pressure from some 9/11 family members and it later backed down from its opposition to an extension of time for the commission.

No transcript

Bush and Cheney did not testify before the panel -- they were not under oath and there was to be no recording made of the session nor a stenographer in the room.

The two members of the White House counsel's staff were expected to take notes during the session, and the commission members were also allowed to take handwritten notes.

Bush brushed off a question from a reporter Thursday on whether 9/11 families were entitled to a transcript of the session.

"You asked me that question yesterday," Bush replied. "I got the same answer."

He did not repeat the answer, but the White House has said there will not be a transcript of the session. Bush said he expects details of his "conversation" with the commission to go into its final report.

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2. kick n/t