U.S. Security No Better Off Than A Year Ago
Judicial Watch Supports Truly Independent Investigation
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that the appointment of additional politicians to the 9/11 panel, formally known as National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, will reduce the effectiveness of the panel and contribute to a cover-up of the failures of both political parties to combat terrorism. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert appointed former Illinois governor Jim Thompson and attorney Fred Fielding to the 10-member panel. Republicans and Democrats each get to appoint five members. Politicians will attempt to reach consensus, avoid casting blame on any political party, and water down any report to shift blame while attacking only the easiest, most obvious targets.
The recent resignations of Henry Kissinger and George Mitchell as heads of the 9/11 panel were positive developments. The American public was treated to a brief look at the calculations politicians make concerning political risk and potential business conflict of interests. In the end, both Kissinger and Mitchell opted to bail out, given the severe criticism that followed.
Judicial Watch Supports Truly Independent Investigation
(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, said today that the appointment of additional politicians to the 9/11 panel, formally known as National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, will reduce the effectiveness of the panel and contribute to a cover-up of the failures of both political parties to combat terrorism. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert appointed former Illinois governor Jim Thompson and attorney Fred Fielding to the 10-member panel. Republicans and Democrats each get to appoint five members. Politicians will attempt to reach consensus, avoid casting blame on any political party, and water down any report to shift blame while attacking only the easiest, most obvious targets.
The recent resignations of Henry Kissinger and George Mitchell as heads of the 9/11 panel were positive developments. The American public was treated to a brief look at the calculations politicians make concerning political risk and potential business conflict of interests. In the end, both Kissinger and Mitchell opted to bail out, given the severe criticism that followed.