Is fix in at 9/11 Commission?

[JohnyCanuck]

Looks so to me.


Is Fix in at 9/11 Commission
by Paul Sperry.

<snip>

Why is the commission bending over backwards to please the White House when it's supposed to be fiercely independent and bipartisan, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats?

The answer may lie in the little-known fact that the White House has a friend on the inside. And not just any friend, either.

His name is Philip D. Zelikow, the executive director of the commission. Though he has no vote, the former Texas lawyer arguably has more sway than any member, including the chairman. Zelikow picks the areas of investigation, the briefing materials, the topics for hearings, the witnesses, and the lines of questioning for witnesses. He also picks which fights are worth fighting, legally, with the White House, and was involved in the latest round of capitulations – er, negotiations – over Rice's testimony. And the commissioners for the most part follow his recommendations. In effect, he sets the agenda and runs the investigation.

<snip>

Kristen Breitweiser, a 9/11 widow, insists Zelikow has a "clear conflict of interest." And she suspects he is in touch with Bush's political adviser, Rove, which she says would explain why the White House granted him, along with just one other commission official, the greatest access to the intelligence briefing Bush got a month before the 9/11 suicide hijackings.

<snip>



http://antiwar.com/sperry/?articleid=2209

[BOSSHOG]

1. Groundrules are a mistake

What will the WH do when the next Richard Clarke comes forward and offers sworn testimony in public that tells the truth about bush? Will they flipflop (again) and insist that the commission hear from an administration figure? If things were going their way, there would not exist such gnashing and howling. zelikow may get the opportunity to skew a little but not "fix." Way too many eyes on the proceedings and Kean appears to be pretty even handed.

[peacetalksforall]

2. Is there ever a day that we don't read something that makes

our stomach turn over?

This is another sickening reminder of the cabal at work.

His presence and involvement certainly appears to be a fix and a conflict of interest.

Hamilton seems to be asleep.

The right wing is creating a ridicule and put-down campaign against the Dems on the panel other than Hamilton.

The U.S. is being manipulated by sick people

[dax]

3. Zelikow has been pegged already-new rule is WORSE

you don't interview witnesses together if you want to investigate serious info ie Bush WITH Cheney-that compromises everything and makes cross check impossible. there is no way to complete the hearing if you cannot call witnesses to clarify or rebut later testimony. The fix is in but the commission all agreed to it.