Families Call Rally for 9/11 Hearings in Jersey - Wednesday morning

[JackRiddler]

...BREAKING...

9/11 RELATIVES AND WATCHDOGS TO RALLY AT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING 9:30 A.M. AT THE BALDWIN GYMNASIUM IN MADISON, NEW JERSEY ... (see below for complete details on how to get there from anywhere!)

Please, let's finally keep this thread KICKED. All the effort that so many people have put in for two years to kindle a 9/11 truth movement - including on this board - may be coming to a head!

I urge everyone to call or fax the Commission (as below) and support the two commissioners (Max Cleland and Tim Roemer) who want to see all of the relevant White House documents, and not just the "paragraphs" that the White House wants to release!

Please read the following - kick it - use the information about how to contact the commission - join the rally Wednesday in Madison, NJ if you can - and while you're at it, write to your local media and demand they cover this vital story.

FOR THE TRUTH AND FOR THE FALLEN OF SEPT. 11!

Previous threads:

"Bush scamming America," says Cleland. "The 9-11 Commission DEAL with the White House on 9-11 documents is a SHAM, IT'S DISGUSTING, AMERICA IS BEING CHEATED."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=708923

Call 9/11 Commission TODAY to protest the coverup!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=724172

The following is the latest from Kyle Hence of unansweredquestions.org and 9/11 Citizens' Watch.

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Dear 9/11 family members and other concerned Americans:

Here is a brief summary of selected key points and questions to impress upon the 9/11 Commission regarding the recent agreement with the White House and a small sampling of other outstanding issues vital to the investigation into the attacks of September 11th 2001.

There has been a call to rally outside the Baldwin Gymnasium at Drew University (See directions below) to voice these concerns and others this Wednesday beginning at 9:30AM.

In the meantime please at your earliest convenience call, fax or email
the Commission.

:

For details about the hearing go to:
http://www.9-11commission.gov/hearings/hearing5.htm

Questions & Issues--

1) Limited access to PDBs -- a compromise to be sure:

This recent compromise is just that: it clearly doesn't give the Commission full and unfettered access to the full body of he Presidential Daily Briefs. It's gives access to redacted versions to only two commissioners who then must present thier notes to White House counsel for review.

It violates the statute mandating that 10 commissioners fully investigate 9/11 with the goal to create the definitive account of what happened on 9/11. Such conditions on access and filtering by the White House and a minority of commissioners compromises the integrity of the investigative process.

Express your doubts about this serious breach of investigative standands and violation of their mandate.

In addition, why does the Commission refuse to turn over the 'fine print' in the agreement?

Surely there is no risk to national security in doing so!

2) Missing National Security Counsel (NSC) documents?:

What ever happened to discussion regarding the Commission access to National Security Counsel minutes/briefings/etc.?

Will the Commission also seek access to these important documents?

Will they see the minutes and directives that emerged out of the Counterterrorism Security Group meeting that Counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke called for and held on July 5th, 2001?

These documents and the PDBs could as Kristen Brietweiser pointed out this morning (Monday) on CNN (transcript to follow via email) shed light on whether or not there was discussion in the White House about the danger of attack from terrorists using planes as weapons. Obviously, if there was such a warning the failure of FAA and NORAD on the morning of the attacks is all the more stunning and deserving full redress and accountability.

According to Kristen, a source revealed to the Congressional Joint Inquiry that indeed there was awareness within the intelligence community about just such a threat . This general pre-9/11 awareness was confirmed by Senator Shelby when asked about it by 9/11 CitizensWatch co-founder John Judge during the C-SPAN taped press conference for the Joint Inquiry Report. Sen. Shelby also confirmed that their investigation had found that no action had been taken to prepare for such a defined method of attack.

3) Executive Director Dr. Zelikow's major conflict of interest:

Ask for a formal statement why the Commission has elected to dismiss family member concerns that there exists a major conflict of interest with Executive Director Dr. Phillip Zelikow.

Zelikow was involved in the transition team for the Bush National Security Council (NSC) and has co-authored a book with Bush National Security Advisor, Condoleeza Rice.

4) Testimony under Oath?:

Why aren't witnesses being asked to testify under oath?

In four previous public hearings about major issues of national security and about getting the timeline accurate relative to the events of the morning of 9/11 not a single witness has taken the Oath.

Now, according to Commissioner Roemer who appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal this morning (Monday, Sept. 17th) the Commission IS asking that those who testify in closed door meetings do so under oath.

Last we heard from Chairman Kean on this issue we learned that the Commissioners had debated it and decided they felt witnesses would be more forthcoming if there wasn't a lawyer sitting alongside them during their testimony. On its face this is counter-intuitive and breaks with investigative standards typically applied to important hearings; unless of course there is no intention whatsoever by the commission to hold people accountable to their word.

Here are some of the questions I have for the Commission:

When did the commission decide to have "behind closed doors" witnesses testify under oath?

Why didn't the Commission inform the public of this change in investigative practice?

What is the rationale for requiring an oath for all non-public interviews and not for those testifying before the American public?

PLEASE EXPLAIN

5) Administration or Govermment Minders at all interviews:

Is the Commission still allowing 'minders' to sit in on all the interviews it conducts as it seeks to fulfill it mandate?

If they object in principle as they said they do, then why do they continue to allow it?

6) Interim Reports -- Findings of Fact:

A year has passed since the Commission was signed into law.

Why in the interest of national security and informing the American people has the Commission not issued a single finding of fact or any substantive interim reports?

Chairman Kean has said that some of "the theories out there are wrong".
Clearly he must have based this conclusion on evidence he had confirmed.

Why not issue a report that clearly discounts wrong-headed and distracting theories about 9/11?

Furthermore, victim family members and independent investigators have done extensive research on the events of 9/11.

Why not exercise more transparency in the public interest?

Surely, the work of a staff of 60 can withstand the scrutiny of other concerned americans investigating 9/11 on their own and desirous of holding the Commission to the highest possible standards.

7) Ask the Commission if the staff have copies of Paul Thompson's Complete 9/11 Timeline and the work of Nafeez Ahmed in The War on Freedom. Encourage them to do so.

8) Ask them to hold public hearings in New York City before they conclude their investigation.

The victims' family members and New Yorkers should get another opportunity to be witness to the work of the commission in its public hearings.

Kyle F. Hence
Co-founder
9/11 CitizensWatch
www.911citizenswatch.org

=======================================================

Contact details--

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Director of Communications
Al Felzenberg
202-401-1725
fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Executive Director:
Dr. Phillip Zelikow
[e-mail]

Members:

Chair
Thomas H. Kean
[e-mail]
973-408-3100 (office at Drew University)
973-408-3080 (fax at Drew University)

Vice Chair
Lee H. Hamilton
(Woodrow Wilsom Center)

Richard Ben-Veniste
Max Cleland
Fred F. Fielding
Jamie S. Gorelick
Slade Gorton
John F. Lehman
Timothy J. Roemer
James R. Thompson

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
301 7th Street, SW
Room 5125
Washington, DC 20407

Washington Office*
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

New York Office
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

=======================================================

Directions to Drew University -- Baldwin Gymnasium---

For your convenience and that of your members, friends or colleagues who might be interested in attending:

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO DREW UNIVERSITY
By Train from New York City. From Penn Station (at 34th Street and 7th Avenue) take a New Jersey Transit train on the Morris-Essex line. On a train headed to Dover, get off at the Madison stop.

***As a courtesy there will be a van circling continuously from the train station in Madison (in the parking lot on the town hall side of the station) to the University from 9am to11am and 5pm to 6:30pm
===============================================================

DRIVING TO DREW UNIVERSITY
Drew University is approximately one hour from the Jersey shore, 45 minutes to 1 hour from New York City, 2 to 2.5 hours from Philadelphia, PA, and 3.5 to 4 hours from Washington, DC.
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From Northwestern New Jersey and Northeastern Pennsylvania via Interstate 80. Take I-80 to exit 43 - I-287 South (to Morristown). *Proceed to exit 35 - Madison Avenue/Route 124. At the top of the exit ramp, turn left. Proceed three miles on Route124 East to Madison. Drew is on Route 124 (Madison Avenue) on your right. Enter campus through the Bowne Memorial Gateway.
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From Northern New Jersey and Upstate New York (Tappan Zee Bridge). At Suffern, take I-287 South (to Morristown). Proceed as above.*

From Upper Manhattan (George Washington Bridge). Take I-80 West from the bridge to I-287 South (to Morristown). Proceed as above.*
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From Western New Jersey and Pennsylvania via Interstate 78. Take I-78 East to I-287 North. Proceed to exit 35 - South Street/ Route 124. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left. **Proceed 100 yards and take the first right, following signs to Route 124. At the stop sign, turn right (Route 124 East). Proceed three miles to Madison. Drew is located on Route 124 (Madison Avenue) on your right. Enter campus through the Bowne Memorial Gateway.
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From Southern New Jersey via N.J. Turnpike. Take the N.J. Turnpike to exit 10 and follow I-287 North to exit 35 - South Street/Route 124. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left. Proceed as above.**
=============================================================

From Southern New Jersey via Garden State Parkway. Take the Garden State

Parkway North to exit 127 and follow I-287 North to exit 35 - South Street/ Route 124. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left. Proceed as above.**
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From the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.
LINCOLN TUNNEL: Follow the signs to the N.J. Turnpike South. Take exit 14 (Newark Airport). After the toll plaza take I-78 West to Route 24 West. ***Stay in the far right lane to exit 7A - Chatham/Route 124 West. Follow Route 124 West through Chatham (Main Street) into Madison (Madison Avenue). Drew is located on Route 124 (Madison Avenue), on your left, just past the center of Madison. Enter campus through the Bowne Memorial Gateway.
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HOLLAND TUNNEL: Follow the N.J. Turnpike signs. After the toll plaza take I-78 West to Route 24 West.***Stay in the far right lane to exit 7A - Chatham/Route 124 West. Follow Route 124 West through Chatham (Main Street) into Madison (Madison Avenue).ÂÝ Drew is located on Route 124 (Madison Avenue), on your left, just past the center of Madison.Ý Enter campus through the Bowne Memorial Gateway.
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From the Verrazano Bridge. Follow I-278 through Staten Island to the Goethal's Bridge. As soon as you cross the Goethal's Bridge, follow the signs for the N.J. Turnpike North. Take the Turnpike to exit 14 (Newark Airport). After the toll plaza, take I-78 West to Route 24 West.***Stay in the far right lane to exit 7A - Chatham/Route 124 West. Follow Route 124 West through Chatham (Main Street) into Madison (Madison Avenue). Drew is located on Route 124 (Madison Avenue), on your left, just past the center of Madison. Enter campus through the Bowne Memorial Gateway.

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*** By Plane. Newark International Airport is the closest terminal to the Drew campus. A taxi from the airport should cost about $50. If you are driving by car from the airport, follow signs to I-78 West to Route 24 West. Stay in the far right lane to exit 7A - Chatham/Route 124 West. Follow Route 124 West through Chatham (Main Street) into Madison (Madison Avenue).

Drew is located on Route 124 (Madison Avenue), on your left, just past the center of Madison Enter campus at the traffic light on Lancaster Road.
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[proud patriot]

1. Holy Mackral Eastcoasters please go to this

:bounce:

[Kahuna]

2. I'll be there. Madison is about 10 miles from me...

Any other DUers going?

[DUreader]

3. Big kick

[kimchi]

4. Kickin it for NJ.

[ninkasi]

5. This is so important.

It's a national disgrace that Bush and his thugs have played the 9-11 card to justfify every putrid piece of legislation, every demand, every rush to crush individual liberties, and all but spit in the faces of the survivors and the families of those who were killed.

The families, the country, and the world, need to know what really happened, and we should all be demanding it.To the families, this must be pouring salt on their wounds.

[calimary]

6. Would it help to lean on your congress-critter about it?

Toll Free - 1 (800) 839 - 5276.

It's the Capitol Hill Switchboard that'll transfer you, free, to anybody's office in the House and/or Senate. But that IS just House and/or Senate - not the commission. Still - added pressure couldn't hurt, I suppose.

[xxqqqzme]

7. on the left coast or I would go

Hope the turn-out is huge. This is worth a taking a vacation day or callin' in sick.

[BadGimp]

8. Kick

eom

[TahitiNut]

9. Not LBN. Moving to Activism/Events.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
TahitiNut - DU moderator

[JackRiddler]

10. well, it WAS breaking when I posted it..

But anyway, thanks for all the work you put in.