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Gold9472
09-03-2008, 06:25 PM
9/11 Commission, Anthrax – Additions To The 9/11 Timeline As Of August 31, 2008

Kevin Fenton
8/31/2008

Many of the new entries in the 9/11 Timeline this week focus on the 9/11 Commission and, in particular, its executive director Philip Zelikow, who co-authored a book with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a95germanyunified&scale=0#a95germanyunified) in the mid-1990s, but was not offered (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a0101zelikowisoff&scale=0#a0101zelikowisoff) a full-time job in the Bush administration despite serving on the transition team. Some of the other commissioners were unhappy with Zelikow's appointment and the degree of control he exercised (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a012603commissionersunhappy&scale=0#a012603commissionersunhappy). For example, Zelikow had control over the hiring process (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=aaround0203zelikowhires&scale=0#aaround0203zelikowhires), which he used to appoint a current CIA officer (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=aaround0203currentciaofficer&scale=0#aaround0203currentciaofficer) to lead the commission's investigation of the CIA. The commissioners rarely visited (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a0203rarelyvisit&scale=0#a0203rarelyvisit) the commission's offices, further enhancing Zelikow's power, which he used to assume close control of a key investigative team (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=aaround0203zelikowteam3&scale=0#aaround0203zelikowteam3). He also tried to prevent staff from talking to the commissioners (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a0303zelikowaccess&scale=0#a0303zelikowaccess).

Regarding the commissioners, vice chairman Lee Hamilton was given more power (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=aafter121602keanhamilton&scale=0#aafter121602keanhamilton) by chairman Tom Kean at the outset, and Fred Thompson became involved in a fraud scandal (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a03thompsonblack&scale=0#a03thompsonblack) and was absent from the commission for a year. There was also a major problem with access to White House documents because of stonewalling (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a0603gonzaleskean&scale=0#a0603gonzaleskean) by White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales.

Additions to the 2001 anthrax attacks category continue, leading off with a claim by Senator John McCain that Iraq (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a101801mccainsecondphrase&scale=0#a101801mccainsecondphrase) may have been responsible, a claim supported by senior Bush administration officials (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a102802bushanthrax&scale=0#a102802bushanthrax) and some scientists, who thought one person could not have done the attacks alone (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a10282002ExpertsStateAnthrax&scale=0#a10282002ExpertsStateAnthrax). The FBI conducted a massive search (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a12122002FBIHatfillBigSearch&scale=0#a12122002FBIHatfillBigSearch) to find evidence against falsely accused scientist Steven Hatfill, but its "secret weapon" against him was discredited (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a10222002FBIHatfillSecretWeapon&scale=0#a10222002FBIHatfillSecretWeapon). Currently-accused scientist Bruce Ivins was barred from accessing dangerous toxins in November 2007 (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a110107ivins&scale=0#a110107ivins).

Miscellaneous entries cover a 1974 bombing of a TWA plane (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a090874twaflight841&scale=0#a090874twaflight841) and a new CIA plan in the fall of 1999 to combat al-Qaeda (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=afall99theplan&scale=0#afall99theplan). Senator Orrin Hatch revealed key information about the NSA's monitoring of al-Qaeda (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a091201hatchnsa&scale=0#a091201hatchnsa) on September 12, 2001, and radical London imam Abu Hamza al-Masri was finally convicted on terrorism charges (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a011106abuhamzatrial&scale=0#a011106abuhamzatrial) in February 2007. Finally, New York Major Rudy Giuliani banned photographs (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a092501nophotographs&scale=0#a092501nophotographs) at Ground Zero meaning that few photographers (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a092501photographers&scale=0#a092501photographers) could gain access, and a couple reported killed on a 9/11 flight turned up alive (http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a091601judelarson&scale=0#a091601judelarson).

Originally posted here (http://www.historycommons.org/news.jsp?oid=140393703-674). If you can spare a dollar or two, please remember the History Commons is in need of donations (http://www.historycommons.org/donate.jsp).