AdamFitzgerald911

Former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani, edited testimony during the 9/11 Commission.

News footage of various debris which was recovered at Ground Zero from the terrorist attacks of September 11tth 2001. Steel, ID cards and other personal effects are visible in this archive.

On January 6th 1995, Philippine policewoman Aida Fariscal would answer a call from a local resident complaining about billowing black smoke from one of the Doña Josefa apartments. Not knowing she was about to uncover one of the most sinister terrorist plots ever hatched. When Fariscal entered Room 603, she along with other policemen now arriving on the scene were witness to a myriad of alarming artifacts such as bomb making chemicals, priest clothes, bottles containing nitroglycerin, and and loops of green, red, blue, and yellow electrical wiring. However the two men who rented the apartment were viewing the growing calamity with police and firemen now on the scene, they were Abdul Hakim Murad and Ramzi Yousef. At the time, Yousef was wanted by the FBI and NYC prosecutors for his role in the 1993 WTC Bombings. Yousef would have immediately left the scene with his associate but remembered one important error, the laptop which had the operation and names of individuals involved was inside in the room. Yousef told Murad to go back and retrieve it, Murad incredulously agreed. However as Murad went up the stairs, the authorities were all now focused on who this man was trying to re-enter the premises. Murad fled, with authorities rushing after him. They got lucky however as Murad tripped and was promptly arrested. Yousef, quietly disappeared. After days of intense interrogation Murad admitted to being part of an inter-national terrorist plot which would shake leading investigators, Rodolfo Mendoza, who would give a full detailed report to the FBI. But according to Mendoza, they did nothing with the contents of the report which elaborated on the multi part terrorist operation which involved planting bombs on planes and hijacking one of them and crashing it into CIA headquarters along with suicided pilots crashing into multiple US buildings.

After learning about an Al Qaeda communications hub operating in Sana'a Yemen, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) began to open it's most important operation todate by planting a listening device inside the home which was owned by Ahmed al-Hada an associate of Osama Bin Laden. During the years of conducting signals and human surveillance, the CIA would learn about a high level Al qaeda summit meeting in Malaysia. Two men who were known to the NSA and CIA, Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi would both end up attending the meeting which was closely video recorded and many photographs were taken. None of this information was ever passed on to the FBI. The Bin Laden Issue Station, a CIA virtual station, which monitors and collects data about Al Qaeda worldwide would be the main recipient of al data regarding the Yemen Hub. Two FBI agents tasked by John O'Neill in the FBI's New York City office, Mark Rossini and Doug Miller would be on loan to work here. On January 5th 2000, Doug Miller would read a cable which had a photograph of Khalid al-Mihdhar's passport, which had a dual entry visa into the United States. Miller immediately drafts a cable to warn FBI headquarters but his cable his stopped from being sent by Tomi Wilshire, the Deputy Chief of Alec Station at the time. Rossini would complain to the Yemen Hub head officer, Michael Anne Casey, whom replied that it's not an FBI matter. The CIA up until after the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 never shared information with the FBI about two Al Qaeda suspects coming and living inside the United States. The question is, why?

Born in the United Arab Emirates, Marwan al-Shehhi's young life was met with mystery and unacknowledgement from his neighbors and residents in the city of Ras Al Khaimah, where he lived. After graduating high school, he travelled to Bonn, Germany, where he studied English there from his teacher, Gabriele Bock, who recalled him as "someone who seemed to be struggling to have plans to the future while studying there". It was after 1997, that al-Shehhi then relocated to Hamburg, where he would attend Al Quds Mosque, known for its militant activism against the United States and Israel. It is also where he would meet Mohammed Atta. From here, all under the attentive eyes of the German Intelligence LFV, as well as the CIA, that the slow radicalization process began. In May 29th 2000, al-Shehhi was the first alleged 9/11 hijacker to enter the United States. Upon Atta's arrival in the next short weeks in June, they begin taking flying lessons in NYC and Florida. Israeli intelligence, posing as art students, as well as a Defense Intelligence Agency operation, codenamed "Able Danger' would identify both Atta and al-Shehhi as Al Qaeda militants with contacts to other Al Qaeda operatives abroad. It is alleged that on September 11th 2001, al-Shehhi would help to hijack United Airlines flight 175 and deliberately crash the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Most of those who came into contact with al-Shehhi just could not believe that this shy, friendly and comedic persona could carry out such a vile act. So who really was Marwan al-Shehhi?

In November 1996, the FBI monitors the progress of Osama Bin Laden buying a new satellite phone and tracks the purchase to Ziyad Khaleel, a US citizen and radical militant living in Missouri. The phone is sent to Khalid al-Fawwaz, al-Qaeda’s unofficial press secretary in London, who ships it to Tora Bora, Afghanistan where it is then given to Osama Bin Laden. However, Khaleel was being closely investigated for an unrelated matter, the FBI informs the National Security Agency (NSA) to begin monitoring the satellite phone, in which Bin Laden uses till 1998. Hundreds of calls are made, however, one number keeps constantly popping up... 967–1–200578. It was traced back to a house located in Sana'a Yemen, which was owned by a man named Ahmed al-Hada, a long time associate to Bin Laden whom he knew from Afghanistan during the Soviet war. The NSA began monitoring all calls made to and from the home. Soon the CIA became the lead agency in charge of the Sana'a Yemen hub operation by conducting round the clock surveillance, but wanted also all the signals data. The NSA refused to share the half of the data, which were on the receiving end. The CIA then put a listening device in the house, and heard half of the conversations from the phone. The NSA and now the CIA were monitoring two active lines used by the most wanted terrorist in the world, Osama Bin Laden, and his organization, Al Qaeda. The question is, what did they hear on the other end?

Immediately after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) began pressuring the Bush White House to start conducting measures that would witness draconian rules of law regarding how to fight against terrorism and implementing a harsher rendition program. Bush would acquiesce to most of the demands of the intelligence agencies, especially the CIA. Having White House lawyers draft an "enhanced interrogation" program which would later constitute as torture in the US Supreme Courts. The White House also set up a "kill list" of suspected members of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups which was supported by the CIA, as well as having foreign countries, known for their terrible human rights, conduct the torture methods that the US couldn't conduct. In the preceding months, Bush and Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, will later authorize the use of torture while denying detainees basic human rights afforded to them under the Geneva Conventions.

Wadih el-Hage is a Lebanese born, naturalized American citizen who after working at an Islamic charity in Pakistan during the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, allegedly become involved with Al Qaeda during the 1990's. After marrying April Ray, a Texas native who also became a Muslim convert, el-Hage went to the Al Kifah Refugee Center in Brooklyn, New York City and become close associates with people who were alleged to have been involved with the 1993 WTC Bombing. In which el-Hage then traveled to Sudan and became a financial accountant to Osama Bin Laden, and under the pretense of doing charity work, he organized the al-Qaeda network that planned the carried out the embassy bombing in Nairobi according to the FBI. el-Hage was then indicted and convicted for his role in the 1998 East Africa Embassy Bombings, where el-Hage currently denies any and all involvement. During his time in Sudan and Afghanistan however, el-Hage is said to have met with a number of known terrorist sympathizers and criminals including, Essam al Ridi, an associate of Osama bin Laden, Ali Mohamed, an associate to Ayman al-Zawahiri and FBI/CIA spy, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed,high ranking Al Qaeda terrorist organizer, and Mohammed Atef, Al Qaeda military commander.

The Islamic Cultural Institute is a mosque located in Milan, Italy, which has close ties to Ayman al-Zawahiri of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. And Egyptian radical fundamnetlist cell, Gamma Islamiyah, whose leader Omar Abdel Rahman (Blind Sheikh) is also a major influence. The mosque is also sometimes frequented by 1992 WTC Bombing suspect, Ramzi Yousef, as a logistics base. The mosque was used as a coordination center for future terrorist plots in Europe. The Italian security service, Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare, began an operation monitoring Shaaban and the mosque for terrorism related activities in the mid 1990's. Later, US and Italian intelligence will claim that the mosque was a major conduit for Al Qaeda and Egyptian terrorist groups, and begins wiretapping calls in August of 2000, between Abdulsalam Ali Abdulrahman,Yemen section chief in the Political Security Organization and Mahmoud Es Sayed. Sayed is a close associate to al-Zawahiri. It is learned that Abdulrahman insinuates an attack against the United States and that sleeper cells are already in the country learning how to fly airplanes at local flight schools.

Family members of some victims of the September 11, 2001 spoke to reporters about the lack of progress made by congressional conferees on legislation to implement the recommendations of the September 11 Commission. They also talked about promises given to complete the legislation prior to the general election. Following their remarks they answered questions from the reporters. (10-26-2004)

Pennsylvania (R) Congressman Curt Weldon speaks before the media almost one month after his speech on the House floor in regards to Lt.Col.Anthony Shaffer and the Able Danger operation, headed by the Defense Intelligence Agency. Able Danger was to develop an information operations campaign plan against transnational terrorism in which it identified 2 Al Qaeda cells operating inside the United States which were the Mohammed Atta (Hamburg Cell) and the Brooklyn Cell (Omar Abdel Rahman). Weldon reiterates his position that Shaffer was "blacklisted" by Pentagon officials and was then given a temporary suspension in which his security clearance was stricken. Shaffer penned a book about his experiences in Afghanistan, a 5 month tour in 2003. The first, uncensored printing of 9,500 copies was purchased for $47,300 in early September and destroyed by the publisher at the request of the Pentagon. The book is titled, Operation Dark Heart. Which can be purchased at any online or book store. (11-9-2005)

Curt Weldon, (R-PA) gives a presentation before the House in which he vigorously lambasts Pentagon officials in their handling of Lt.Col. Anthony Shaffer regarding Able Danger and its findings. Able Danger was a classified military planning intelligence gathering program led by the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). In 1999, a team led by Lt.Col.Anthony Shaffer had produced HUMIT and SIGINT intelligence of two Al Qaeda cells inside the United States. The Pentagon had revoked Shaffer's security clearance and had ordered the intelligence he collected destroyed. Weldon remarks about the suspicious activities shown by certain Pentagon employees and pleads with members of the House Floor to embark on an internal investigation into Shaffer's matter.

The Committee sponsored by 9/11 CitizensWatch and NY 9/11 Truth.org, held a 6 hour long hearing with prominent members of the truth movement which consisted of the commission leaders: Bob Mcllvaine, father of Bobby, killed in North Tower. Cynthia McKinney, Georgia (D) House of Representatives Michael Caine - NY 9/11 Truth.org Other spokespeople who briefly spoke: Paul Thompson (The Terror Timeline), John Judge (co-founder 9/11 Citizenswatch), J.Michael Springmann (Former U.S Consular Saudi official), Michael Ruppert (Crossing the Rubicon author), and Jenna Orkin, chairperson of WTC environmental organization. Kyle Hence, co-founder 9/11 CitizensWatch, is the host speaker. The commission was held in response to the 9/11 Commission issuing its final report released two months prior. The hearing was held at the Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St. (9-9-2004)

Witnesses testified, before the Senate Judiciary Committee headed by Arlen Spector, about intelligence on terrorism and terrorist cells in the late 1990s, the threat posed by al-Qaida prior to September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., and handling of intelligence information by the Department of Defense. They also testified about the investigation into the matter by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks and the information gathered by members of a Defense Department intelligence section known as ‘Able Danger.’ Officials who had participated in the Able Danger program had warned top military officials that they had uncovered information of increased al-Qaeda activity in Aden harbor less than three weeks before the attack on the USS Cole. (9-25-2005)

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chairs the hearing and invites James Comey who testifies on The Patriot Act Reauthorization Tackles Terrorism Financing Bill. This bill enhances penalties for terrorism financing and closes a loophole concerning terrorist financing through "hawalas" (informal money transfer networks) rather than traditional financial institutions. (5-11-2005)

Members talked about intelligence reorganization and other measures contained in intelligence reform legislation expected to pass in both houses. Following their remarks they answered questions from the reporters. (12-7-2004)

Witnesses testified before the committee about the September 11 Commission’s proposal for the creation of a National Intelligence Director. They emphasized that such a director would need to be empowered with budgetary and executive authority in order to be effective. They discussed the impact that the creation of such a post would have on intelligence gathering and sharing. They also responded to questions from members of the committee. (8-16-2004)

Witnesses testified about recommendations in the final report of the September 11 Commission. Among the topics they addressed were intelligence concerning the strikes, the proposed creation of a national intelligence coordinator, responses to terrorist attacks, and current terrorist threats to the U.S. (8-3-2004)

The co-founders of the 9/11 Citizens Watch (Kyle Hence & John Judge) issued a critique of the September 11 Commission’s report released today. The organization monitored the work of the commission and conducted its own parallel investigation, saying that the commission was not independent and that the commission’s investigative standards were too low. Victims' family members also spoke. After their presentations the participants answered reporters' questions. (7-22-2004)

Officials testified about current and future threats to national security and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism. The open hearing focused on unclassified findings and efforts to identify threats from terrorist cells and states sponsoring terrorism. They also talked about organizational efforts to coordinate information sharing among various agencies. (2-11-2003)

After an introduction by Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, Attorney General Richard Ashcroft expressed sympathy for victims of the bombing today of the United Nations mission building in Baghdad in which many persons were killed or injured. He also talked about the September 11, 2001 attacks, saying that they altered the mission of the Justice Department to one of preventing terrorist attacks. (8-19-2003)

White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, talked about homeland security, the war on terrorism, and President Bush’s testimony before the September 11 Commission. Following prepared remarks, he responded to questions from reporters. (4-29-2004)

9/11 CitizensWatch held a news conference addressing the ongoing September 11 Commission hearings. The group’s mission is to ensure that the interests of victims and the public are protected, and that there is honesty and accountability regarding the 9/11 attacks. Survivors and relatives of some of those killed in the attacks also spoke. Slides were shown during portions of the event. Following prepared remarks, speakers responded to questions from reporters. (3-22-2004)

Officials testified about national security concerns, current and future terrorist threats, and intelligence issues. They also talked about the nature of terrorist threats, the organization of terror cells, and intelligence information of Iraqi weapons programs prior to the war in Iraq. (2-24-2004)

Following the wrap-up of the National Commission on the September 11 Terrorist Attacks, the 9/11 Citizens Watch held a news conference about the hearings. Officials of the Citizens Watch talked about its watchdog role and insistence on transparency and accountability. There had been concern with conflict of interest. Family members of September 11 attack victims praised the commission’s work, criticized all U.S. intelligence agencies, and answered reporters' questions. (6-18-2004)