White House Obstructs 9/11 Investigation

Interview with David Potorti, cofounder of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, conducted by Scott Harris

After initially opposing the formation of an independent panel to examine the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the White House was pressured by Congress to establish a commission of inquiry in late 2002 to look into the deadly assaults on New York and Washington. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States was tasked with examining allegations that U.S. intelligence agencies ignored warnings from their operatives that al-Qaeda was planning to strike American targets with highjacked planes.

But several members of the bipartisan commission have recently complained that the Bush administration has been obstructing the inquiry. Members of the panel, including the Commission's chairman, former New Jersey Republican Gov. Thomas Kean, have criticized the Justice Department and Pentagon for not responding to a series of requests for evidence. The Justice Dept. was singled out by Chairman Kean for what he described as efforts to intimidate witnesses from intelligence agencies, who they required to be accompanied by government "minders." A final report from a separate Congressional investigation into 9/11 is due to be released soon.

September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group representing 80 family members of Sept. 11 victims, has demanded that President Bush fully cooperate with the terror investigation. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with David Potorti, a founder of the group whose brother Jim died in the attack on the World Trade Center. He discusses what members of his organization want from the commission and why he believes the White House is dragging its feet in providing information in the investigation.

Contact September Eleventh Families of Peaceful Tomorrows by calling (919) 608-7322 or visit their website at www.peacefultomorrows.org.

Related links

"9/11 Inquiry Alleges Witness Intimidation," by Julian Borger, The Guardian, July 10, 2003

"U.S. report on 9/11 to be 'explosive,'" Government errors, Saudi ties to terrorists among highlights, by Frank Davies, by Miami Herald, July 10, 2003

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