9/11 Commission told not to 'cross a line' during investigation

A recently released letter shows that members of the former Bush administration urged panelists on the 9/11 Commission not to probe too deeply into the events of the terrorist attacks that occurred on that morning.

In a letter obtained by the ACLU and addressed by Attorney General John Ashcroft, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and CIA Director George Tenet on Jan. 6, 2004, the members of the Bush administration cautioned the 9/11 Commission of not to further investigate into the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The investigation panel had requested to question terrorist detainees but the administration officials denied the request and informed the two senior panel members that doing such an investigation would “cross” a “line” and could actually hinder the government from protecting the nation, reports Press TV. “In response to the Commission's expansive requests for access to secrets, the executive branch has provided such access in full cooperation. There is, however, a line that the Commission should not cross -- the line separating the Commission's proper inquiry into the September 11, 2001 attacks from interference with the Government's ability to safeguard the national security, including protection of Americans from future terrorist attacks,” the letter said. The 9/11 Commission, officially named the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, was formed by President George W. Bush in November 2002 in order to prepare a full report on what transpired on Sept. 11, 2001, notes the Raw Story. Hamsayeh reports that many U.S. leading analysts and at least a quarter of Americans believe the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were fabricated by the former administration to justify their invasion of certain nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq.