Pentagon Hid September 11 Attackers from the FBI

Zaman
Aug. 19, 2005

A US army intelligence officer has claimed that two out of three cells involved in the September 11 attacks had been identified a year before the event.

Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, 42, of Able Danger, a secret data-analyzing operation of the US army said his unit had identified Mohammed Atta and three other suicide hijackers involved in the 9/11 in mid 2000. Shaffer claimed the army intelligence unit had tried to transmit this information to the FBI but the Pentagon lawyers canceled three meetings with FBI agents. According to Shaffer, the lawyers prevented the meetings to avoid accusations against the Pentagon that the information had been obtained illegally. Shafer said he had conveyed this information to a commission working on the 9/11 attacks but he had not been considered important enough. Shaffer told the commission in 2003 that Atta had been under suspicion before the attacks. He indicated he had proposed to the 9/11 commission in January 2004 that he might follow up the information but the commission rejected his offer of assistance. "I just walked away shocked, but I figured someone with equal or better knowledge had probably came and talked to them, so they must've taken care of it," Shaffer said. He also criticizes the commission for checking only two files out of 15 boxes of documents sent by Able Danger.

Pentagon analyses shocking claims

As a blanket of secrecy still covers the 9/11 attacks, this striking claim by Shaffer has resonated in the American media. Shaffer said he was angry at a statement by the 9/11 commission indicting the US intelligence services for not uncovering information that Atta was a terrorist and that he wanted to make this statement to defend his profession and his future. The Pentagon released a statement following Shaffer's claim announcing that the issue is being handled. A 9/11 commission announcement also said that dates on a note they received and the information in their hands regarding Atta's situation before the September 11 did not overlap and that's why it was not taken seriously. Shaffer responded to this criticism saying the Able Danger unit focuses more on relations and connections rather than dates or places. Stressing they were investigating who had what connection with whom, Shaffer said this information was identified during analysis of obtained secret information. Shaffer's attorney Mark Zaid noted he did not have documents supporting his claim because he had submitted every document when left the office in March 2004. Lt. Col. Shaffer has been on paid leave for 16 months.