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9/11 commission has been
overly partisan
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[APRIL
19, 2004]
PEORIA -- At news
conferences in Peoria and Springfield today (Monday), U.S. Rep. Ray
LaHood, R-Peoria, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence, took to task the commission investigating the Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In the past, LaHood has repeatedly said
the commission would be overly political because of the partisan
nature of the commissioners. LaHood said today that the high-profile
testimony of several witnesses and the partisan nature of
questioning by commission members has underscored his point. |
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"Even before this commission was
established -- when it was being proposed in Congress -- I believed
this process would be nothing more than an exercise in partisan
politics," LaHood said. "What we have seen over the past few weeks
is partisan questioning and partisan conclusions from partisan
members of the commission. We have also learned that there is no
'smoking gun,' no piece of intelligence that would have prevented
the attacks which unfolded that day, and that is the same thing the
Intelligence Committee said a year ago when we released the report
on the 9/11 tragedy. I believe the families of those who perished in
the terrorist attacks deserve more than a sniping, political
commission."
[to top of second column in
this article]
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During the news conference, LaHood also
discussed his recently concluded Intelligence Committee trip to
Europe. LaHood and other members of the committee met with
government and intelligence officials in several European nations to
discuss efforts at combating terrorism and other intelligence
matters. Countries the committee members visited were Italy, Cyprus,
Greece and Ireland.
"As we have
seen in the wake of 9/11 and especially with the recent bombings in
Spain" added LaHood, "Europe will play a vital role in the war on
terrorism. This trip was an opportunity to learn firsthand what
European leaders are doing to combat those who wish to terrorize the
citizens of their countries."
[News release from
Rep. Ray LaHood,
18th Congressional District]
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