WASHINGTON
Rep.Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) wants a full
investigation into deadly Sept. 11 attacks at the World
Trade Center and Pentagon, including whether the Bush
administration had advance notice and whether the defense
and oil industries have unduly influenced U.S. policy.
"The need for an investigation of the events surrounding
Sept. 11 is as obvious as is the need for an investigation
of the Enron debacle. Certainly, if the American people
deserve answers about what went wrong with Enron and why
(and we do), then we deserve to know what went wrong on
September 11 and why," said Ms. McKinney in a statement
released April 12.
Her statement followed criticism from other politicians
and newspapers incensed by comments the Black lawmaker made
March 25 in a radio interview. Speaking to KPFA radio in
Berkeley, Calif., she apparently raised questions about when
the White House knew about the attacks and whether warnings
should have been issued.
Rep. McKinney also asked whether Bush financial interests
or defense contractors had reaped a financial windfall with
the new war on terror and increased military spending.
In her statement, Rep. McKinney argues that the level of
sacrifice Americans are asked to endure must be matched by
uncompromised leadership and judgment, "transparency and a
thorough investigation" into all aspects of Sept. 11.
During the KPFA interview Ms. McKinney is quoted, saying,
"We know that there were several warnings that were given
prior to the events of September 11th. People were calling
in to the CIA and to the FBI, and they were giving
information that was critical. There was adequate warning.
But instead of requesting that Congress investigate what
went wrong and why, we had President Bush place a phone call
to Majority Leader Senator Tom Daschle, asking him not to
investigate. My question is what do they have to hide?"
Young people have been marched off to war amid cuts in
domestic spending for social programs and erosion of civil
liberties, she noted.
"If the secretary of defense tells us his new military
objectives must be to occupy foreign capital cities and
overthrow regimes, then the American people must know why,"
Rep. McKinney said. "It should be easy for this
administration to explain fully to the American people in a
thorough and methodical way why we are being asked to make
these sacrifices and if, indeed, these sacrifices will make
us more secure," she added.
"News reports from Der Spiegel to the London Observer,
from the Los Angeles Times to MSNBC to CNN, indicate that
many different warnings were received by the administration.
In addition, it has even been reported that the United
States government broke (Osama) bin Laden’s secure
communications before Sept. 11. Sadly, the United States
government is being sued today by survivors of the Embassy
bombings because, from court records, it appears clear that
the U.S. had received prior warnings, but did little to
secure and protect the staff at our embassies. Did the same
thing happen to us again?" Rep. McKinney said, referring to
incidents in Kenya and Tanzania.
The congresswoman also questioned whether U.S. goodwill
is being squandered on "incoherent, warmongering policies"
that alienate friends and antagonize allies. "The world is
on the brink of conflicts while the administration’s
policies are vague, wavering and unclear," she
complained.
Rep. McKinney admitted she had no evidence of President
Bush nor his administration profiting from Sept 11 attacks.
But, she said, corporations close to the White House
directly benefit from increased military budgets. Defense
Department spending requests are at the highest levels in 20
years, Rep. McKinney noted.
Stocks for the Carlyle Group—which had joint
business interests with the president’s father at the
time of the attacks and ties to bin Laden family
construction outfits and defense firms—have also
soared, according to the outspoken Democrat.
Her questions and calls for a public probe have not been
well received. "The American people know the facts, and they
dismiss such ludicrous, baseless views," said spokesman
Scott McLellan, a Bush spokesperson. "The fact that she
questions the president’s legitimacy shows a partisan
mind-set beyond all reason," he said.
A New York Post editorial derided her as "Spacewoman
McKinney," saying her "tenuous" grip on reality had drifted
into deep space. Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) called her
statements "loony," "dangerous and irresponsible."
Saxby Chambliss, a Republican congressman running for the
Senate, defended President Bush as working to defeat
terrorism and protect Americans. Rep. Chambliss, a member of
the House subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security,
said Rep. McKinney’s comments don’t help win the
war on terror.
Rep. McKinney apparently isn’t the person with
questions: A recent Atlanta Journal Constitution poll found
nearly half, 46 percent, of respondents believe the Bush
administration had some prior knowledge of the Sept. 11
attacks.
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(Source: Final Call.com ,
04-23-2002
http://www.finalcall.com/national/mckinney04-23-2002.htm
)
