9/11 panel grills al Qaeda chiefs

[maddezmom]

9/11 panel grills al Qaeda chiefs
Secret deal allows questioning of suspect pair held in custody
Washington -- At least two top al Qaeda leaders in U.S. custody are being questioned by the commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as part of the panel's quest to determine the root of the disaster and whether it could have been prevented.

Commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said the panel has worked out a secret arrangement with the White House allowing members to pose questions to detainees, though he did not say what sort of answers, if any, they have received.

~snip~

He declined to say if the commission had also been granted access to transcripts of prior interviews with the detainees, but both he and commission Chairman Thomas Kean said the panel has not been denied access to any documents it sought.

~snip~
more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/05/12/MNG296JVMJ1.DTL

[Just Me]

1. Fascinating. I wonder if there will be any revelations. n/t

[sniffa]

2. did they testify together?

there was precident set for that.

[ezee]

3. good one! n/t

[Minstrel Boy]

4. Will the commissioners PERSONALLY question

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi bin Al-Shibh, who have been held in "undisclosed locations" and have not been seen by the world since their alledged capture, or are their questions going to put to the al Qaeda leaders thru the mediation of US military/intelligence?

[gandalf]

5. Probably the latter. Or:

Time will be restricted to 3 minutes per commissioner, and only 2 commissioners (to be determined by the WH) are allowed, no notes can be taken, rest of the commission must not be briefed, translator chosen by the WH. Answers naturally prepared by the WH.

Thus, nothing new or surprising. More unnecessary questions?