Nightline Wed 4-14 Story on John O' Neill why he left FBI

[RamboLiberal]

From their email:

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: As the 9/11 commission continues its work, one of al Qaeda's leaders says that the attacks were supposed to be much worse. And the story of one FBI agent who led the fight against terrorism, finally left the bureau for a new job at the World Trade Center, only to die in the attacks.

There's a lot going on, especially in Iraq. Last night's news conference by President Bush really focused on only two issues, Iraq and 9/11. Last night we stayed on the issue of Iraq. But the commission investigating the attacks is continuing its hearings today. A lot of attention has been focused on problems within the FBI. Tonight John Donvan will tell the story of John O'Neill. He was the head of counter-terrorism for the FBI. He became very frustrated in his war against al Qaeda. While investigating the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, he encountered a lack of support from the US government and was eventually pushed out of the FBI. Some believe that because of the many connections between the 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole attacks, had he stayed working in Yemen, he could have uncovered the 9/11 plot. Finally, after leaving the bureau, he took his new job. The night of Sept.10 he apparently told friends that he was concerned that something big was about to happen. Mr. O'Neill was killed the next day.

We're also learning more about what al Qaeda intended for that day. One of its leaders who is in U.S. custody has said that originally there were supposed to be two waves of attacks. One on the East Coast, the other on the West. Los Angeles and the Sears Tower in Chicago were two of the targets. But just before 9/11, bin Laden apparently thought that this plan was too complicated and the second wave was scrapped. All of this comes from transcripts of his interrogations, which were leaked to a reporter from the Sunday Times of London. So as the commission looks at what happened that day, Richard Gizbert will report on how it could have been much much worse.

And there is a lot of information, and finger-pointing coming out of those hearings. But clearly the theme seems to be that the FBI and the CIA could have, and should have, done better. Needless to say, a number of the witnesses have pushed back on that. Michel Martin will report on the last two days of the hearings.

Ted Koppel will anchor tonight, and of course, we're also watching the situation in Iraq. I hope you'll join us.

[Slit Skirt]

1. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[Slit Skirt]

2. don't forget bob woodward....

book comes out sunday
60 minutes this week
hardball next week....I think thursday

[RamboLiberal]

3. I think Woodward's book comes out on Monday

Saw it was moved up to the 19th - originally was listed as the 20th. That's to take advantage of 60 Minutes Sunday which is giving Woodward 2 segments.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

4. FINALLY! This man's story ties it all together-the Oil Based Kleptocracy

of Needless Death.

That's why I chose this du user name after reading Wm. Pitt's essay,
'Hell to Pay.'

>snip<

"On November 7th, 2000, a clear majority of Americans came to the conclusion that George W. Bush was unfit to govern this nation. For a variety of dark and controversial reasons, that conclusion was thrown over. Sometime soon, if the media's electronic web continues to carry these sordid stories of corruption, greed and death, the American people will come to fully understand the consequences of that failed election.

It is one thing to coddle and court a corrupt energy company for political and financial gain. It is quite another to coddle and court a murderous terrorist-supporting regime, hindering anti-terrorism investigations in the process, for the purpose of exploiting valuable natural resources. The former cost a number of people their retirement funds. The latter has cost thousands of people their lives. One is criminal. The other is abominable. George W. Bush is deeply implicated in both. There will be hell to pay."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/01/11_hell.html

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Thanks for the info.

I'm sure Richard Clarke will be watching.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Clarke is a consultant to ABC so maybe he'll be on

One can hope!

[Generator]

7. Also check out PBS "The Man who knew"

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/

It's replaying tomorrow!

Why was John O'Neill forced to back away from investigating al Qaeda and resigned in disgust from the FBI? Hmmmmmmm why are the only good people around Bush the ones that resign? Why are they all the counter-terrorism people?

[Kanary]

10. Unfortunately, it looks like my two PBS stations won't be showing this

or any other Frontline programs.

GRRRRR...

Kanary

[Trajan]

8. Wonderful ...

John ONeill was the hero in this tragedy ....

Wouldnt it be poetic justice for his story to expose the Bush WH's Taliban/pipeline misdealings ??? ...

I SO want that pipeline story to come out, and the ONeil story dovetails nicely with it ....

I could only hope ...

[HootieMcBoob]

9. I was hoping somebody would talk about this

Thanks for the link