March 3, 2009

**

*An Open Letter to Senator Patrick Leahy *

March 3, 2009

Dear Senator Leahy,

We felt compelled to write to you regarding your recent call for the
formation of a “Truth Commission”. According to your press comments,
this Commission is supposed to look at the following:

* the politicization of prosecution in the Justice Department
* the wiretapping of U.S. citizens
* the flawed intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq
* the use of torture at Guantanamo and so-called black sites abroad

These are serious allegations of criminal activity by certain members of
the Bush Administration. While we applaud your initiative in looking
into these matters, we feel this approach is wrong.

As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you already have the
responsibility and legal authority to investigate matters relating to
federal criminal law without having to form a special commission. You
are also bound by your oath of office to support and uphold the
Constitution by ensuring that those who govern also abide by the rule of
law.

Furthermore, a “Truth Commission” will not fix the real problems that
our country faces, nor will it guarantee that we will get to the truth.
The 9/11 Commission, which you want to model your commission after, is
a perfect example of that flawed process.

The 9/11 Commission was mandated to follow the facts surrounding the
events of September 11, 2001 to wherever they might lead and make
national security recommendations based upon those facts. Sadly, prior
to even beginning their investigation, like you, the 9/11 Commissioners
agreed amongst themselves that their role was to /fact find, not fault
find/.

This decision resulted in individuals not being held accountable for
their specific failures. These people were shown to be incompetent in
the 9/11 Commission’s Final Report but were left in their positions, or
worse, promoted. No one should be allowed to make this compromise on
behalf of the American people. How can any agency be deemed fixed or
reformed if the people working there are inept? How can anyone feel safer?

At the 9/11 Commission hearings, little actual evidence was ever
produced. Many individuals were not sworn in, critical witnesses were
either not called to testify or were permitted to dictate the parameters
of their own questioning, pertinent questions were omitted and there was
little follow-up. Whistleblower testimony was suppressed or avoided all
together. The National Security Agency, an intelligence agency that is
responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications
and foreign intelligence, was barely investigated at all.

With the narrative of the 9/11 Commission’s final report predetermined
and with the preexisting intention to never hold anyone accountable in
place, the 9/11 Commission was doomed to fail as a real investigation.
The end result of the 9/11 Commission’s work was that some of the
recommendations that they produced were in fact, based on distortions
and omissions. Since their mandate of a complete accounting was ignored,
the recommendations were incomplete at best.

There was clearly no desire on the part of Congress to force the
Commission to meet its legislative mandate. Accordingly, there were no
repercussions for the fact that the investigation and its
recommendations were incomplete. It could be surmised that holding no
one accountable was more important than uncovering and disclosing the
truth. This could compromise the future safety of American citizens.
Why then would you want to model another Commission after it? Why
would you want another Commission at all?

Senator Leahy, in light of the fact that the 9/11 Commission’s worst
offense was not fully investigating the September 11th attacks,
completing that investigation should also be included on your list of
matters to be examined.

America’s founding fathers, prescient in their fears of unrestrained
power, created three separate but equal branches of government. They
had hoped to maintain and enforce the limits of the Executive Branch.

The Bush Administration was allowed to circumvent too many
Constitutional restrictions effectively undermining America’s system of
justice, our nation’s integrity and commitment to the rule of law. The
Bush Administration’s seizing of power proves the adage that “absolute
power corrupts absolutely”.

The days of no fault government must end; and where there is clear
criminal activity, people must be prosecuted. The law must be upheld
without exception before we can be assured of the safety of the nation.
These duties cannot be ignored for the sake of expediency.

Senator Leahy, our nation needs you to investigate and, if warranted,
refer the cases for criminal prosecution in transparent trials. We do
not need another meaningless commission resulting in no accountability
at the taxpayers’ expense. Show all Americans that you have the courage
to uphold the law, bring accountability to those who abuse their
positions of power and prevent such abuses from happening again.

The November 2008 elections proved that Americans want the rule of law
restored for those in Washington who are elected to represent us. You,
Senator Leahy, are in the position to lead the way and work toward the
change we were promised.

Sincerely,

*September 11th Advocates
*Patty Casazza
Monica Gabrielle
Mindy Kleinberg
Lorie Van Auken