National Archives To Open 9/11 Commission Textual Materials

[Gold9472]

National Archives to Open 9/11 Commission Textual Materials

http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2009/nr09-41.html

WHAT: The National Archives will open more than 150 cubic feet of records of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, an independent, bipartisan commission created by Congress. The Commission’s mandate was to provide a “full and complete accounting” of the attacks of September 11, 2001, and recommend how to prevent such attacks in the future.

On January 14th at 9 AM EST, Memoranda for the Record (summaries of 709 interviews conducted by the Commission), series descriptions, and folder title lists will be available online (www.archives.gov (http://www.archives.gov/)). These records include information on the terrorists, past terrorist events, al Qaeda in general, and related subjects. The records also include information concerning the emergency responses to the attacks in New York City and Washington, DC.

WHO: Steven Tilley, Director of the National Archives Textual Archives Services Division, will brief the media about the review process and content of the records.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 14, 2009
9 AM (EST) on the web at www.archives.gov (http://www.archives.gov/)
9 AM (EST) – Briefing
9:15 AM (EST) – Records opening
** Members of the press who need to obtain researcher cards should arrive at 8:30 am, or obtain their cards in advance of the opening. ***

WHERE: West Research Room, National Archives Building
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408
Please use the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance.

Please Note: No artificial light may be used in the Research Room.

Background
When the 9/11 Commission closed on August 21, 2004, it transferred legal custody of its records to the National Archives. Before it closed, the Commission voted to encourage the release its records to the fullest extent possible in January 2009. Because the Commission was part of the legislative branch, its records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The records that will open on January 14th represent 35% of the Commission’s archived textual records. Review and processing focused on the portion of the collection that contains unique documents created by the Commission and those that reveal the most about the scope of the investigation and the internal workings of the Commission and its staff. The arrangement of the records reflects the organization of the Commission with series consisting of front office files, team files, and files of individual staff members. Due to the collection’s volume and the large percentage of national security classified files, the National Archives staff was unable to process the entire collection by January 2009. The National Archives will continue to process materials.

These records have been screened for personal privacy and national security. Summaries of the interviews with New York City First Responders are closed under an agreement reached between New York City and the Commission. Graphic personal details concerning the victims of the attacks have been withheld.

Other Information
All researchers, including the media, must have a valid National Archives researcher card prior to gaining access to the records. Researcher cards may be obtained at the National Archives Building with a photo ID. Clean research room rules apply. Laptop computers and scanners are permitted.

The National Archives facility in Washington, DC, does not currently provide wireless access to the internet. Limited power is available. (Please charge computers before arriving.)

For those who do not have Internet access, on the day of the opening the Public Affairs office will distribute DVDs containing summaries of the 709 interviews. The National Archives New York City Regional Archives, located at 201 Varick Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10014, will also distribute these DVDs.

# # #

For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.

[Kevin Fenton]

I know what I want. Interviews of Richard, Wilshire, Shannon, Corsi, Soufan and Bongardt. Hope they are in there.

[Gold9472]

What do you think Paul wants?

[simuvac]

Could they make it any more difficult to view these records?

[Gold9472]

They should be put online. There should be the following:

All documentation, hearings, testimony, for the JICI, PENTTBOM, 9/11 Commission, NIST, Moussaoui Trials, Military Tribunals, International Investigations, should be put into video format, transcribed, searchable, etc... etc... etc...

[Gold9472]

The word "classified" should not exist as far as I'm concerned.

[Gold9472]

People like Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton need to be brought forward to testify about what Bush and Cheney said behind closed doors, and they need to be brought forward to testify publicly. Under oath. Bush and Cheney.

[Gold9472]

I should write an article called, "in a perfect world," and define what a premier investigation would look like.

[Gold9472]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm qualified. All I know is that everyone that was in a position connected to the 9/11 attacks on that day, and had access to relevant information prior should be brought forward to testify publicly, and under oath. All documentation, video, and audio should be made available. If you lie, you are penalized to the FULLEST extent of the law. There would be fucking accountability.

[simuvac]

Heck, at this point I'd settle for an open trial of KSM.

[Gold9472]

9/11 Commission Records

http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, was an independent, bipartisan commission created by Congress. The Commission's mandate (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/public-law-107-306.pdf#page=26) was to provide a "full and complete accounting" of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and to provide recommendations as to how to prevent such attacks in the future. The Commission, extant from 2003 - 2004, held hearings, conducted interviews, and produced a report.

When the 9/11 Commission closed on August 21, 2004, it transferred legal custody of its records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Commission encouraged the release of its records to the fullest extent possible in January 2009. Because the Commission was part of the legislative branch its records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Approximately 35% of the Commission's archived textual records are now publicly available. Due to the collection's volume and the large percentage of national security classified files, NARA staff was unable to process the entire collection by January 2009. Review and processing focused on the portion of the collection that contains unique documents created by the Commission and those that reveal the most about the scope of the investigation and the internal workings of the Commission and its staff.

Read more about the Commission Records (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/about-commission.html)

Online Resources for the 9/11 Commission Records

FAQs on the 9/11 Commission Records (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/faqs.html)
Finding Aid on the 9/11 Commission Records (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/finding-aid.pdf)
The 9/11 Commission Series

Memorandums for the Record (MFR) (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/commission-memoranda.html)
During its investigation, the commission staff conducted over 1200 fact-finding interviews-the MFRs are summaries of these interviews.
This series is available online (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/commission-memoranda.html)
Other 9/11 Commission Series (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/commission-series.html)

Staff Monograph on the Four Flights and Civil Aviation Security (first and second releases)


The September 12, 2005 version of the Staff Monograph on the "Four Flights and Civil Aviation Security" (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/staff-report-sept2005.pdf)http://www.archives.gov/global-images/tiny-pdf-file-icon.gif resulted from a second review of the report by the executive branch. This version was released by the U.S. Department of Justice and transferred into the custody of the National Archives on September 12, 2005. This newer version contains less redacted information than the first version released on January 28, 2005.
The January 28, 2005 version of the Staff Monograph on the Four Flights and Civil Aviation Security (http://www.archives.gov/legislative/research/9-11/staff-report.pdf)http://www.archives.gov/global-images/tiny-pdf-file-icon.gif was the originally released version, now superseded by the second version cited above. This monograph was the third produced by the 9/11 Commission for public dissemination. The full text of the other two monographs, as well as other information about the commission, can be found on the Commission's archived web site at http://www.9-11commission.gov (http://www.9-11commission.gov/).

9-11 Commission Web Site

The commission's web site (http://www.9-11commission.gov/) is preserved as it appeared on August 21, 2004, when the commission closed its doors. It remains accessible, but no data can be added, deleted, or altered. The web site contains a variety of information including staff monographs and staff statements, commissioner and staff biographies, the final report, hearing transcripts and video, lists of witnesses, press releases, and other resources.

[Gold9472]

After reading through some of these docs, I am almost certain that the whole "Cold War/Post-Cold War" readiness/looking outward, schtick was a concocted story. Everyone is basically saying almost the exact same thing...

I have a speaking engagement tonight, but I'm going to collect everyone's statements about this particular thing, and compare them.

[Gold9472]

Here's an interesting one...

http://media.nara.gov/9-11/MFR/t-0148-911MFR-00790.pdf

Mr. Merchant cannot remember a time in the last 33 years when NORAD has NOT run a hijack exercise, but stated that they were always resolved peacefully, that is, NORAD did not project shooting down a hijacked aircraft. Prior to 9/11 NORAD did not run an exercise involving a hijacking over the National Capital Region (NCR), but there were events within exercises that involved the NCR. He stated that other agencies - such as the FAA - may have been involved in a NORAD exercise prior to 9/11 at the ARTCC level, but not at the national level. The possible exception to this that he could recall was the Positive Force exercise series, which is a CJCS multi-agency exercise with national players.

[Gold9472]

I'm reading through all of the pages having to do with Pakistan. Redacted... redacted... redacted... redacted... redacted...

[Kevin Fenton]

For the outward posture, check my point 19:
http://hcgroups.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/summaries-of-911-commission-interviews-released/

Basically:
Marr commented that NEADS was using fourteen radar, and many radio sites. He noted that these sites are focused around the perimeter of the coast. He noted that the radar coverage varied by the sites themselves. He noted that the sites were optimized for their off the coast vision.

Commission staff presented to Marr that the flights that were hijacked on 9/11 were within the physical capabilities of the radar NEADS is linked to.
http://media.nara.gov/9-11/MFR/t-0148-911MFR-00767.pdf

[Gold9472]

http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=2610766

However Delaney did state that he believed the US government shot down VAL 93. Delaney's belief was based solely on the fact that people told him the debris from the impact of UAL 93 was spread over an eight mile area.

He's the guy that destroyed the ATC tapes.