WAR: White House Offers Conditions for Rice's Testimony

In a letter penned by Presidential Counsel,Alberto R. Gonzales, the administration has agree to allow the testimony of Condelezza Rice if the commission agrees to two conditions; the testimoney will not be a "precedent for future Commission requests", and the commission will "not request additional public testimony from any White House official". THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON March 30, 2004 Thomas H. Kean, Chairman Lee H. Hamilton, Vice Chairman National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 2100 K St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 Dear Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton: As we discussed last night, the President is prepared, subject to the conditions set forth below, to agree to the request of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States for public testimony, under oath, by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. The President has consistently stated a policy of strong support for the Commission and instructed the Executive Branch to provide unprecedented and extraordinary access to the Commission. To my knowledge, the Executive Branch has provided access to documents or information in response to each of the requests issued by the Commission to date, including many highly classified and extremely sensitive documents that have seldom, if ever, been made available outside the Executive Branch. As an additional accommodation, the Executive Office of the President has available more than 20 EOP officials, including the National Security Advisor, for private meetings with the Commission. As you know, based on principles underlying the Constitutional separation of powers, Presidents of both parties have long taken the position that White House advisors and staff are not subject to the jurisdiction of legislative bodies and do not provide testimony - even on a voluntary basis - on policy matters discussed within the White House or advice given to the President. Indeed, I am not aware of any instance of a. sitting National Security Advisor testifying in public to a legislative body (such as the Commission) concerning policy matters. We continue lo believe, as I advised you by letter dated March 25, 2004, that the principles underlying the Constitutional separation of powers strongly against such public testimony, and that Dr. Rice's testimony before the Commission occur only with recognition that the events of September 11, 2001 present the most extraordinary and unique circumstances, and with conditions and assurances designed to limit harm to the ability of future Presidents to receive candid advice. Nevertheless, the President recognizes the truly unique and extraordinary circumstances underlying the Commission's responsibility to prepare a detailed report on the facts and circumstances of the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001. Furthermore, we have now received assurances from the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate that, in their view, Dr. Rice's public testimony in connection with the extraordinary events of September 11, 2001 does not set, and should not be cited as, a precedent for future requests for a National Security Advisor or any other White House official to testify before a legislative body. In light of the unique nature of the Commission and these additional assurances, the President has determined that, although he retains the legal authority to decline to make Dr. Rice available to testily in public, he will agree, as a matter of comity and subject to the conditions set forth below, to the Commission's for Dr. Rice to testify publicly regarding matters within the Commission's statutory mandate. The necessary conditions are as follows. First, the Commission must agree in writing that Dr. Rice's testimony before die Commission does not set any precedent for future Commission requests, or requests in any other context, for testimony by a National Security Advisor or any other White House official. Second, the Commission must agree in writing that it will not request additional public testimony from any White House official, including Dr. Rice. The National Security Advisor is uniquely situated to provide the Commission with information necessary to fulfill its statutory mandate. Indeed, it is for reason that Dr. Rice privately met with the Commission for more than four hours on February 7, fully answered every question posed to her, and offered additional private meetings as necessary. Despite the fact that the Commission will therefore have access to all information of which Dr. Rice is aware, the Commission has nevertheless urged public confidence in the work of the Commission would be enhanced by Dr. Rice appearing publicly before the Commission. Other White House officials with information relevant to the Commission's inquiry do not come within the scope of the Commission's rationale for seeking public testimony from Dr. Rice. These officials will continue to provide the Commission with information through private meetings, briefings, and documents, consistent with our previous practice. I greatly appreciate the strong support you expressed to me last for an agreement to the conditions on which we are proposing this extraordinary accommodation and your commitment to strongly advocate for the full support of the Commission. If the Commission accepts the terms of this agreement, I hope that we can schedule a time as soon as possible for such a public appearance by Dr. Rice. I want to reiterate once again, however, that Dr. would be made available to the Commission with due- regard for the Constitutional separation of powers and reserving all legal authorities, privileges, and objections that may apply, including with respect to other governmental entities or private parties. I would also like to take this occasion to offer an accommodation on another issue on which we have not yet reached an agreement - Commission access to the President and Vice President. I am authorized to advise you that the President and Vice President have agreed to one joint private session with all 10 Commissioners, with one Commission staff member present to take notes of the session. 1 look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to help it obtain the information it needs to fulfill its statutory mandate. Sincerely, Alberto R. Gonzales Counsel to the President

Tradionally National Security Advisors never testify before congress. They are not subject to the same scrutiny as a congressionally approved administration position.
So all those thinking Bush is uncooperative with this probe think again. Never in history has anyone in her position testified under oath to a congressional hearing.

BTW, Richard Clark was asked to testify before congress under oath during the Clinton administration and he flatly refused. Interesting, huh?

Who cares if it has never been done before. It needs to be done now and it will be. Things change, and this is for the better. It's time the secrets were brought into the light so that the cockroaches will hide again instead of doing business in plain daylight.

Statement by the 9-11 Commission AL FELZENBERG, DEPUTY FOR COMMUNICATIONS National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States March 30, 2004 - The Commission welcomes the decision of the President and the Vice President to meet in one joint private session with all 10 Commissioners. We also commend the President for his decision to accept the Commission's request for public testimony, under oath, by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. These decisions represent a significant contribution by the President to the work of the Commission, consistent with our mandate to "provide a full and complete accounting" of the terrorist attacks of September 11. The President has consistently stated a policy of strong support for the Commission and instructed the Executive Branch to provide unprecedented and extraordinary access to the Commission. His decisions today reflect that policy of strong support, and we welcome We agree with the observation by the President's counsel that Dr. Rice's appearance before the Commission is in response to the special circumstances presented by the events of September 11 and the Commission's unique mandate and should not be viewed as a precedent for future requests for public testimony by White House officials. We look forward to the Commission's meeting with the President and the Vice President and the public testimony of Dr. Rice, and we will work with the White House to schedule both sessions promptly.

This is all a big bad joke. Condi will never tell us the truth of what they did on that day. The Bush-regime is lying, lying and lying...