Triangle Ed-Op Interviews: Congressman Curt Weldon
James Mack, Jr.
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: Ed-Op
Operation Able Danger is the kryptonite of the 9-11 Commission. The American public had hoped independent hearings into the Sept. 11 attacks would help us understand the problems within our intelligence network that led to our government missing the signals. After the conclusion of the commission, however, there were some unanswered questions. Congressman Curt Weldon (R. Pa.) is the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and expert on global security. Rep. Weldon is also an adjunct professor at Drexel University. Weldon recently exposed the workings of Operation Able Danger, a secret unit working with intelligence pre-9-11. This unit identified lead hijacker Muhammad Atta but was allegedly instructed not to pursue the man who would eventually plunge the nation into an international war on terror. Congressman Weldon talks with us about Operation Able Danger, bureaucracy hindering intelligence and global security.
T: Congressman Weldon, first I'd like to thank you for the time you're taking with me.
Curt Weldon: Sure.
T: Recently, we saw that the Able Danger hearings went on that you were involved with yesterday, and the Pentagon has ordered the active duty officers involved not to speak on the subject.
CW: Yes, unfortunately.
T: However, one civilian was allowed to talk. A former military officer, correct?
CW: Well actually, most of them have spoken at various times to the media, but only one was not barred by the Pentagon from speaking yesterday, and the lawyer for two of the others did speak on the other's behalf and actually said much of what they would have said if they had been allowed to speak. But the whole process is totally troubling and very disturbing to me.
T: Are the actions of the Pentagon pretty much what they have been throughout past investigations like the 9-11 Commission, or is it pretty much new for them to start ordering officers to not talk?
CW: Well, I don't know. I know they turned over a lot of information to the 9-11 Commission. In this case, neither the 9-11 Commission or the Pentagon have been straight with the American people about Able Danger and information that was gathered about Al-Qaida.
T: Congressman Weldon, first I'd like to thank you for the time you're taking with me.
Curt Weldon: Sure.
T: Recently, we saw that the Able Danger hearings went on that you were involved with yesterday, and the Pentagon has ordered the active duty officers involved not to speak on the subject.
CW: Yes, unfortunately.
T: However, one civilian was allowed to talk. A former military officer, correct?
CW: Well actually, most of them have spoken at various times to the media, but only one was not barred by the Pentagon from speaking yesterday, and the lawyer for two of the others did speak on the other's behalf and actually said much of what they would have said if they had been allowed to speak. But the whole process is totally troubling and very disturbing to me.
T: Are the actions of the Pentagon pretty much what they have been throughout past investigations like the 9-11 Commission, or is it pretty much new for them to start ordering officers to not talk?
CW: Well, I don't know. I know they turned over a lot of information to the 9-11 Commission. In this case, neither the 9-11 Commission or the Pentagon have been straight with the American people about Able Danger and information that was gathered about Al-Qaida.
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