Congressional representatives recently favored creating an independent commission of “experts” to study intelligence failures in the Sept. 11 terrorist hijackings.
Under the House bill approved July 25, the 10-member panel would include two relatives of victims of the multiple attacks that killed an estimated 3,000 Americans and aliens.
What’s that all about?
Experts will focus on facts, but grieving survivors will focus on vengence and other emotional factors.
The panel’s secret hearings into highly sensitive intelligence procedures would closely resemble the penalty phase of a felony trial, where victims and relatives get to recommend appropriate penalties for already convicted individuals.
And how much confidence will intelligence agencies have in disclosing state secrets to persons whose only qualification for commission appointment is being related to victims by blood or marriage?
Sack the amateurs. (18 AUGUST 2002)
