Of course, reading the LNS you knew this story in the
days immediately after 9/11...but the network TV news
anchors, the propapunditgandists, the White House
"correspondents," the talking head apologists of the
right and the pretend "left" -- how dare they ignore
this story? yes, that's why I say they go home at
night to Stepford and the Valley of the Dolls...The
rest of this story and related links is what is hidden
that Sen. Graham (D-Fraudida) has so desperately been
demanding you be told...
http://www.edinburghnews.com/index.cfm?id=971322003
Bin Laden family's US exit 'approved'
BILL ANDREWS
THE United States allowed members of Osama bin Laden’s
family to jet out of the US in the immediate aftermath
of September 11, even as American airspace was closed.
Former White House counter-terrorism tsar Richard
Clarke said the Bush administration sanctioned the
repatriation of about 140 high-ranking Saudi Arabians,
including relatives of the al-Qaida chief.
"Somebody brought to us for approval the decision to
let an aeroplane filled with Saudis, including members
of the Bin Laden family, leave the country," he said.
Mr Clarke said he checked with FBI officials, who gave
the go ahead. "So I said: ‘Fine, let it happen.’"
He first asked the bureau to check that no-one
"inappropriate" was leaving.
"I have no idea if they did a good job," he added.
Dale Watson, the FBI’s former head of
counter-terrorism, said that, while the bureau
identified the Saudis who were on the plane, "they
were not subject to serious interrogations".
The plane is believed to have landed in ten US cities
picking up passengers, including Los Angeles,
Washington DC, Boston and Houston. At the time, access
to US airspace was restricted and required special
government approval.
Tom Kinton, director of aviation at Boston’s Logan
Airport, said: "We were in the midst of the worst
terrorist act in history and here we were seeing an
evacuation of the Bin Ladens."
But he said it was clear the flight had been
sanctioned by federal authorities.
Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the
US who is said to have organised the exodus, met
President George Bush on September 13, 2001, two days
after the terror attacks. It is not known if they
discussed the repatriation plan.
The White House has declined to comment on the claims,
but sources said the Bush administration was confident
no secret flights took place.
Mr Clarke said he did not recall who requested
approval for the flights, but believes it was either
the FBI or the State Department.
But FBI spokesman John Iannarelli said: "I can say
unequivocally that the FBI had no role in facilitating
these flights."