DOCSLIB.ORG

Request to Depose FBI Agent

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 73 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/23/2015 Page 1 of 22 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch BROWARD BULLDOG, INC., a Florida ) corporation not for profit, and DAN ) CHRISTENSEN, founder, operator and editor ) of the BrowardBulldog.com website, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ) 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ) Washington, DC 20530, and ) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ) 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ) Washington, DC 20535, ) ) Defendants. ) ) Plaintiffs’ Request for Status Conference Plaintiffs, Broward Bulldog, Inc., publisher of FloridaBulldog.org, and Dan Christensen (collectively “The Bulldog”), respectfully request a status conference to (1) determine whether plaintiffs or a special master could assist with the Court’s review of documents produced by the defendants for in camera review, (2) address whether recent public statements by the FBI regarding the subject of this case warrant limited discovery, and (3) establish a schedule for the case. State of The Pleadings Plaintiffs commenced this Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (collectively “the FBI”) on HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 73 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/23/2015 Page 2 of 22 Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch September 5, 2012, in order to obtain records concerning an FBI investigation of a Saudi family that had left their home in Sarasota County, Florida, shortly before the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. DE-1. The FBI moved to dismiss the action on November 19, 2012, DE-5; the Court denied the motion on June 28, 2013, DE-38; and the FBI filed its answer on August 7, 2013, DE-44. No other pleadings have been filed and the case is not yet set for trial. No motions are pending at this time. Documents Produced The FBI advised the Court on January 9, 2013, that “defendants have not located any records responsive to plaintiffs’ request.” DE-12 at 2 ¶B. Nevertheless, the defendants subsequently found and produced 35 pages of records responsive to plaintiffs’ request on March 28, 2013, DE-25-1 Ex. K; and 4 additional pages of records responsive to plaintiffs’ request on May 9, 2014. DE-68-1. The FBI redacted portions of these documents, asserting various exemptions to FOIA’s disclosure requirements, including Exemptions 1 and 3. Exemption 1 relates to classified documents, while Exemption 3 relates to documents that are required to be withheld by statute. The FBI identified the National Security Act of 1947 as the statute requiring it to withhold some of the redacted portions of the records purportedly subject to Exemption 3. One of the most significant documents produced was dated April 16, 2002, Bates numbered SARASOTA-5 & 6, DE 72-1. Portions of the document were redacted and withheld on several grounds, including that they had been classified pursuant to Executive Order 13526 Section 1.4(c) and pursuant to a section of the National Security Act of 1947, 50 U.S.C. § 3024(i)(1). The former provides: “Information shall not be considered for classification unless its unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause identifiable or describable 2 HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 73 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/23/2015 Page 3 of 22 Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch damage to the national security . and it pertains to . intelligence activities (including covert action), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology.” The latter requires the Director of National Intelligence to “protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure.” The released portions of the April 16, 2002, document stated: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Precedence: _ROUTINE Date: 04/16/2002 To: Tampa From: Tampa SQ 6/Ft. Myers RA Contact: [Redacted] Approved By: [Redacted] Drafted By: [Redacted] slw* Case ID #: [Redacted] (Pending) Synopsis: To request a [redacted] be opened. Derived From: G-3 Declassify On: X1 Details: Pursuant to the investigation into the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tampa Division became aware of [redacted] [redacted] is allegedly a wealthy and successful international businessman. [Redacted] and his family resided in a $530,000.00 in an affluent section of Sarasota, Florida, On or about 08/27/2001, the [redacted] fled their home, Based upon repeated citizen calls following September 11, the FBI and the South Florida Domestic Security Task Force became aware of the [redacted] family. Following an inspection of their home by agents of the Southwest Florida Domestic Security Task Force, it was discovered that the [redacted] left their residence quickly and suddenly. They left behind valuable items, clothing, jewelry, and food in a manner that indicated they fled unexpectedly without .prior preparation or knowledge. Further investigation of the [redacted] family revealed many connections between the [redacted] and individuals associated with the terrorist attacks on 09/11/2001. 3 HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 73 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/23/2015 Page 4 of 22 Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch More specifically, a [redacted] family member, [redacted] also known as [redacted] DOB [redacted] last known address [redacted] Florida, was also a flight student at Huffman Aviation. Additionally, [redacted] also known as [redacted] last known address [redacted] Florida, was arrested numerous times by Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. [Redacted] lived with flight students at Huffman Aviation. [Redacted] (Emphasis added) (classification markings deleted). This documents contradicted prior public statements by the FBI that it had investigated a Saudi family that abruptly left Sarasota shortly before September 11, 2001, and had found no connections between the family and the terrorist attacks on that date. This contradiction suggested to plaintiffs that the FBI likely had many additional documents that would be responsive to the plaintiffs’ FOIA request for records relating to its investigation of events that occurred at the Sarasota home occupied by the family. Accordingly, plaintiffs asked the Court to direct the FBI to conduct a better search. The Court granted plaintiffs’ request on April 4, 2014, DE-60, and denied the FBI’s request for rehearing on April 18, 2014. DE-63. After conducting the additional search, the FBI produced 32 pages of responsive documents on June 6, 2014, DE-69-1; and 13 additional pages of responsive documents on June 27, 2014, DE-72-1. The last of these productions included the document Bates numbered SarasotaTrdPty-5 & 6 which contained the Electronic Communication set forth above. The FBI also redacted portions of the newly found documents, asserting various exemptions to FOIA’s disclosure requirements, including, the same exemptions based on classification and national security noted above. One of the documents released on June 27, 2014, Bates numbered SarasotaTrdPty-5 & 6, DE 25-2, appeared to be an Electronic Communication containing information similar to, but even more alarming than, that found in SARASOTA-5 & 6. It also was dated April 3, 2002, 4 HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 73 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/23/2015 Page 5 of 22 Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch about two weeks earlier than SARASOTA-5 & 6. The Electronic Communication stated: To: Tampa From: Tampa Re: [Redacted] 04/03/2002 [Redacted] [Redacted] The Tampa Division of the FBI has investigated [redacted] [redacted] pursuant to the Penttbom investigation. As a result of the investigation of [redacted] Tampa Division FBI has determined that [redacted] resides in Jerusalem. [Redacted] alleged has held regular and recurring meetings at his residence to denounce and criticize the United States of America and its policies. [Redacted] is allegedly an international businessman with great wealth. In November 2001, [redacted] visited the United States for the first time. He traveled to Sarasota, Florida, opened a bank account and made initial queries into the purchase of property in south central Florida [Redacted] intends to establish a Muslim compound in Central Florida. [Redacted] revealed that [redacted] is fearful of [redacted] and fears that [redacted] intents to begin offensive operations against the United States if he is able to purchase property and establish a Muslim compound in Central Florida. [Redacted]. Pursuant to the Penttbom investigation by the FBI, Tampa Division FBI became aware of [redacted] [redacted] is allegedly a wealthy and successful international businessman. [Redacted] and his family resided in a $530,000.00 home in an affluent section of Sarasota, Florida. On or about 8/27/2001, the [redacted] fled their home. Based upon repeated citizen calls following 09/11/2001, FBI Tampa and the Southwest Florida Domestic Security Task Force became aware of the [redacted] family. Following an inspection of their home by Agents of the Southwest Florida Domestic Security Task Force, it was discovered that the [redacted] left their residence quickly and suddenly. They left behind valuable items, clothing, jewelry, food and in a manner that indicated they fled unexpectedly, without prior preparation and permanently. Further investigation of the [redacted] family revealed many connections between the [redacted] family members and the investigation of the attacks on 9/11/2001. More specifically, a [redacted] family member, [redacted] aka, [redacted]
Recommended publications
  • Czuzak 1 9/11 and the AMERICAN-SAUDI ALLIANCE

    Czuzak 1 9/11 and the AMERICAN-SAUDI ALLIANCE

    9/11 AND THE AMERICAN-SAUDI ALLIANCE: A PRAGMATIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO UNLIKELY PARTNERS ©2017 By Andrew N. Czuzak A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion Of the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies at the Croft Institute for International Studies The University of Mississippi University, Mississippi May 2017 Approved: Advisor: Dr. Vivian Ibrahim Reader: Dr. Yael Zeira Reader: Dr. Nicolas Trépanier Czuzak 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...3-5 SECTION 1.1: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...5-9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...10-15 CHAPTER 3: ANALYSIS & METHODS ...16 SECTION 3.1: STRATEGIC TIES ...17-26 SECTION 3.2: ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS ...27-35 SECTION 3.3: DIPLOMACY AND POLITICAL GESTURES ...36-40 SECTION 3.4: PUBLIC OPINION AND MEDIA EXPOSURE ...41-46 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION ...47-48 REFERENCES ...49-51 Czuzak 2 Chapter 1: Introduction Since July of 2016, Saudi Arabia has been in the public eye with the release of the “28 Pages” report and former President Obama’s veto of the Congressional decision to allow the victims of the September 11th attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. Despite allegations that stem nearly fifteen years back, the Saudi connection to 9/11 remains relevant to this day. Historically, these two nations have shared a “special relationship” based off mutual strategic interests and oil wealth, but did this relationship begin to crack earlier than these recent events show? This thesis’ importance is that it helps reveal which aspects of alliances are most important to the United States and Saudi Arabia in their relationship. I hypothesized that the parts that matter most are the “pragmatic” parts of the relationship.
  • 9/11 Report”), July 2, 2004, Pp

    9/11 Report”), July 2, 2004, Pp

    Final FM.1pp 7/17/04 5:25 PM Page i THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT Final FM.1pp 7/17/04 5:25 PM Page v CONTENTS List of Illustrations and Tables ix Member List xi Staff List xiii–xiv Preface xv 1. “WE HAVE SOME PLANES” 1 1.1 Inside the Four Flights 1 1.2 Improvising a Homeland Defense 14 1.3 National Crisis Management 35 2. THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW TERRORISM 47 2.1 A Declaration of War 47 2.2 Bin Ladin’s Appeal in the Islamic World 48 2.3 The Rise of Bin Ladin and al Qaeda (1988–1992) 55 2.4 Building an Organization, Declaring War on the United States (1992–1996) 59 2.5 Al Qaeda’s Renewal in Afghanistan (1996–1998) 63 3. COUNTERTERRORISM EVOLVES 71 3.1 From the Old Terrorism to the New: The First World Trade Center Bombing 71 3.2 Adaptation—and Nonadaptation— ...in the Law Enforcement Community 73 3.3 . and in the Federal Aviation Administration 82 3.4 . and in the Intelligence Community 86 v Final FM.1pp 7/17/04 5:25 PM Page vi 3.5 . and in the State Department and the Defense Department 93 3.6 . and in the White House 98 3.7 . and in the Congress 102 4. RESPONSES TO AL QAEDA’S INITIAL ASSAULTS 108 4.1 Before the Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania 108 4.2 Crisis:August 1998 115 4.3 Diplomacy 121 4.4 Covert Action 126 4.5 Searching for Fresh Options 134 5.
  • Ten Most Wanted Documents for 2004

    Ten Most Wanted Documents for 2004

    Ten Most Wanted Documents for 2004 A Report for OpenTheGovernment.org by OMB Watch & Center for Democracy & Technology April 2004 OpenTheGovernment.org OpenTheGovernment.org Steering Committee Steven Aftergood Robert Leger Federation of American Society of Professional Scientists Journalists Carol Andress Conrad Martin** Environmental Defense Fund for Constitutional Government* Mary Alice Baish American Association of Law Elliot Mincberg Libraries People For the American Way Gary Bass* Reece Rushing OMB Watch Center for American Progress Tom Blanton* National Security Archive Peg Seminario AFL-CIO Doug Clifton** American Society of David Sobel Newspaper Editors* Electronic Privacy Information Center Lucy Dalglish Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press * Co-Chairs ** ex officio member OpenTheGovernment.org - 2 - OpenTheGovernment.org Ten Most Wanted Documents for 2004 A Report for OpenTheGovernment.org by OMB Watch & Center for Democracy & Technology April 2004 OpenTheGovernment.org 1742 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC 20009 Phone 202-234-8494 Fax 202-234-8584 www.OpenTheGovernment.org [email protected] - 3 - OpenTheGovernment.org OpenTheGovernment.org OpenTheGovernment.org would like to express appreciation to the following for their generous support: Bauman Foundation Fund for Constitutional Government John S. and James L. Knight Foundation OMB Watch Schooner Foundation Acknowledgements The report benefited from the contributions of the many individuals and organizations contributing information, ideas, and suggestions. In addition to the steering committee for OpenTheGovernment.org, special acknowledgement should be made to Steve Aftergood, Scott Amey, Carol Andress, Mary Alice Baish, Danielle Brian, Bruce Craig, Lucy Dalglish, Cheryl Gregory, Robert Leger, Kate Martin, Sean Moulton, Joe Onek and Celia Wexler for their contributions to the report.
  • 9-11 and Terrorist Travel- Full

    9-11 and Terrorist Travel- Full

    AND TERRORIST TRAVEL Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 9/11 AND TERRORIST TRAVEL Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States By Thomas R. Eldridge Susan Ginsburg Walter T. Hempel II Janice L. Kephart Kelly Moore and Joanne M. Accolla, Staff Assistant Alice Falk, Editor Note from the Executive Director The Commission staff organized its work around specialized studies, or monographs, prepared by each of the teams. We used some of the evolving draft material for these studies in preparing the seventeen staff statements delivered in conjunction with the Commission’s 2004 public hearings. We used more of this material in preparing draft sections of the Commission’s final report. Some of the specialized staff work, while not appropriate for inclusion in the report, nonetheless offered substantial information or analysis that was not well represented in the Commission’s report. In a few cases this supplemental work could be prepared to a publishable standard, either in an unclassified or classified form, before the Commission expired. This study is on immigration, border security and terrorist travel issues. It was prepared principally by Thomas Eldridge, Susan Ginsburg, Walter T. Hempel II, Janice Kephart, and Kelly Moore, with assistance from Joanne Accolla, and editing assistance from Alice Falk. As in all staff studies, they often relied on work done by their colleagues. This is a study by Commission staff. While the Commissioners have been briefed on the work and have had the opportunity to review earlier drafts of some of this work, they have not approved this text and it does not necessarily reflect their views.
  • Saudi 28 Pages & 911 Report 14.9.16

    Saudi 28 Pages & 911 Report 14.9.16

    Saudi Arabia and 9/11: Establishing the Truth Behind the Release of the 28 Pages and the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act” By Anthony H. Cordesman Update: September 14, 2016 Please provide comments to [email protected] Cover: DoD photo by Master Sgt. Ben Bloker, U.S. Air Force Saudi Arabia and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Attack 14/9/16 2 Saudi Arabia and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act President Obama has made it clear that he intends to veto the legislation the House passed on September 9, 2016 that would allow families of those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for any role its officials played in the terrorist attack. He should veto the bill and the Congress should pause and not override that veto. It is all too easy to understand anger the families and survivors of those who were victims on 9/11 feel, and the desire they have to find someone to punish and blame and for some compensation for their losses. It is equally easy to understand the mixed motives of a Congress caught up in the politics of tenth anniversary of the attack, an election year, and the desire not to seem soft on terrorism. Saudi Arabia is also one of America’s most difficult strategic partners for Americans to understand, and its progress, reforms, and strategic importance are often badly understated. It is easier to focus on the fact it is an Islamic state at a time when extremist threats like ISIS, Al Qaida, and the Taliban, than deal with the complicated security issues in the Gulf region and the fact the U.S.
  • Lessons Learned—The Inspector General’S Report on the 9/11 Detainees

    Lessons Learned—The Inspector General’S Report on the 9/11 Detainees

    S. HRG. 108–257 LESSONS LEARNED—THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE 9/11 DETAINEES HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JUNE 25, 2003 Serial No. J–108–19 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 91–288 DTP WASHINGTON : 2004 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 11:48 Jan 19, 2004 Jkt 090303 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 S:\GPO\HEARINGS\91288.TXT SJUD4 PsN: CMORC COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah, Chairman CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts JON KYL, Arizona JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware MIKE DEWINE, Ohio HERBERT KOHL, Wisconsin JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois JOHN CORNYN, Texas JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina BRUCE ARTIM, Chief Counsel and Staff Director BRUCE A. COHEN, Democratic Chief Counsel and Staff Director (II) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 11:48 Jan 19, 2004 Jkt 090303 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 S:\GPO\HEARINGS\91288.TXT SJUD4 PsN: CMORC C O N T E N T S STATEMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS Page Feingold, Hon.
  • Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

    Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations

    Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations Updated September 21, 2018 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL33533 Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations Summary The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large oil reserves. Close U.S.-Saudi official relations have survived a series of challenges since the 1940s. In recent years, shared concerns over Sunni Islamist extremist terrorism and Iranian government policies have provided some renewed logic for continued strategic cooperation. Political upheaval and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa have created new challenges, and the Trump Administration has sought to strengthen U.S. ties to Saudi leaders as the kingdom implements a series of new domestic and foreign policy initiatives. Successive U.S. Administrations have referred to the Saudi government as an important partner, and U.S. arms sales and related security cooperation have continued with congressional oversight and amid some congressional opposition. The Trump Administration, like its recent predecessors, praises Saudi government counterterrorism efforts. Since 2009, the executive branch has notified Congress of proposed foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia of major defense articles and services with a potential aggregate value of nearly $139 billion. The United States and Saudi Arabia concluded arms sale agreements worth more than $65 billion, from FY2009 through FY2016. Since March 2015, the U.S.-trained Saudi military has used U.S.-origin weaponry, U.S. logistical assistance, and shared intelligence in support of military operations in Yemen.
  • Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S

    Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S

    Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations ,name redacted, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs June 6, 2017 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov RL33533 Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations Summary The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large oil reserves. Close U.S.-Saudi official relations have survived a series of challenges since the 1940s. In recent years, shared concerns over Sunni Islamist extremist terrorism and Iranian government policies have provided some renewed logic for continued strategic cooperation. Political upheaval and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa appear to have strained bilateral ties, but the Trump Administration has stated its intent to strengthen ties to the kingdom. Successive U.S. Administrations have referred to the Saudi government as an important partner, and U.S. arms sales and related security cooperation programs have continued with congressional oversight and amid some congressional opposition. Since 2009, the executive branch has notified Congress of proposed sales to Saudi Arabia of major defense articles and services with a potential aggregate value of more than $119 billion. The United States and Saudi Arabia concluded formal arms sale agreements worth more than $58 billion, from FY2009 through FY2015. Since March 2015, the U.S.-trained Saudi military has used U.S.-origin weaponry, U.S. logistical assistance, and shared intelligence in support of military operations in Yemen. Some Members of Congress have expressed concern about Saudi use of U.S.-origin weaponry and skepticism about Saudi commitment to combating extremism, and have introduced bills to place conditions on or disapprove of some proposed U.S.
  • Download the Publication

    Download the Publication

    Viewpoints No. 102 Saudi Arabia Faces the Missing 28 Pages David B. Ottaway Middle East Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center May 2016 The question of possible Saudi links to the 9/11 hijackers has haunted and soured relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia for 15 years. Now the probable release of 28 classified pages from a congressional probe plus pressure from Congress to strip the Saudi government of its sovereign immunity to allow 9/11 families to sue the kingdom in U.S. courts are forcing yet another examination of the Saudi role in the worst act of terrorism ever perpetuated on American soil. Middle East Program ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In December 2002, a joint Senate-House intelligence committee published its findings on the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attacks, which included evidence of possible links between the government of Saudi Arabia and some of the 15 Saudis involved in the bombings of the Pentagon and Twin Towers that cost nearly 3,000 American lives. For national security reasons, the 28 pages detailing that information were never published. But they may be shortly and revive yet another intense examination of alleged Saudi support for anti-American terrorism. The famous missing pages, if now declassified, will likely put the former Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and his wife, Haifa, back in the limelight. Some of the allegations after the attacks focused on the royal couple’s financial aid to the Saudi spouse of a student who appeared to have had contacts with two of the hijackers living in California, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, prior to 9/11.
  • War on Terror – Lessons from Lincoln

    War on Terror – Lessons from Lincoln

    LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW __________________________________ VOLUME 1 DECEMBER 2013 ISSUE 1 _____________________________________ WAR ON TERROR – LESSONS FROM LINCOLN M. Akram Faizer * INTRODUCTION On May 1, 2012, President Obama announced that U.S. forces would continue their phased withdrawal from Afghanistan such that by the end of 2014, Afghan security forces will have full responsibility for their country’s security. 1 Of particular note, the President’s speech was directed solely at an American audience with very little attention paid to either Afghan sentiment or the Afghan people’s needs. The unidirectional nature of the President’s focus was inadvertently evidenced when, on Afghan soil, he closed the speech by stating: * Assistant Professor of Law, Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law. The author would like to dedicate this piece to his darling Melanie. 1 See Mark Landler, Obama Signs Pact in Kabul, Turning Page in Afghan War , N.Y. TIMES , May 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/world/ asia/obama-lands-in-kabul-on-unannounced- visit.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0; see also David E. Sanger, Charting Obama’s Journey to a Shift on Afghanistan , N.Y. TIMES , May 20, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/us/obamas-journey-to-reshape- afghanistan-war.html?hp. 14 1 LMU LAW REVIEW 1 (2013) “May God bless our troops and may God bless the United States of America.” 2 The President’s words did not evidence any acknowledgement that an expression of American solicitude for Afghan well-being might equally be in the American people’s interests.
  • Download FINAL 9-11 Review Commission Report

    Download FINAL 9-11 Review Commission Report

    UNCLASSIFIED (U) The FBI: Protecting the Homeland in the 21st Century (U) Report of the Congressionally-directed (U) 9/11 Review Commission To (U) The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation By (U) Commissioners Bruce Hoffman Edwin Meese III Timothy J. Roemer (U) March 2015 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 1 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED (U) TABLE OF CONTENTS (U) Introduction: The 9/11 Review Commission…..……….………........ p. 3 (U) Chapter I: Baseline: The FBI Today…………………………….. p. 15 (U) Chapter II: The Sum of Five Cases………………….……………. p. 38 (U) Chapter III: Anticipating New Threats and Missions…………....... p. 53 (U) Chapter IV: Collaboration and Information Sharing………………. p. 73 (U) Chapter V: New Information Related to the 9/11 Attacks………… p. 100 (U) Key Findings and Recommendations…………………………………. p. 108 (U) Conclusion: ………………………………………………………… p. 118 (U) Appendix A: Briefs Provided by FBI Headquarters’ Divisions.…..… p. 119 (U) Appendix B: Interviews Conducted…………………………………. p. 121 (U) Appendix C: Select FBI Intelligence Program Developments…….… p. 122 (U) Appendix D: Acronyms……………………………………………… p. 124 2 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED (U) INTRODUCTION THE FBI 9/11 REVIEW COMMISSION (U) The FBI 9/11 Review Commission was established in January 2014 pursuant to a congressional mandate.1 The United States Congress directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, or the “Bureau”) to create a commission with the expertise and scope to conduct a “comprehensive external review of the implementation of the recommendations related to the FBI that were proposed by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (commonly known as the 9/11 Commission).”2 The Review Commission was tasked specifically to report on: 1.
  • IN the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT of FLORIDA Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch BROWARD BULLDOG, INC., a Florida

    IN the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT of FLORIDA Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch BROWARD BULLDOG, INC., a Florida

    Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 99-1 Entered on FLSD Docket 01/11/2018 Page 1 of 183 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 12-61735-Civ-Zloch BROWARD BULLDOG, INC., a Florida ) corporation not for profit, and DAN ) CHRISTENSEN, founder, operator and editor ) of the BrowardBulldog.com website, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ) 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ) Washington, DC 20530, and ) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ) 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW ) Washington, DC 20535, ) ) Defendants. ) ) Declaration of Thomas R. Julin in Opposition to the FBI’s Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment GUNSTER, YOAKLEY & STEWART, P.A. Case 0:12-cv-61735-WJZ Document 99-1 Entered on FLSD Docket 01/11/2018 Page 2 of 183 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2002-2011 The Origins of the Bulldog’s Investigation of 9/11 .............................................................2 Thursday 09-08-2011 The Bulldog Uncovers a Secret FBI Investigation of Possible 9/11 Conspirators .................................................................6 Friday 09-09-2011 The FBI Tells The Miami Herald it Determined the al-Hijji Family is Not Related to Any Threat or the 9/11 Plot...........................................11 Friday 09-09-2011 Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham Tells the Bulldog that the FBI’s Statement is “Total B.S.” ........................................................13 Saturday 09-10-12 9-10-2011: An FBI Analyst Secretly Confirms the Bulldog has Uncovered the FBI’s Secret Investigation ...............................................14