Why did Bush Try to Stop a 9/11 Investigation?

Question

“Bush tried to stop Congress from setting up its own 9/11 investigation.… When he couldn’t stop Congress, he then tried to stop an independent 9/11 commission from being formed.”

The original effort by the White House was to limit the scope of the 9/11 investigation to only two congressional committees. “President Bush asked House and Senate leaders yesterday to allow only two congressional committees to investigate the government's response to the events of Sept. 11, officials said.” Mike Allen, “Bush Seeks To Restrict Hill Probes Of Sept. 11; Intelligence Panels' Secrecy Is Favored,” Washington Post, January 30, 2002.
“I, of course, want the Congress to take a look at what took place prior to Sept. 11. But since it deals with such sensitive information, in my judgment, it’s best for the ongoing war against terror that the investigation be done in the intelligence committees,” President Bush said. David Rosenbaum, “Bush Bucks Tradition on Investigation,” The New York Times, May 26, 2002.
“Angry lawmakers [McCain, Pelosi, Lieberman] accused White House Friday of secretly trying to derail creation of an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks while professing to support the idea.” Helen Dewar, “Lawmakers Accuse Bush of 9/11 Deceit,” Los Angeles Times, October 13, 2002.

In response to Farkas419's answer:
That would be legitimate if there were a majority of republicans on those committees which would lend to making any investigation by them suspect.

As has been the case, the republicans who chair the committees in Congress rule what gets looked at officially. For instance:Judiciary GOP pulls the plug on Conyers 'forums' By Albert Eisele and Jeff Dufour
If the Financial Services Committee is the best in the House when it comes to bipartisan comity, then the Judiciary Committee may well be the worst.In December, ranking Democrat John Conyers (Mich.) began holding “forums” — gatherings with all the trappings of official hearings — after Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) refused to hold hearings on topics Conyers requested. The forums have been held in smaller committee rooms, often with C-SPAN coverage and formal witness lists.In a sign of how far relationships on the committee have soured, majority staff recently announced a new policy to deny

Amend first paragraph to say "if there weren't" a majority of republicans...

Answer 1

Bush was against it because he knew that an honest investigation would show just how incompetant and unprepared the administration was at that time.

Answer 2

From your own article:
"I, of course, want the Congress to take a look at what took place prior to Sept. 11. But since it deals with such sensitive information, in my judgment, it’s best for the ongoing war against terror that the investigation be done in the intelligence committees,” President Bush said.

What's wrong with that? I would prefer for intelligence committees to be responsible for it, as well. Too often, partisan politics get in the way in DC. Leaving such matters to the CIA and/or the FBI (or the NSA) would be the best idea.

What I'm saying is, the investigation NEVER should have been done by the Senate, or Congress. As I said, too much partisan politics. Most of these politicians would rather slit their own throat than help our country, as evidenced by their apathy regarding our health care system. All they care about is getting their party in the majority.
Sure, there are honest politicians...but they're few and far between.

Answer 3

So that he wouldn't get caught...duh! To the people trying to defend the retard, do you realize that on the day that all aircraft were prohibited from flying, Bush had the entire Bin Laden family flown out of the US? ... but Bush had NOTHING to do with 9/11, right? Oh, and by the way... 51% is still FAILING! I will be interested to see how many deep blooded Republicans lash out to this post... and before you do... I'm sorry you're a retard too... and you should NOT be allowed to vote!

Answer 4

A Democrat memo was leaked in which it explained that Democrats intended to set up and operate such an 'investigation' in order to steer the public's understanding toward a point of view favorable to them - instead of merely investigating the facts.

Democrats blasted the 'leak' and buried the content of the memo.

Bush was correct in trying to stop them from playing political games.

It is a fact that one of the Comittee members, Jamie Gorelick, was directly responsible for the 'Wall' preventing the CIA from telling the FBI about Mohammed Atta. She should have been testifying in front of the committee, not running it. It seems Democrats went ahead with their plan after all.

Answer 5

Loose Change video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7866929448192753501&hl=en

Debate between Loose Change and Popular Mechanics
http://www.democracynow.org/streampage.pl?issue=20060911

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
- Charles Baudelaire

Answer 6

You mean you really don't know bush hired Ben. L to attack the towers because that gives him a reason to go to war.
And war is money in his pocket,
Get mad at me report me but the truth is the truth no matter how you look at it.

Answer 7

you people are sad. like you really know whats going on, your so blinded by the its hip to bash bush you have left your intelligences behind.

Answer 8

Looks like you've pretty much been completely owned. And here's another question - like you said, he tried to stop it, but didn't succeed. It went ahead. And guess what - they didn't find anything incriminating against him. So what exactly are you trying to imply? "If he hadn't stopped it, they would've found something against him... oh, wait, he didn't stop it, and they still didn't find anything."

Answer 9

Bush has tried to restrict congress but tells the American people that our security rests in their hands,,, he lies out of both sides of his mouth,,

Answer 10

it's clear, that nobodies trusted to each other in US law... everybody want for their own interest!!!!!!!!! look on Kennedy's assasination,, where is it now............
US still stand b'coz it's has a huge wealth,,,