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This page features news articles and announcements of interest to the 9/11 community.
'Lady al-Qaida' Trial Could Preview Terror Cases
January 21, 2010
For a preview of the some of the antics that may be on display when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others are tried in New York federal court, it's instructive to look at the unfolding trial of another accused terrorist. Aafia Siddiqui was tossed from her own trial Tuesday by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Richard Berman after she ranted about her innocence during witness testimony, the New York Daily News reported.
Siddiqui, dubbed "Lady al-Qaida" by the tabloids, is charged with attempted murder after being accused of grabbing an unattended rifle at an Afghan police station and opening fire on U.S. personnel. When she was arrested, she was carrying an alleged list of potential terror targets, including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. But as Capt. Robert Snyder testified about the shooting incident, Siddiqui interrupted. "Give me a little credit, this is not a list of targets of New York," she said. "I was never planning to bomb it. You're lying." The outburst prompted her removal from the court; it was the trial's opening day. More.
Community Board Wants 9/11 Trial Moved
January 20, 2010
Community Board 1, which serves Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street including Ground Zero, held a public hearing on moving the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspected 9/11 terrorists out of the area.
Many residents of Chinatown and the neighboring areas to the federal courthouse at 500 Pearl Street testified that holding the trial there will be a burden and a danger for them. More.
Former 9/11 Commissioners Testify
January 20, 2010
Former 9/11 Commission Chairman and Vice Chairman Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton today testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In their testimony, Governor Kean and Congressman Hamilton, now co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) National Security Preparedness Group, discussed the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day and the state of intelligence reform.
"Today, we are appearing in our capacity as co-chairmen of the Bipartisan Policy Center's National Security Preparedness Group (NSPG), a successor to the 9/11 Commission. Drawing on a strong roster of national security professionals, the NSPG works as an independent, bipartisan group to monitor the implementation of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations and address other emerging national security issues," said Congressman Hamilton in his testimony. More.
For 9/11 Team, Haiti Brings It All Back
January 18, 2010
A pile of rubble is a pile of rubble, whether it is Lower Manhattan or central Port-au-Prince. As a New York rescue team combed the wreckage of last week’s earthquake in search of long-shot survivors on Monday, some said one particular past disaster — the collapsed World Trade Center towers — was not far back in their minds.
Twisted metal, piles of concrete, people clutching photographs of lost loved ones — reminders were all around for members of the team, New York Task Force 1, of that terrorist attack they had responded to more than eight years ago. More.
9/11 Memorial on the Library Green
January 13, 2010
Easton residents voted 188-140 on Wednesday night to overturn the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (P&Z) negative recommendation on placing the 9/11 Memorial Committee’s proposed memorial on the green in front of the Easton Public Library.
A packed crowd at a town meeting at Samuel Staples Elementary School listened to about 45 minutes of presentations for and against the committee’s plan before the vote. More.
Two New 9/11 Victims Identified
January 7, 2010
New York City has identified two more victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.The medical examiner's office said Thursday that both victims were women. It said it is withholding their names at the families' request.
One of the victims was identified from remains using newer DNA technology developed in 2006. The other was identified from fragments that were discovered in a renewed search for remains in and around ground zero that began three years ago. More.
Court Upholds Conviction in 9/11 Case
January 4, 2010
A federal appeals court on Monday upheld the conviction of the only person who has been tried in a United States court on charges of involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Zacarias Moussaoui, 41, pleaded guilty in 2005 to charges that he helped plan the attacks, and he received a life sentence. Mr. Moussaoui argued on appeal that the court had restricted his choice of lawyers and that he had been deprived of classified information before entering the plea. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected both arguments. More.
Al Qaeda: We Planned Flight 253 Bombing
December 28, 2009
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Monday claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit on Christmas Day, saying it was retaliation for a U.S. operation against the group in Yemen.
Federal authorities met Monday to reassess the U.S. system of terror watchlists to determine how to avoid the type of lapse that allowed a man with explosives to board the flight in Amsterdam even though he was flagged as a possible terrorist. More.
9/11 plotters may be transferred from Gitmo to Illinois prison
December 23, 2009
Plotters of the 9/11 attacks and USS Cole bombing suspects, currently in Guantanamo Bay prison, could be transferred to an Illinois jail under the Obama Administration's plan to close the detention centre in Cuba. More.
9/11 Families Press Judges on Sifting at Landfill
December 16, 2009
In an effort that has stretched nearly a decade, some families of 9/11 victims have fought to have the remains of their relatives identified and put to rest. In 2002, they organized as the WTC Families for Proper Burial Inc. They sued the city in 2005, then appealed after they lost in 2008. More.
U.S. Attorney General Goes to N.Y. for Meetings on 9/11 Trials
December 9, 2009
Amid significant concern about security arrangements for the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. made an unannounced visit on Wednesday to federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials in New York. More.
9/11 attacks still haunt potential jurors
Wrenching questions of bias as New Yorkers contemplate trial duty
November 30, 2009
It was Sept. 12 before Michael Curatola remembered Pablo Ortiz. Watching the people leap from the windows, feeling the earth shudder, Curatola was so immersed in the horror of 9/11 that he failed to register that on the 88th floor of one of the towers was a neighbor -- a friend who, eight years later, would be his reason for wanting a seat on the jury assaying the guilt of the men charged with planning it all. More.
Death penalty in 9/11 trials may be difficult
November 30, 2009
Legal experts say Obama was overly confident when he said that critics of the New York trial would be silenced 'when the death penalty is applied to' suspect Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
Reporting from Washington - After Zacarias Moussaoui -- the accused "20th hijacker" in the Sept. 11 attacks -- was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 because one juror in Virginia refused to agree to the death penalty, Moussaoui clapped his hands and called out, "America, you lost and I won." Now the Obama administration plans to seek a death sentence for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind. More.
Americans at Odds With Recent Terror Trial Decisions
Majorities would prefer trying 9/11 kingpin in a military court, away from New York
November 27, 2009
By 59% to 36%, more Americans believe accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be tried in a military court, rather than in a civilian criminal court. Most Republicans and independents favor holding the trial in a military court, while the slight majority of Democrats disagree.
Do You Think It Would Be Better to Hold Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Trial in a Civilian Criminal Court or a Military Court? More.
Spin of Wheel May Determine Judge in 9/11 Case
November 27, 2009
At first glance, the wooden wheel looks as if it might have been used to call out bingo numbers in a church fund-raiser. But sometime soon, a federal magistrate judge in Manhattan could be spinning the wheel in open court, unlocking a small door on one of its sides, and pulling out a sealed envelope containing the name of a judge. More.
Kelly Taps NYPD Inspector
November 24, 2009
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is tapping a New York City Police Department inspector to run security for the upcoming trials of five September 11th suspects in the city. The NYPD promoted Michael Blake, 48, to deputy chief today.
Kelly says Blake has already done preliminary assessments of the areas in Lower Manhattan that will be affected by the trials. Blake is a 23 year veteran of the NYPD. More.
New York rally planned to protest 9/11 trial
November 24, 2009
A group against bringing the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks to trial in a U.S. civilian court will hold a rally in New York demanding Washington reconsider its decision, the group said on Tuesday.
The 9/11 Never Forget Coalition said it will hold an rally on Dec. 5 at a park adjacent to the Manhattan federal courthouse where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others will be tried just blocks from Ground Zero. More.
Views on the Terror Trials
November 18, 2009
Reporting For Washington - The Obama administration came out swinging today in support of a criminal trial for the alleged plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks, but it faced sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers who said a public trial is a "perversion" of justice that will make New York City a prime target for a terrorist attack.
President Obama, who gave several interviews to U.S. television networks before leaving Beijing for South Korea, said those offended by the legal privileges being given to Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the others by trying them in a civilian court ultimately won't find it "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him." More.
Former 9/11 Commission Chairman Criticizes Plan
November 17, 2009
Thomas Kean, in his first public comments on the matter, criticizes Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to bring Sept. 11 defendants into civilian federal court, saying the trial would help Khalid Sheikh Mohammed fulfill his dreams of martyrdom in the eyes of the Muslim world.
The decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other alleged Sept. 11 conspirators to New York City for trial will only give the self-professed mastermind of the attacks the platform for "propaganda" that he wants, the chairman of the 9/11 Commission said Tuesday. More.
Attorney General Holder Defends Plan
November 17, 2009
Reporting For Washington - The Obama administration came out swinging today in support of a criminal trial for the alleged plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks, but it faced sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers who said a public trial is a "perversion" of justice that will make New York City a prime target for a terrorist attack.
President Obama, who gave several interviews to U.S. television networks before leaving Beijing for South Korea, said those offended by the legal privileges being given to Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the others by trying them in a civilian court ultimately won't find it "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him." More.
9/11 Trial in New York is the American way
November 16, 2009
Five men accused of plotting the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and detained at Guantánamo Bay will finally be brought to justice. Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday that the men - including self-described mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed - will be transported to New York City for trial in a federal court. That is an important affirmation, for all the world to see, of this nation's profound commitment to the fair and evenhanded pursuit of justice. More.
Security threats inside and out for 9/11 trial
November 16, 2009
Hot sauce and a comb were all an al-Qaida suspect in New York needed to nearly kill one of his guards nine years ago. The bloody episode suggests that security worries in bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 suspects to trial here could be just as big inside the courthouse as outside. More.
Will 9/11 Trials Put New York In Danger?
November 16, 2009
Attorney General Eric Holder's decision last week to try five detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison facility in New York City, among them self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has come under fire from many Republican lawmakers and some family members of those killed in the terrorist attacks.
Most Democrats are defending the decision, noting that New York has been the setting for other high-profile terrorism trials. But Republicans argue that the detainees are war criminals and should be tried in military tribunals. More.
City Secure During 9/11 Terrorists Trial
November 14, 2009
Security will be at an all-time high for the trial of five accused 9/11 terrorists - just a few blocks and eight years away from the lost twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Rooftop snipers, armored vehicles and lock-down zones around the Pearl Street courthouse are part of the plan to insure safety during the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his cohorts. More.
9-11 Families Hope For Justice In Mohammad Trial
9-11 Mastermind, 4 Others To Face Trial In NYC
November 14, 2009
Moving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9-11 detainees from Guantanamo Bay to New York City for trial is sparking an emotional debate. Some politicians and relatives of 9-11 victims argue that having the trial here is too risky. More.
Families of 9/11 Victims Divided Over Detainee Trial Plan
November 14, 2009
Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to trial at a New York City courthouse was received by families of Sept. 11 victims with mixed reaction Friday. More.
Gitmo detainees will stand trial in NY
November 13, 2009
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the boastful mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four remorseless underlings will be removed from the terror prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and tried in the city they struck for murdering 2,973 Americans.
After months of hand-wringing over what to do with the notorious "high-value" Al Qaeda detainees -- including Mohamed's 9/11 plot facilitator and wannabe hijacker Ramzi Binalshibh - the decision was forced by a Nov. 16 military court deadline. More.
Trial Venue Leaves 9/11 Families Angry or Satisfied
November 13, 2009
To many, it felt exquisitely right: This is where it began. This is where it must end.
Others wished the actuality of it pushed far away, to a setting much less tormented by that one indelible date. More.
Obama decision to try 9/11 defendants already drawing fire
November 13, 2009
Even before Attorney General Eric Holder made it official, the Obama administration's decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a New York City federal court drew fire from conservatives who question his willingness to wage war on terrorists.
Debra Burlingame, the sister of a pilot whose plane was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, said in a statement that "the trial will be a travesty." She supports military trials for Mohammed and four other defendants. More.
Key 9/11 Suspect to Be Tried in New York
November 13, 2009
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and four other men accused in the plot will be prosecuted in federal court in New York City, the United States attorney general announced Friday.
But the administration will prosecute another set of high-profile detainees now being held at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba — Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is accused of planning the 2000 bombing of the Navy destroyer Cole in Yemen, and four other detainees — before a military commission. More.
Missteps over Guantanamo Closing
November 12, 2009
President Barack Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, military prison by Jan. 22 was followed by a series of mistakes and missteps by his administration that will delay the prison's closure for months, according to a report from a policy organization with close ties to the White House.
Those mistakes - which ranged from initially having too few people on board to handle the workload to misreading Congress - have put the timetable months behind schedule and will push the prison's closure well beyond the January deadline, which Obama announced with great fanfare two days after he took office. More.
Justice and Guantanamo Bay
November 10, 2009
This past Sunday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the administration will decide by Nov. 16 which Guantanamo detainees will be tried in military commissions trials, and which of them will stand trial in federal courts. But a decision to use both legal settings is a mistake. It will establish a dangerous legal double standard that gives some detainees superior rights and protections, and relegates others to the inferior rights and protections of military commissions. This will only perpetuate the perception that Guantanamo and justice are mutually exclusive.
President George W. Bush authorized military commissions in November 2001, and President Barack Obama ordered them stopped in January 2009. In the intervening seven years—which included a period from September 2005 until October 2007 when I served as chief prosecutor at Guantanamo—only three military commissions trials were completed. More.
Gitmo Reviews Under Way
November 8, 2009
U.S. officials are reviewing which Guantanamo Bay detainees could face trial in American courts and the first indications could come next week, the U.S. attorney general said Sunday.
Eric Holder told reporters that some decisions could be announced as early as Nov. 16, but he declined to give details or say whether it could include some of the detainees accused in the September 11 attacks. More.
Senate Rejects GOP bid
November 5, 2009
The Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday turned back a GOP-led effort to bar Sept. 11 terrorists from being prosecuted in civilian federal courts.
Instead, senators voted 54-45 to support a request by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Attorney General Eric Holder to have the option of prosecuting Sept. 11 terrorists such as accused mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed in either federal courts or by military commission. More.
USS New York Crew: 'Hearts And Souls Are In This'
November 2, 2009
With a daughter on board the U.S.S New York, active United States Army Sgt. 1st Class Laura Bradley is familiar with the level of committment required to serve our country. But Sgt. Bradley says she's also aware of the sacrifice that went into building the billion dollar assault ship, which contains 7.5 tons of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers. More.
New Navy ship honors 9/11 victims
November 2, 2009
The new Navy assault ship USS New York steamed into New York harbor Monday, cutting through the water with a bow built using seven and a half tons of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.
Its crew stood at attention and a 21-gun salute greeted the ship. Firefighters, bagpipers, and those who lost loved ones on 9/11 lined the shore to watch the emotional arrival. The docking holds special meaning for many families of those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
"What better way for our young men and women that are going to be on the USS New York to feel the spirit of our country than to have this ship have the steel in the bow that represents not the bad but the good of our country," said Lee Ielpi, who lost his firefighter son, Jonathan, on 9/11. More.
Fanfare greets USS New York's arrival at Pier 88
November 2, 2009
After two tugs nudged the Navy's newest warship alongside Pier 88 in Manhattan and deckhands sent heavy dock lines ashore, the voice of the amphibious assault vessel's officer of the deck rang out.
"Moored!" boomed Lt. Richard Zabawa of Saratoga Springs to personnel on the ship's bridge. Zabawa is one of the more than 30 New York State residents serving on the namesake craft.
With his announcement at 9:59 a.m. Monday, everyone on board let out a collective breath. The 684-foot, $1.2-billion ship had completed its two-week voyage from a Louisiana shipyard to the Big Apple for its commissioning Saturday without a hitch. More.
U.S.S. New York Reaches Manhattan
November 2, 2009
The U.S.S. New York. reached New York City Monday morning, sweeping under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, pausing at the World Trade Center site and pushing along the Upper West Side before circling around, like a contestant in a beauty pageant, to dock in Midtown Manhattan. More.
Firebug's a Harvard graduate: WTC chapel blaze spurs outrage
November 2, 2009
Outraged kin of 9/11 victims were reeling as Ivy Leaguer Brian Schroeder spent another night in jail on charges he set fire to a sacred chapel that holds the unidentified remains of those killed in the terror attacks. More.
Memorial Park arson: Drunk out-of-towner sets fire to sacred WTC area
November 1, 2009
An arsonist set fire on Saturday to a chapel where the remains of unidentified victims of Sept. 11 are stored, city officials said. More.
9/11 Health: Help Those Who Helped America
October 27, 2009
The serious health impacts of the 9/11 disaster were both immediate and long-term, affecting thousands of Ground Zero responders and downtown residents and office workers, as well as children in the City’s school system and significant portions of the region’s population as a whole.
Please support the 9/11 Community by signing the petition for the pending 9/11 health care legislation, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Every signature helps. To learn more about the bill, please visit Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's 9/11 Health page. Please sign the petition and forward this message to colleagues, friends and family members.
Keep The Gitmo Terrorists In Gitmo
October 26, 2009
Andrew C. McCarthy: Transferring Terrorist Prisoners To The U.S. Means Setting Them Free Here, Too
(National Review Online) Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and the author of Willful Blindness: A Memoir of the Jihad.
If Guantanamo Bay is closed, scores of trained jihadists, committed to killing Americans, will be released to dwell among us: It is that simple. More.
Offer to House Gitmo Detainees in Michigan Starts to Waver
Standish, Mich., is One of Several Possible Towns to House Guantanamo Prisoners
Oct. 25, 2009
A Michigan town may be waffling on welcoming Guantánamo Bay detainees.
On Monday, the Standish City Council passed a unanimous resolution expressing interest in having a federal prison at the Standish Max Correctional facility, slated to close Oct. 31 due to budget cuts. But the resolution stripped out all reference to the detainees currently being housed at the US base in Cuba. More.
Delays Granted in 2 Guantanamo War Crimes Cases
October 21, 2009
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Military judges at Guantanamo Bay granted requests for further continuances in two war crimes cases Wednesday as the Obama administration evaluates how to proceed with the prosecution of detainees. More.
Justices to Decide on U.S. Release of Detainees
October 20, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide whether federal courts have the power to order prisoners held at Guantánamo Bay to be released into the United States. More.
A Tiffany Registry for the U.S.S. New York
October 20, 2009
A Tiffany registry has been set up for the U.S.S. New York, the soon-to-be-commissioned ship which was built with more than seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center buildings.
The U.S.S. New York commissioning committee wanted New Yorkers to participate directly in the commissioning, which will formally take place on Nov. 7. Purchasers can engrave a name — perhaps that of a service member or a family member who perished on Sept. 11 — on the silver pieces they buy. More.
WTC steel strengthens ship as well as crew
October 18, 2009
The USS New York’s keel was laid with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center. It really means a lot to me and the crew of New York to be able to serve onboard a ship that is dedicated to the victims of 9/11. Every single day, that factor alone gives me the strength to move on. More.
Secretary Napolitano Announces New Proposed Standards for Private Sector Preparedness
October 15, 2009
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new proposed standards for a 9/11 Commission-recommended program for the private sector to improve preparedness for disasters and emergencies. More.
Our ship's come in!
USS New York on way, with WTC steel in its bow
October 13, 2009
The Twin Towers are setting sail today.
Made with steel forged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, the USS New York this morning begins its maiden voyage from New Orleans to the city for its Nov. 7 commissioning ceremony. More.
U.S. Can’t Trace Foreign Visitors on Expired Visas
October 11, 2009
Eight years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and despite repeated mandates from Congress, the United States still has no reliable system for verifying that foreign visitors have left the country. New concern was focused on that security loophole last week, when Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian who had overstayed his tourist visa, was accused in court of plotting to blow up a Dallas skyscraper. More.
Op-Ed Columnist, Still Not Tired
October 3, 2009
This week, NY Times Op-Ed Columnist Thomas L. Friedman warns Americans not to be too complacent: Though we may be tired of this "war on terrorism," the bad guys are not. They are getting even more creative. More.
Terror Case is Called One of the Most Serious in Years
September 24, 2009
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, senior government officials have announced dozens of foiled terrorism plots that, on closer examination, seemed to diminish as legitimate threats. The accumulating evidence against a former Denver-area shuttle bus driver has some investigators calling this case the most serious in years. Investigators in the terrorism case against Najibullah Zazi claim to have amassed stacks of evidence against the accused terrorist. More.
Powell to speak at Flight 93 site in Pa. on 9/11
July 30, 2009
Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, will be the keynote speaker Sept. 11 at the ceremony to honor the victims of Flight 93, the Families of Flight 93 group announced yesterday. Forty passengers and crew were killed when Flight 93, on the way from Newark, N.J., to San Francisco, crashed into a Western Pennsylvania field on the day of terrorist attacks against the United States. To read more, click here.
9/11 families to get day in court with actor James Woods
July 29, 2009
Actor James Woods may testify that he spotted the Al Qaeda terrorists on an August 2001 flight when the first wrongful-death trial from 9/11 kicks off in April. Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Tuesday set April 12, 2010, for the start of a trial spurred by lawsuits filed by the families of victims who died aboard hijacked planes that crashed into the twin towers on 9/11. To read more, click here.
Excessive Oversight Hinders Homeland Security’s Progress
July 22, 2009
Five years ago the 9/11 Commission Report released its 41 recommendations to Congress about how to combat and prevent terrorism, and today the Executive branch has enacted over 80% of those suggestions. Although there have been many advancements in dealing with terrorism, the DHS’ progress is being impeded by the excessive array of oversight committees. In a recent article, Mary Fetchet stated that the Congress needed to “streamline the process” and that “there are far too many committees involved in issues that are unrelated to homeland security.” To read more about the overabundance of oversight in the DHS, click here. or visit here.
Progress of the 9/11 Commission Report After 5 Years
July 22, 2009
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano acknowledged the 5th anniversary of the 9/11 Commission Report in a recent press release. Secretary Napolitano highlighted many of the advancements that the Department has accomplished in its effort to “protect and respond to acts of terrorism and other threats.” To read more of the Secretary’s progress report,click here.Also, to review the 9/11 Commission’s original report click here. or look at the Public Discourse Project’s work here.
Detention Policy Task Force Submits Review and Receives an Extension
July 20, 2009
The Department of Justice and Department of Defense recently announced that the Detention Policy Task Force released a preliminary report regarding military commissions and a plan of action for determining adequate methods for prosecuting suspected terrorists. The final report is expected to be submitted by the task force in six months since they recently received an extension authorized by an Executive Order. To read more about this task force, click here.
Task Force Formed to Review Homeland Security Advisory System
July 14, 2009
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the creation of a task force which will evaluate the efficacy of the Homeland Security Advisory System over a 60-day period. The task force is comprised of a wide variety of elected officials, security experts and other professionals, including VOICES of September 11th’s Founding Director, and is designed to analyze the current system and suggest improvements. After completing their review, the task force will present its findings to Secretary Napolitano, who will then discuss the findings with other Cabinet officials in order to suggest a course of action to the White House. To read more click here.
NYC Mayor and Governor Announce Plans for 9/11/09 Ceremony
July 14, 2009
As September 11th is rapidly approaching, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Patterson announced the plans for the 8th anniversary ceremony in New York. Since September 11th was recently designated a “National Day of Service and Remembrance” by President Obama, the ceremony will seek to embody these ideals and family members by inviting volunteers from the five boroughs of New York City to read the names of those lost in the attacks. The Port Authority is also granting victims’ family members access to the upper level of the memorial site that is currently under construction at ground zero. To read the announcementclick here. and information about the upcoming ceremony, click here.
Steelers Host Flight 93 Fundraiser
July 13, 2009
After the National Park Service announced its plans to construct a $58 million, 2,200-acre memorial in Shanksville, PA, several Ex-Pittsburgh Steelers players and the team’s president, Art Rooney II, have decided to host a "9/11 We Will Never Forget" dinner at Heinz Field on Sept. 11, 2009 to raise additional funding for the memorial site. To read more about this event,click here.
The Continuing Debate over REAL ID/PASS ID
July 8, 2009
When the 9/11 Commission Report made its recommendations, it called for stronger security standards for the issuance of identification cards and driver’s licenses. Although Congress originally passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, it has been met with a great deal of resistance, which has led to the subsequent creation of the PASS ID Act. Even though both sides agree that changes must be made to the current ID system, their view points part ways when it comes to the extent they believe it must be reformed. To read both sides of the argument, click here.
Daily News Hopes Kathleen Sibelius Will Hear 9/11 Responder’s Call
May 04, 2009
In a poignant editorial, the Daily News, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for its series “"9/11: The Forgotten Victims” about the medical fallout from the World Trade Center attacks, has written a plea to new Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the 9/11 health crisis. The paper tells the story of Fire Lt. Martin Fullam, who recently received a lung transplant as a result of his exposure to toxic dust during rescue and recovery operations. To read the editorial, click here.
Guantanamo Military Tribunals Still Possible
May 04, 2009
Military tribunals to prosecute Guantanamo detainees may still occur, despite heavy criticism by many including President Obama. Officials are concerned it will be difficult to prosecute the detainees in the federal court system, considering the harsh interrogation techniques utilized in the past, as well as having to publicize classified material. Read more at the NY Times and the Washington Post.
In a related story, the Obama Administration is having difficulty placing dangerous detainees. See the NY Times.
A Tree Grows in the Bronx…Symbolizing Resilience after 9/11
April 30, 2009
A pear tree severely disfigured during the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 and later transplanted in the Bronx is now in glorious form, flowering beautifully…a powerful symbol of renewal and hope in the face of tragedy. The “survivor tree,” as it has come to be known, will be moved once again in two years time to the plaza of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where it will join hundreds of other trees as part of a living memorial. To read more, visit the NY Times.
9/11 Memorial & Museum Receives Major Grant from Swiss Foundation
April 30, 2009
The Starr International Foundation has provided the National September 11th Memorial & Museum with the first major gift in its international outreach effort: $1 million dollars. The Museum’s Chairman, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “We are thankful to the Starr International Foundation for their generous gift and continued support of the Memorial project. The events of 9/11 had tremendous global implications and it is important that the Museum tells this story.” To read the Museum’s press release, click here.
Financial Aid Urged for Responders
April 22, 2009
In testimony on April 22, 2009, Congressional representatives urged colleagues to reopen the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund to help thousands of responders and others who have developed 9/11-related illnesses since the fund closed in 2005. Read more at the Daily News.
President Signs Legislation Establishing 9/11 as Day of Service
April 21, 2009
On April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which establishes September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. The bill authorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees federal national service programs, to make grants and provide other assistance to community nonprofits and other groups that want to organize 9/11 service and remembrance activities. To learn more, read the press release issued by MyGoodDeed.org, an advocacy organization that promoted the legislation.
President Obama Addresses Past CIA Practices
April 20, 2009
In the wake of revelations regarding harsh interrogation techniques employed by the CIA under the Bush Administration, President Obama visited the agency to reassure its employees that he will not blame them for following the legal advice they were given at the time. Critics are upset by the Obama Administration’s decision to release the information, which it did in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, while others were urging a more thorough investigation into the interrogation practices. Read more at the NY Times and the Washington Post.
An analysis of the history of the issue is available at the NY Times.
Report on “Rightwing Extremism” Generates Controversy
April 20, 2009
Homeland Security’s report entitled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" inspired a heated response when it was leaked shortly after April 7. See the NY Times. Now the Department of Homeland Security has indicated that objections by civil liberties officials were not heeded before the report was distributed, “a breakdown in an internal process.” Read more at Newsday.
Plans to Rebuild Ground Zero Affected by Recession
April 15, 2009
Ground Zero developer Larry A. Silverstein is tussling with the land’s owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, over how and when the planned office towers will be rebuilt. Negotiations became necessary as both sides grappled with the current economic climate, which has had a major effect on commercial real estate in Lower Manhattan, increasing the vacancy rate considerably. The Port Authority wants to keep the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and other public infrastructure on schedule, but postpone a large portion of the office space. Learn more at the NY Times.
Financial Firms Keep Pledges to 9/11 Museum
April 9, 2009
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum says that, while its $350 million capital fund-raising goal was achieved a year ago with the help of pledges from firms such as the American International Group (AIG) and Lehman Brothers, who are now struggling if not defunct, the Museum remains financially sound. Of the 81 contributors who pledged $1 million or more, 45 have paid at least half if not all of their pledges. Read more at the NY Times.
Majority Favor Obama Outreach to Muslims
April 6, 2009
A majority of Americans agree President Obama's desire to "seek a new way forward" with the international Muslim community world is an important aim, although many also have negative attitudes about Islam and its effects, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Read more at the Washington Post.
In a related story, the New Yorker analyses Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s chances in his re-election campaign. The story includes a discussion of some Iranians’ beliefs as to the cause of 9/11.
Art Therapy for 9/11 First Responders
An art therapy group has been established to help 9/11 rescue and recovery workers deal with the trauma of their experiences. No artistic knowledge necessary. The sessions will take place on Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at New York University’s Barney Building, 34 Stuyvesant Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), Room 204, New York, N.Y. For more information, please contact Ailish Coughlan, Licensed Creative Art Therapist at 917.519.4592 or ailishcoughlan@yahoo.com.
Beverly Eckert to be Honored during Arbor Day Celebration
A tree will be planted and dedicated in memory of 9/11 activist and VOICES co-founder Beverly Eckert, who died when Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York on February 12, 2009. The ceremony will take place during an Arbor Day celebration at the Jackie Robinson Park of Fame in Stamford, CT, and will begin at 11:00 am on Friday, April 24th, 2009. Please contact our office for more information.
Tuesday’s Children Honored Women of Strength
April 04, 2009
More than 110 people attended a Yale Club dinner held by the 9/11 advocacy organization Tuesday’s Children to honor five women “who have shown through their example that it is possible to not only be resilient in the face of loss, but to rise above it and become an inspiration for others.” The women were Abigail Carter, who wrote Alchemy of Loss; Christie Coombs, founder of The Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation; Meaghan Coombs, creator of the Summer Ends Concert Series; Mary Fetchet, Founding Director of VOICES of September 11th; and Eileen Lynch, inspiration for and teacher of Creative Insight. Proceeds will support a wide range of programming for 9/11 family members. To learn more, visit Tuesday’s Children.
9/11 Victim Identified
April 01, 2009
The 1627th World Trade Center victim has been identified. Manuel Emilio Mejia, 54, was identified on March 26 on the basis of his personal possessions. The remains of 1,125 others who perished on 9/11 have not yet been identified. To learn more, visit Newsday.
Congress Passes GIVE Act
March 31, 2009
Congress has passed legislation that would designate September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act or GIVE Act (H.R. 1388) also provides federal support for many national service programs. Click here to learn more.
9/11 Health and Compensation Act Would Reopen Victim Compensation Fund
March 31, 2009
On March 31st, a hearing was held by a House Judiciary subcommittee regarding H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009. In a press release, Rep. Carolyn Maloney described the importance of the legislation, designed to address the health crisis caused by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The bill would provide medical monitoring and treatment to those affected by the toxic dust created when the World Trade Center collapsed. It would also reopen the federal Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to provide compensation for financial hardships caused by related illnesses or injuries. Rep. Maloney believes reopening the Fund would reduce or eliminate costly litigation; over 10,000 people are currently suing New York City and its contractors for damages sustained through the attacks. To read Rep. Maloney’s press release, click here.
To read accounts of the hearing, including pros and cons of reopening the Fund and details on responders who traveled to Washington in support of the legislation, read the NY Times and the Daily News.
Obama Administration Will No Longer Use Phrase “War on Terror”
March 30, 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has confirmed that the Obama Administration, while not issuing an official directive, will refrain from using the term “War on Terror.” The phrase has been criticized by many in the international community, who find it too broad. To learn more, visit ABC News.
Controversy Surrounds Name for Ground Zero Site
March 28, 2009
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has elected to change the name of the tallest tower at the World Trade Center site currently under construction from the “Freedom Tower” to “1 World Trade Center.” Representatives for the authority said it will be easier to market the building using the latter name. However, debate has ensued, with many expressing their preference for “Freedom Tower,” as well as concerns about the renaming of the building to “1 World Trade Center.”
To learn more, read the NY Times and the Daily News.
Obama Administration Will Maintain Bush Focus on Counterterrorism
March 26, 2009
The White House has indicated that counterterrorism will remain the top priority of the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continuing the Bush Administration’s shift of resources away from conventional law enforcement. To learn more, visit the NY Times.
Responders Travel to DC on 3/31 in Support of 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
March 23, 2009
9/11 rescue and recovery workers, many of whom worked for months at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11, are traveling to Washington, DC on March 31 in support of H.R. 847, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The bill would provide medical monitoring and treatment to those who were exposed to toxins at the site. It would also reopen the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation to those who were harmed as an alternative to the current litigation system. To learn more about the bill, visit Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s site. To learn how you can join the responders, visit the FealGood Foundation.
Tuesday’s Children to Honor Women of Strength
The 9/11 advocacy organization Tuesday’s Children will be holding a dinner on Friday evening April 3 to honor five women “whose resilience, insight, imagination, and commitment have been an inspiration to many.” The women are Abigail Carter, who wrote Alchemy of Loss; Christie Coombs, founder of The Jeffrey Coombs Memorial Foundation; Meaghan Coombs, creator of the Summer Ends Concert Series; Mary Fetchet, Founding Director of VOICES of September 11th; and Eileen Lynch, inspiration for and teacher of Creative Insight. Proceeds will support a wide range of programming for 9/11 family members. For tickets to the event, which will be held at the Yale Club, please visit Tuesday’s Children or call 516-562-9000.
9/11 Responders Hold Protest
March 20, 2009
Representatives of the NYC Coalition of Uniformed Services gathered at New York’s City Hall on March 19 to protest what they say is the Bloomberg administration’s position on claims filed for illness and injuries resulting from 9/11 rescue and recovery operations. The protesters contend the City wants to dismiss the claims of uniformed personnel because they are not entitled to workplace protection under state labor laws. The City says its motion did not ask for the dismissal of a single plaintiff’s case, and that the reaction to the motion that they filed highlights the need for legislation to reopen the federal Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation without the need for costly and divisive litigation. Read more at NY1
and the NY Post.
Some Guantanamo Detainees May Be Released in US
March 19, 2009
Attorney General Eric Holder has indicated some prisoners now detained at Guantanamo Bay may be released in the United States. The Obama Administration says firm decisions have not yet been made; they are considering a number of options, and are continuing to work with European allies who may also accept some detainees. Read more at the Wall Street Journal. 9/11 family members have expressed concern about the release of the detainees. The Times of London reports that a former Guantanamo detainee who was released to Afghan authorities in 2007 is now a Taliban commander in the Afghan province of Helmand. Read the story here.
GAO Describes Progress and Challenges in Screening Passenger Aircraft Cargo
March 18, 2009
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report detailing their observations on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) progress in meeting deadlines on passenger aircraft cargo screenings. Key steps have been taken to meet the statutory mandate, but challenges remain. To read highlights of the report, click here.
Church and Port Authority Reach Impasse on Rebuild
March 18, 2009
Eight months ago, the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was destroyed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, had reached a tentative agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to rebuild on a larger piece of property. Last week, however, the Port Authority announced it would cease negotiations, as the two sides have been unable to agree on final terms. The Church retains the right to rebuild on its original lot. Church officials still hope talks will go on, but the Port Authority appears firm, since continuing negotiations will delay rebuilding other structures at the site. Read more at the New York Times.
National Cybersecurity Focus of Concern
March 17, 2009
In the days since President Obama launched a 60-day study of national cybersecurity (due in April), the issue has gained increasing prominence as officials struggle to decide how best to protect government computer networks from potentially disabling cyber attacks. In early March, Rod A. Beckstrom resigned his post as director of the National Cybersecurity Center, objecting to the large role of the National Security Agency. A week later, Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, who leads the Pentagon's Strategic Command, told Congress the US must protect against cyber attacks that "potentially threaten not only our military networks, but also our critical national networks." (Read more at the Washington Post.) Meanwhile the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report with suggestions for improving our national cybersecurity strategy. Click here to read the report.
1993 WTC Bombing Victim Awarded $5.4M
March 12, 2009
Former Deloitte & Touche manager Linda Nash, who sued the Port Authority over traumatic brain injuries she said she sustained in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, has been awarded $5.4 million dollars by the jury in the case. Read more at the Daily News.
Five Guantanamo Detainees Accept 9/11 Responsibility;
Decision to Release Their Pleading Criticized
March 11, 2009
Five men charged with planning the September 11th terrorist attacks have filed a document with the Guantanamo Bay military commission in which they accept responsibility with pride for the events that killed nearly 3000 people. Read more at the NY Times.
Defense counsel and civil liberties groups criticized the judge’s release of the detainees’ pleading, saying it violated President Obama’s order to stop all military commissions. See the Washington Post.
FY 2009 Spending Bill Includes $70 Million for 9/11 Health Programs
March 11, 2009
President Obama has signed an appropriations bill that includes $70 million for 9/11 health programs. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said that passage of the bill “will ensure that we can continue, without interruption, to monitor and treat first responders and community members living with 9/11-related illnesses.” Learn more at Rep. Nadler’s web site.
In a related development, the Daily News has written an editorial on trial dates set by a New York judge for workers who believe they became ill as a result of 9/11 rescue and recovery operations. To read the opinion, visit the Daily News.
House Considers Establishing 9/11 as National Day of Service
March 10, 2009
Legislation has been introduced to Congress that would designate September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act or GIVE Act (H.R. 1388) would also provide federal support for many national service programs. Read more in MyGoodDeed.org’s press release.
9/11 Recovery Workers: Remain Eligible for Workers’ Comp by Registering
New York City’s 9/11 Health web site reports that: “In general, workers must file claim within two years of the accident. Since 9/11 health-related conditions may not develop for many years, workers and volunteers who participated in WTC rescue and recovery operations can remain eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits if they register by September 11, 2010.” To learn more about filing 9/11-related workers’ compensation claims, visit New York City’s 9/11 Health page.
Artists Registry Established at National September 11 Memorial & Museum
A virtual art gallery has been established by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum “in response to the events of September 11 by members of a diverse artistic community ranging from seasoned professionals to individuals inspired, perhaps for the first time, to express their reactions to 9/11 through visual, tactile or auditory media.” All those moved to produce art in response to 9/11 are encouraged to participate. To learn more on how t
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