02/09/2004: 
Fraud & Conspiracy
Bush names WMD Commission
from FAS Project on Govt Secrecy
President Bush issued an executive order to establish a Commission that will "examine" intelligence capabilities but not "investigate" how intelligence was used to support the decision to go to war against Iraq.
The new Commission will exclusively advise the President rather than foster public accountability.
"The Commission is established for the purpose of advising the President... in order to ensure the most effective counter-proliferation capabilities of the United States and response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the ongoing threat of terrorist activity," the President's executive order declared.
"In implementing this order, the Commission shall solely advise and assist the President," the order stated.
According to the terms of the executive order, the Commission's resulting report does not even have to be transmitted to Congress. (The Bush Administration's entirely inconsequential 2001 NSPD-5 review of U.S. intelligence was not provided to Congress either.)
Instead, "within 90 days of receiving the Commission's report [next year], the President will consult with the Congress concerning the Commission's report and recommendations, and will propose any appropriate legislative recommendations arising out of the findings of the Commission."
Public accountability is not mentioned in the new order.
See Executive Order 13328 of February 6, 2004 here:
The President's announcement of seven of the nine advisory commission members may be found here:
