Saturday, January 21, 2006
Harpoon
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) is an independent, bipartisan commission created by congressional legislation under the signature of President George W. Bush in late 2002. What follows are the minutes from a hearing held in March 2004:
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES
Ninth Public Hearing
Monday, March 29, 2004
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC
CHAIRED BY: THOMAS H. KEAN
WITNESS: JASPER GOODBALLOON, BROADCASTER FOR AL-ZAQUAARI TELEVISION, QATAR CHAIR: THOMAS H. KEAN; VICE CHAIR: LEE H. HAMILTON
ROOM 216 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.
9:03 A.M. EDT, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004
MR KEAN: Good morning. Mr. Goodballoon, we bid you a most cordial welcome to the Commission.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes.
MR KEAN: I'm sorry, Sir?
MR GOODBALLOON: Thank you. What?
MR KEAN: Mr Goodballoon, I have asked you here this morning to ask you about only one aspect of the events of September 11 or rather, more accurately, September 10.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes. I'm afraid I don't have my diary with me.
MR KEAN: Your diary, Sir?
MR GOODBALLOON: My diary. You are asking me to remember some events from, what, ten years ago?
MR KEAN: I'm asking you about the events of September 11, 2001.
MR GOODBALLOON: And you expect me to remember what I was doing?
MR KEAN: I could remind you if you'd like.
MR GOODBALLOON: Would you, love?
MR KEAN: Sir, during the period of time during which the momentous events of September 11 occured you were working from a Qatar based television station as a presenter.
MR GOODBALLOON: Oh, right.
MR KEAN: Would you like to tell us how you came to work at this broadcaster?
MR GOODBALLOON: I'd run into a little bother in Britain and felt I was not being fully appreciated in my home country. I was made an offer in one of the desert states... I can't remember which one.
MR KEAN: Qatar.
MR GOODBALLOON: Hmmmm?
MR KEAN: Qatar, Sir.
MR GOODBALLOON: Oh yes. Anyway I took the rupee, or whatever the tans pay you in until I had had enough. I think I worked there for three weeks.
MR KEAN: Yes, and it was during these three weeks that you were to report on the September 11 attacks.
MR GOODBALLOON: That's right.
MR KEAN: It is this part that is most interesting to me, Mr Goodballoon. You reported on the attack on the World Trade Centre.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes.
MR KEAN: You were one of the first broadcasters to announce the attack?
MR GOODBALLOON: The very first, Sir.
MR KEAN: Indeed. In fact, is it not the case that you announced the commencement of the attack a full thirteen hours before they actually occured?
MR GOODBALLOON: That is right. There was a mix up with time-zones. My fault entirely. Donald was so angry.
MR KEAN: Donald?
MR GOODBALLOON: Rummy. Rumsfeld. He was livid. Told me I'd let the cat out of the bag. Made golf very frosty for a few weeks.
MR KEAN: Mr Goodballoon, are you alleging that Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld had some prior knowledge of the events of September 11?
THE REST OF THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS TOP SECRET AND UNAVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION WITHOUT THE HIGHEST SECURITY CLEARANCE. CONTACT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES
Ninth Public Hearing
Monday, March 29, 2004
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC
CHAIRED BY: THOMAS H. KEAN
WITNESS: JASPER GOODBALLOON, BROADCASTER FOR AL-ZAQUAARI TELEVISION, QATAR CHAIR: THOMAS H. KEAN; VICE CHAIR: LEE H. HAMILTON
ROOM 216 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.
9:03 A.M. EDT, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2004
MR KEAN: Good morning. Mr. Goodballoon, we bid you a most cordial welcome to the Commission.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes.
MR KEAN: I'm sorry, Sir?
MR GOODBALLOON: Thank you. What?
MR KEAN: Mr Goodballoon, I have asked you here this morning to ask you about only one aspect of the events of September 11 or rather, more accurately, September 10.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes. I'm afraid I don't have my diary with me.
MR KEAN: Your diary, Sir?
MR GOODBALLOON: My diary. You are asking me to remember some events from, what, ten years ago?
MR KEAN: I'm asking you about the events of September 11, 2001.
MR GOODBALLOON: And you expect me to remember what I was doing?
MR KEAN: I could remind you if you'd like.
MR GOODBALLOON: Would you, love?
MR KEAN: Sir, during the period of time during which the momentous events of September 11 occured you were working from a Qatar based television station as a presenter.
MR GOODBALLOON: Oh, right.
MR KEAN: Would you like to tell us how you came to work at this broadcaster?
MR GOODBALLOON: I'd run into a little bother in Britain and felt I was not being fully appreciated in my home country. I was made an offer in one of the desert states... I can't remember which one.
MR KEAN: Qatar.
MR GOODBALLOON: Hmmmm?
MR KEAN: Qatar, Sir.
MR GOODBALLOON: Oh yes. Anyway I took the rupee, or whatever the tans pay you in until I had had enough. I think I worked there for three weeks.
MR KEAN: Yes, and it was during these three weeks that you were to report on the September 11 attacks.
MR GOODBALLOON: That's right.
MR KEAN: It is this part that is most interesting to me, Mr Goodballoon. You reported on the attack on the World Trade Centre.
MR GOODBALLOON: Yes.
MR KEAN: You were one of the first broadcasters to announce the attack?
MR GOODBALLOON: The very first, Sir.
MR KEAN: Indeed. In fact, is it not the case that you announced the commencement of the attack a full thirteen hours before they actually occured?
MR GOODBALLOON: That is right. There was a mix up with time-zones. My fault entirely. Donald was so angry.
MR KEAN: Donald?
MR GOODBALLOON: Rummy. Rumsfeld. He was livid. Told me I'd let the cat out of the bag. Made golf very frosty for a few weeks.
MR KEAN: Mr Goodballoon, are you alleging that Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld had some prior knowledge of the events of September 11?
THE REST OF THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS TOP SECRET AND UNAVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION WITHOUT THE HIGHEST SECURITY CLEARANCE. CONTACT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
