Here's the article they ran. This is the latest from my work as a researcher:
The U.S. Government’s Shepherding of the 9/11 Hijackers.
By Sander Hicks
In 2007, this reporter and a friend dropped in on the Shreveport, Louisiana FBI office. The receptionist tried to get rid of us. We insisted it was a matter of national security. Dr. David Graham, their town’s lone 9/11 researcher and unpublished author, had been murdered. We knew the Shreveport FBI’s Stephen Hayes had been involved.
Over the course of a ten minute discussion, Hayes’ shoulders tensed up. He glared and snapped at us through the plexi-glass. But we already knew much about Hayes from Graham’s “9/11 Graham Report,” which documented how Graham met two of the nineteen “9/11 hijackers,” ten months before 9/11. Multiple sources in Shreveport said the FBI warned Graham not to publish the book. But Graham went forward, and was poisoned in a small Texas town in 2005.
Graham may be the first American 9/11 researcher to die for the 9/11 cover-up. His death rejuvenates these gnawing questions:
Who were the “9/11 hijackers?” Who helped them in the US?
The system used to care about this line of inquiry. After 9/11, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft crowed that the Department of Justice had detained “nearly 1000 individuals” for helping the 9/11 hijackers. Yet eventually, most were quietly released. 9/11 Victims Families waited in vain for the “9/11 trials” of these accomplices. Graham’s death is a vibrant, direct path to the truth about these “9/11 accomplices,” and the truth about 9/11.
Dr. Graham was a natural fit to meet two of the 9/11 hijackers. An evangelical Christian, he had been a medical volunteer in Vietnam. When the local DA in his hometown framed a young Air Force soldier for murder, Dr. Graham championed the accused on his AM radio show. Charges were eventually over-turned.
When Graham met Nawaf Al-Hazmi and Fayed Banihammad in Shreveport ten months before 9/11, he warned the FBI he found two young Saudi “medical students” suspicious. But Graham was verbally abused and threatened by FBI on the phone, after making his report. When 9/11 happened, this same Nawaf Al-Hazmi was accused of being one of Bin Laden’s right-hand men. Graham’s case fits an odious pattern: Al-Hazmi and his cohort Khalid Al-Mihdhar were protected ferociously by FBI, CIA and Pentagon, in the years leading up to 9/11/01.
Study 9/11, and these two Saudi names keep on coming up: “Nawaf Al-Hazmi and Khalid Al-Mihdhar.” They were closest to ex-CIA asset Osama Bin Laden, and they enjoyed an aegis of Federal protection.
In Shreveport, they were taken care of by the mysterious Mohammed Jamal Khan. A slick, blond, albino Saudi/Pakistani, Khan had special access to Barksdale U.S. Air Force base. He dated U.S. military women, while giving money and shelter to the young Saudis. His young “medical students” would be presented as “the ringleaders” of the 9/11 attacks.
With his research background, dentist Dr. Graham kept records with a tight, laboratory-standard rigor. After 9/11, he secretly videotaped himself speaking about the terrorist meetings, with M. J. Khan. The videotapes, made available online by this reporter, prove Graham’s credibility, and foresight. [See “Collateral News” online.]
When Graham was poisoned, the FBI showed up at the small town Texas hospital and intimidated doctors. FBI claimed to doctors, and implied to the media, that Graham had just tried to kill himself.
In the wake of his death, the FBI denied meeting with Graham before 9/11. But that day in the FBI’s tiny white lobby, Agent Hayes contradicted the FBI’s previous statements. He admitted to us that he had in fact met with Graham before the attacks. He even let slip that M.J. Khan was likely an FBI informant.
Hayes talked too much. He stammered. This story is big, his body language seemed to scream. It’s bigger than me, and it’s bigger than you. Locking eyes with Hayes, there was a tremor, deep inside him, and a tick in one eye. It was as if he said, Help me. We killed this guy, it was not right. This is not what I signed up for.
Hayes ended our conversation. He snapped at his receptionist, “CALL SECURITY.” We took off.
Before Shreveport, Nawaf Al-Hazmi and Khalid Al-Mihdhar lived with a well-paid FBI informant, Abdussattar Shaikh, earlier in the Fall of 2000. (See Michael Isikoff’s Newsweek piece.)
Abdussattar Shaikh was also protected by FBI. Senator Bob Graham (FL-D), was part of the Senate/House Joint Inquiry investigating 9/11. The Senator (no relation to David) was keen to interview Shaikh. But the FBI refused to produce Shaikh. Senator Graham even prepared a subpoena, but the FBI refused to accept it, and, according to Senator Graham’s book, practically ran out of the Senator’s office.
A 2005 story by Josh Meyer in the Los Angeles Times, documents that Shaikh received $100,000 from FBI for staying out of the reaches of Senator Graham and the Joint Congressional Inquiry in 2003.
Before San Diego, Al-Hazmi and Al-Mihdhar were closely monitored by the Pentagon’s Able Danger operation.
Able Danger used “data-mining” of databases to put together a financial picture of who was supported Al Qaeda. But in 1999, Pentagon top brass forced Able Danger to destroy that massive database.
Able Danger’s Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer spoke out in Congressional testimony in little-known hearings on Capitol Hill. He revealed how his superiors at Pentagon protected the identity of Nawaf Al-Hazmi, Khalid Al-Mihdhar, and Mohamed Atta, from Shaffer and his operation, back in February 2000. Pentagon top brass prevented FBI from being briefed on Able Danger’s findings. Pentagon superiors covered up faces of Al Qaeda terrorist charts with “yellow stickies” at crucial internal meetings.
For speaking to the 9/11 Commission, Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer had his security clearance revoked. He was attacked in Washington Post. The 9/11 Commission called Able Danger, “not historically relevant.” But Shaffer, before Congress in 2006, showed how the truth about Able Danger someday “will rewrite the history of 9-11.”
In 2000, the CIA closely monitored Al-Hazmi and Al-Mihdhar at a “terrorism summit” in Malaysia. But CIA did not put their names on the Terrorism Watch List. DC author Joe Trento, and his intelligence sources, claim that Al-Hazmi and Al-Mihdhar were agents of the Saudi G.I.D., the CIA of the Saudi Royals.
FBI, Pentagon, CIA: Like an aegis of divine strength, the leaders of the nineteen “9/11 hijackers” were covered and protected by thick layers of official Federal U.S. power, before 9/11.
We have an unfair economic system. It has to manipulate the people to keep going. It tricks people into supporting war. 9/11 was stage-managed by the upper echelons of an out-of-control military/industrial complex. The 9/11 Truth Movement is fired up and enraged by the failures of our government and media to investigate 9/11. We are about peace, truth and a new economics.
The aegis of Federal power over the key 9/11 hijackers shows another reason why we need a real investigation of 9/11. There’s a cancer in our country, a cancer of death-worship, violence, secrecy, and clandestine operations. We need a new ideal of transparency to end the 9/11 cover-up. Let us take courage from the sacrifice of good men like Dr. David Graham.
- William Pepper, Esq. - Prolific Attorney and Author of "Act of State" Chief Counsel to NYC CAN.
Also on Saturday, 9/12, 12-6 PM, in the Parish Hall
Film Premieres + Director Q&As:
- Jason Bermas (co-director, Loose Change, debuts excerpts Invisible Empire)
- Daniel Hopsicker (Debuts new film "New American Drug Lords" )
- Craig Ranke (director, screens National Security Alert)
- Mike Berger (director, screens Life on the Edge of the Bubble: Blowing the American Dream)
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 PM - 10 PM
Featured Activists and Authors on Economics, Intelligence, and Transparency
- Ellen Brown (author, "Web of Debt", feminist scholar, attorney)
- William Bergman (former Federal Reserve economist)
- Russ Baker (author of explosive new book on the Bush family, "Family of Secrets.")
- Robert Steele (former CIA agent, expert on Open Source Intelligence)
- Tony Gronowicz (BMCC Professor, Presenting on the Secret History of the Drug War.)
- Frank Morales, NYC squatter activist presents on “Squatting in the Shrinking City.”
Special Panel, 8-10 PM:
Can We Build a Mass Movement to End War, and Bring about Real Transparency?
- Debra Sweet (National Coordinator, World Can't Wait)
- Doug Wight (NYC 9/11 Truth Organizer)
- Graham McQueen (Canadian professor and peace activist.)
- Matt D’Aloiso (Catholic Worker/Witness Against Torture)
President Obama promised a new "transparency" but nothing changed. We don't know where our TARP money went, the Federal Reserve Bank refuses to be audited by Congress, and the City of New York is fighting efforts by 9/11 family members to get a new 9/11 investigation.
Transparency is a prerequisite of real democracy. The call for transparency brought down the tyranny of the Iron Curtain. "We Demand Transparency" brings together progressives and populists, patriots and peace activists. We issue a revolutionary call for a whole new model of government transparency. We are pro-truth, we are pro-peace, and we are organized across this nation.
On Saturday, 9/12, "We Demand Transparency" opens with an address from actor/activist Daniel Sunjata, and then presents the top scientific experts on the 9/11 cover-up. Richard Gage, head of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, and Erik Lawyer, founder of Firefighters for 9/11 Truth demonstrate how World Trade Center buildings 1, 2, and 7 were controlled demolitions. Evidence was destroyed quickly. Arson investigation procedures were flagrantly violated. Gage and Lawyer cover the recent peer-reviewed scientific paper, written by a panel of international scientists, that found military-grade explosive "nano-thermite" in all four tested dust samples from the World Trade Center.
Join us to hear best-selling author Steve Alten (author, "The Shell Game"), Interfaith organizer and radio host Kevin Barrett (author, "Truth Jihad Against the 9/11 Big Lie"), and Barry Kissin, attorney and critic of the government's flimsy official story on anthrax. Canada's top media critics Barrie Zwicker and Ian Woods hand in a high-impact power-point presentation, ""Fifty-Five False Flag Frauds and How They've Changed History." New York author and investigative journalist Sander Hicks (upon whom the recent film Able Danger was based) presents "Aegis of Federal Protection: How CIA and FBI Shepherded Khalid Al-Mihdahr and Nafaf Al-Hazmi Before 9/11."
Four new independent films will be screened in the adjoining St. Marks Parish Hall, with Q&As with the film-makers: Jason Bermas (of the Loose Change team), debuting part of Invisible Empire, Daniel Hopsicker debuting part of his New American Drug Lords, Mike Berger showing Life on the Edge of the Bubble: Blowing the America Dream and Craig Ranke debuting his National Security Alert.
We Are Taking Action
The truth movement in NYC has been on the move for the past two years, gathering over 70,000 signatures to petition the City Council to allow a new 9/11 investigation question to appear on the November, 2009 NYC ballot. In July 2009, the City threw out 24,000 of these carefully validated signatures. However, the NY Supreme Court appointed a "special referee" to arbitrate the conflict, after NYC CAN sued to have the signatures re-certified.
On Sunday, September 13, we explore uglier secrets: economic dysfunction and secrecy in the USA. Why is the Federal Reserve Bank owned by a secret cartel of private US banks? A growing coalition of voices, left, right and center, is supporting Rep. Ron Paul's bill to "Audit the Fed." Feminist scholar and LA attorney Ellen Brown (author, "Web of Debt") shows why. She eloquently exposes the damaging effects of a fiscal policy based on massive deficits, interest payments, and fractional reserve lending. She presents alternatives by pointing to the qualities of Lincoln's Greenback policy, or the politics of the Populist Party.
Also on Sunday: ex-CIA agent Robert Steele presents on his unique model for "Open Source Intelligence." Former Federal Reserve economist William Bergman talks about power, cover-ups and capital flows at the bank you love to hate. Bergman was fired from the Fed for speaking up about investor financial foreknowledge of 9/11.
Investigative journalist and author Russ Baker will present new connections between President Bush (41) and the CIA, the JFK killing, and the Watergate scandal, based on Baker's explosive new book, "Family of Secrets." Debra Sweet, National Coordinator, World Can't Wait, and speakers from The Catholic Worker present on how to use all this information to build a mass movement for peace and equality.
On the night of 9/11/09 kick off the conference with The NYC stop of the national TRUTH TOUR! An All-Night Concert of New Rock and Hip Hop Artists: Jordan Page, The Madeleine Haze, Sturgeon Scott (from Leftover Crack), and many others, 
At Walker Stage, 56 Walker Street in Tribeca $10 at the door
ADVANCE CONFERENCE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW.
Go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76541
Special Advance Price of $40 expires on Aug. 23.
Contact: Sander Hicks 347 627 4705 (w.) or sanderhicksdotcom AT gmail.com
We will unite all those who can be united around four demands:
1. The USA needs a real investigation into 9/11.
2. We need a “bottom-up” bailout, economic reforms in banking, and the democratization of capital. We need an economy that works for all, not just the elite.
3. Bush and Cheney must be prosecuted for their crimes against humanity, and their violations of the Bill of Rights.
4. The USA must figure out what it stands for.
President Obama, you have promised “transparency.” But to the people who have been laboring for eight years under the brutal conditions of Bush/Cheney, real transparency means summoning a greater courage to tackle taboo topics.
Here are four that can no longer go ignored:
1. Investigate 9/11 Now!
Why has there never been an objective investigation? There is evidence for controlled demolition of the buildings. And just as compelling is the pattern of protection given to the “9/11 Hijackers” by US military and intelligence, before 9/11. A real investigation could come from a voter’s referendum in NYC, from the City Council, or from the White House. So what is stopping them?
2. Economic Democracy
Right now, the US Government looks like the hand-maiden of a dysfunctional finance sector, while people lose their homes, jobs, and sanity. What are the alternatives to top-down bailouts, and to the Federal Reserve? How can we stimulate the economy democratically, from below?
3. Rule of Law: How will our broken political and legal system prosecute the crimes against humanity of Bush/Cheney? A couple months ago, there was loose talk from Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) about maybe having a “Truth and Reconciliation” hearing on the crimes of Bush/Cheney. Those crimes were done in the name of 9/11. And 9/11 itself was the mother of that brood of crimes.
4. What is the Real Identity of the USA? What does the country really stand for?
Let’s Get Organized!
The 9/11 Anniversary is a powerful moment for our grassroots, bottom-up, citizens’ Truth Movement. Our video activism and confrontational tactics are an inspiration to all kinds of activists. New technologies create new opportunities for democracy, direct-action, and democratic media.
9/11/09 is the first 9/11 Anniversary “Post-Bush”, we have the chance here to really make a statement about 9/11, and push Obama to develop more courage.President Obama, WHY have you denounced those who question Bush's official story on 9/11? You just authorized 18,000 more troops into Afghanistan. Why even consider attacking Afghanistan, when the whole Bin Laden Scapegoat story has such low credibility, even in mainstream public opinion? This opinion is the direct result of our movement, our huge, grassroots, post-partisan movement of populists, patriots, and progressives. This is democracy in action.