Editorial: Stonewalling by Bush

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003 | 8:46 a.m.

President Bush didn't want an independent commission created to investigate the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but last year he ultimately agreed to one in the face of overwhelming support for a probe. The White House's resistance can still be seen, however, as it refuses to turn over some classified intelligence documents to the commission. In response, the commission recently was forced to subpoena documents from the Federal Aviation Administration and is prepared to do the same with other agencies. Thomas Kean, chairman of the Sept. 11 commission, says he is prepared to subpoena records from the White House itself if it won't turn them over. Kean won't say what the records are, but The New York Times reported Sunday that they include highly classified daily intelligence reports President Bush received prior to Sept. 11.

Kean, former Republican governor of New Jersey, has been more than patient with the White House. If anything, Kean should have moved sooner in trying to pry loose these records. The administration knows that the more it stalls, the more difficult it is for the commission to issue an exhaustive report by the May 2003 deadline set by Congress. The top sponsors of the legislation to create the commission, Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and John McCain, R-Ariz., have indicated that if the White House roadblocks continue, they will consider extending the deadline by several months. The White House, worried that the report's findings could become a campaign issue if it's released shortly before the election, will be counting on the GOP-controlled Congress to fend off an extension. This administration is notorious for its secrecy, but it surprises us that it wo uld stonewall a bipartisan commission that is investigating the worst terrorist attack against the United States. If there ! are more delays, Republican leaders in Congress should set aside partisanship and extend the commission's deadline by several months. This is a job where shortcuts can't be tolerated.