Sources say NSA intercepted pre-Sept. 11 calls
WASHINGTON — A secretive U.S. eavesdropping agency monitored telephone conversations before Sept. 11 between the suspected commander of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and the alleged chief hijacker, but did not share the information with other intelligence agencies, U.S. officials said Thursday.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the conversations between Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Mohammed Atta were intercepted by the National Security Agency, an intelligence agency that monitors and decodes foreign communications.
The officials declined to disclose the nature of the discussions between Mohammed, a known leader of the al-Qaeda network who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list, and Atta, who piloted one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center. Mohammed is believed to be hiding in Pakistan.
Another intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was “simply not true” that the NSA monitored the conversations and failed to share the information with other intelligence agencies.
An NSA spokeswoman said that as a rule “we neither confirm or deny actual or alleged intelligence operations.” She declined to say more.
— Knight Ridder Newspapers
The NSA failed to share the intercepts with the CIA or other U.S. intelligence agencies, the officials told Knight Ridder. It also failed to promptly translate some intercepted Arabic language conversations, a senior intelligence official said.
Students plan dinner
for graduation pledge
Graduating seniors planning on taking the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility are invited to attend a dinner reception at 7 p.m. today at the United Lutheran Church. The event includes a free dinner, dessert, live music and guest speakers.
Senior Leona Kassel, one of the students coordinating the event, said the idea behind it is to provide a “forum for people to share their ideas” about how they will use the pledge in their career paths.
The pledge, which began at Humboldt State University in 1987, reads: “I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve those aspects of any organization for which I work.”
The pledge is recognized by colleges and universities across the country, but this is the first time in several years the pledge has been incorporated into the University of Oregon commencement.
Volunteers will be present before all graduation ceremonies this year to hand out green ribbons and pins to graduates who endorse the pledge. Speakers at tonight’s event will include Director of Multicultural Affairs Carla Gary, Campus Recycling Director Karyn Kaplan and Joseph Kassel, a naturopath and acupuncturist.
The ASUO, the environmental studies department, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance and the Survival Center are co-sponsoring the event. Students organizing the event are preparing the food, which was donated by the Organically Grown Co-op, Costco and Surata Tofu. The United Lutheran Church is located at 2230 Washington St.