NEW ORLEANS -- Spooks, suits, generals and geeks gathered here this week to discuss a common goal: an all-seeing, omnipresent set of eyes in the sky to keep an unblinking view of the entire world at once.

Representatives from the military, spy agencies and the defense industry met to find ways to put a new generation of spy satellites in orbit to aid in war, homeland security and spy craft. But talking about Big Brother vision in a hotel ballroom is proving to be a whole lot easier than executing it in orbit. Several of the satellite systems are wrapped in controversy, cost overruns or long delays.

"We need to know something about everything all the time," Stephen Cambone, undersecretary of defense for intelligence, told the gathering of nearly 1,400 at the Geo-Intel 2003 conference here at the French Quarter's edge. "We need an illuminator, throwing into relief all the pictures and activities on the Earth's surface. And then we need to be able to switch on the spotlight, or alert other systems, to dive deep."

WASHINGTON - Concerned about the appearance of disarray and feuding within his administration as well as growing resistance to his policies in Iraq, President Bush - living up to his recent declaration that he is in charge - told his top officials to "stop the leaks" to the media, or else.

News of Bush's order leaked almost immediately.

Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he "didn't want to see any stories" quoting unnamed administration officials in the media anymore, and that if he did, there would be consequences, said a senior administration official who asked that his name not be used.

Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana Republican, feels it is his duty to inform Americans about the "contents" of their influenza vaccines.

"As we approach the flu season, many of you will visit the doctor's office and receive an annual influenza vaccine. This might prevent the flu, but what else will it do?" Mr. Burton said. "You should be aware that the vaccine you are about to receive contains thimerosal — a mercury-laden preservative."

Mr. Burton says scientific evidence "continues to accumulate" regarding a biologically plausible connection between the preservative and certain neurological disorders. Some scientists have attributed the growth in Alzheimer's disease and autism to mercury found in certain vaccines.

During his chairmanship of the Government Reform Committee, Mr. Burton held numerous hearings on possible adverse effects of thimerosal.

There is the 1993 siege of David Koresh's Mount Carmel commune in Waco, Texas, where four law-enforcement officers were killed and nearly 90 civilians - men, women and children - massacred by being shot and/or burned alive. Those seeking an investigation of his part in the Waco outrage say that [Democrat Presidential candidate Gen. Wesley] Clark not only played a hidden role in the military-style assault on the Branch Davidians, but easily could have refused to participate in what was a clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act that bars use of the U.S. military for civilian law-enforcement activities.

Although Clark never publicly has discussed his role in the attack on the Branch Davidians and did not respond to Insight's requests for an interview to discuss his role at Waco, there are indisputable facts that confirm he had knowledge of the grim plans to bring the standoff to an end. Between August 1992 and April 1994, Clark was commander of the 1st Cavalry Division of the Army's III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas. According to a report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the list of military personnel and equipment used at Waco included: 15 active-duty military personnel, 13 Texas National Guard personnel, nine Bradley fighting vehicles, five combat-engineer vehicles, one tank-retrieval vehicle and two M1A1 Abrams tanks. Additionally, Fort Hood reportedly was used for much of the training for the bloody attack on the Davidians and their children.

Based on the fact that military equipment from Fort Hood was used in the siege and that training was provided there, say critics, it is clear the commanding officer of the 1st Cavalry had direct knowledge of the attack and, more likely than not, was involved in the tactical planning.

West Point graduate Joseph Mehrten Jr. tells Insight that, "Clark had to have knowledge about the plan because there is no way anyone could have gotten combat vehicles off that base without his okay. The M1A1 Abrams armor is classified 'Secret,' and maybe even 'Top Secret,' . . . Each of these M1A1 Abrams vehicles is armed with a 125-millimeter cannon, a 50-caliber machine gun and two 30-caliber machine guns, which are all very heavily controlled items, requiring controls much like a chain of legal custody. It is of critical importance that such vehicles could not have been moved for use at Waco without Clark's knowledge."

The independent commission studying the Sept. 11 attacks has voted to subpoena the Federal Aviation Administration, ordering the agency to hand over documents for the investigation.

The 10-member commission said it learned through interviews that the agency had not turned over tapes, statements, reports and other documents ``highly material to our inquiry.''

The FAA, which earlier told the panel it provided everything, provided additional material over the last few days and pledged to cooperate. But the commission said the delay ``has significantly impeded the progress of our investigation and undermined our confidence in the completeness of the FAA's production.'' . . .

"This disturbing development at one agency has led the commission to re-examine its general policy of relying on document requests rather than subpoenas,'' the panel said in a statement. . . .

FAA knew that Los Angeles-bound Flight 77 left its course at 8:55 a.m., Ben-Veniste said, but NORAD did not get official notice of a hijacking until 9:24 a.m. A witness at the hearing, retired Maj. Gen. Larry K. Arnold, who was in charge of NORAD on the day of the attacks, said it was ``physically possible'' that fighter jets could have beaten the civilian airliner to the Pentagon had they been activated earlier.

Ben-Veniste said Wednesday that the FAA material in question is relevant to that line of inquiry.

Families of September 11 and the Family Steering Committee today criticized the White House, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Defense for their slow response to requests for key documents made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The 9/11 family organizations also urged the commission to reveal to the public which documents are being withheld and issue subpoenas for those documents. . .

Families of September 11 and the Family Steering Committee today criticized the White House, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Defense for their slow response to requests for key documents made by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The 9/11 family organizations also urged the commission to reveal to the public which documents are being withheld and issue subpoenas for those documents.

9/11 family organizations . . . are perplexed that, nearly a year after the commission was established, some key documents have not been provided to the commission.

Schwarzenegger was dogged by persistent protesters and hecklers Sunday, as he tried to seize the environmental mantle, proposing a $60 million "hydrogen highway" he said would provide a statewide chain of hydrogen fueling stations to help clean the air.

"As governor, I will create a network of . . . clean hydrogen fueling stations every 20 miles," said Schwarzenegger, who provided few specifics on paying for such a plan.

"These hydrogen highways funded by private-public partnerships will allow car manufacturers to make good on their pledge to deliver hundreds of thousands of clean hydrogen cars on the California roads before the end of the decade," the actor said. . . .

GOP fund-raiser Bob Grady, a managing director of the Carlyle Group, said that as an environmental adviser to Schwarzenegger he is convinced of the actor's credentials.

WASHINGTON - An e-mail written by an aide to Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, ridicules Democrats and gloats over the Republicans' expected victory in a battle over congressional redistricting. . . .

He even took a poke at fellow Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Surfside, saying that winning his redrawn district could be "a lot trickier than thought given Paul's unusual behavior." Paul's votes often reflect his libertarian views on government.

Barton's spokeswoman Samantha Jordan said . . . was "very disappointed to see what could be perceived as derogatory comments" about his Texas colleagues.

Letters from hometown soldiers describing their successes rebuilding Iraq have been appearing in newspapers across the country as U.S. public opinion on the mission sours.
And all the letters are the same.

A Gannett News Service search found identical letters from different soldiers with the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Rock," in 11 newspapers, including Snohomish, Wash. . . .

Beckley, W.Va.: "When I told him he wrote such a good letter, he said: 'What letter?' " Timothy Deaconson said Friday, recalling the phone conversation he had with his son, Nick. "This is just not his (writing) style."

Oklahoma prosecutors have warned U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft that lack of federal cooperation could lead to the dismissal of state murder charges against Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols.

In a letter to Ashcroft released on Friday, Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane says an Oklahoma judge may dismiss the case
against Nichols because his defense team has not been allowed to depose federal government witnesses.

"The unwillingness of the federal government has brought this case to the brink of dismissal," Lane says in the letter. "There has been NO progress."

The counterterrorism operation in 1998 and 1999 was run out of the FBI's Phoenix office in cooperation with Israeli intelligence and was approved by Attorney General Janet Reno FBI officials told The Associated Press.

Several thousand dollars in U.S. money was sent to suspected terror supporters during the operation as the FBI tried to track the flow of cash through terror organizations, the FBI said in a rare acknowledgment of an undercover sting that never resulted in prosecutions.

One of the FBI's key operatives, who has had a falling out with the bureau, provided an account of the operation at a friend's closed immigration court proceeding. AP obtained and reviewed the court documents.

Arizona businessman Harry Ellen testified he permitted the FBI to bug his home, car and office, allowed his Muslim foundation's activities in the Gaza Strip to be monitored by agents, arranged a peace meeting between major Palestinian activists and gained personal access to Yasser Arafat

Notice of public hearing.

---------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States will hold its fourth public hearing on October 14, 2003 in Washington, DC. Witnesses will speak about issues related to U.S. intelligence leadership, intelligence and national security policy, and the effectiveness of warning against transnational threats. Representatives of the media should register in advance of the hearing by visiting the Commission's Web site at http://www.9-11commission.gov. Seating for the general public will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Press availability will occur at the conclusion of the hearing.

DATES: October 14, 2003, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Press availability to follow.

LOCATION: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 253, Washington, DC, 20510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al Felzenberg, (202) 401-1725 or (202) 236-4878 (cellular).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please refer to Public Law 107-306 (November 27, 2002), title VI (Legislation creating the Commission), and the Commission's Web site http://www.9-11 commission.gov.

Dated: October 2, 2003.
Philip Zelikow,
Executive Director.