UN AntiTerrorism New Head, Indian PR Singh Puri: Ghandi+Mediteranean New Deal in post-9/11 Decade ?

Speaking to Strasbourg journalists including "EuroFora" on the Double threat against Humanity by Terrorism which kills innocent Human Lives and undermines Human Rights,  the New, Indian Head of UNO's anti-terrorism watchdog, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted, at the launch of a 1st UNO - CoE Conference on preventing Terrorism, a possible "New Trend" inspired from "Gandhi" and the on-going Mediterranean Democratic Changes, in this hotly-discussed matter during a controversial Decade since 9/11 which is closing soon, as UNO intends to "take stock of all work done against Terrorism, at the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, on September 2011 at New York", as he anounced, "using the April 2011 three Days UNO-CoE Strasbourg meetings to prepare a Road-Map of what lies ahead, in this crucial issue, for the 1O Years to come", aiming at "a New Deal" for the horizon of 2020 :

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- "I come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who led what is now a Nation of over a Billion People to Freedom through Non-Violence", stressed from the outset India's Permanent Representative to UNO's N.Y. Headquarters, who has earlier served also at nearby Geneva.

+ And "the recent Developments in the Middle East demonstrate that Peaceful and Non-Violent Mobilization of a Population can be a more Effective Instrument of Social Change than Violence", Singh Puri pointed out on the occasion of the famous Popular uprisings throughout 3rd Mediterranean Countries, from the borders of Morocco Westwards, up to those of Turkey, Eastwards, via Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, etc.

- "These are 2 Sides of the Same Coin :  Human Rights and Fight against Terrorism", because, "in my conception, Terrorists give away the most fundamental Human Right of all : the Right to Life". "And yet, at the same time, when we embark on a Comprehensive program to fight terrorism, we have no option but to ensure that it's anchored in the world of Human Rights and in Humanitarian Law", he added.

- Because, as one of the most Recent UNO "Security Council Resolutions, No 1963 (adopted on 2010) observes, Terrorism will not be defeated by Military means, Law Enforcement Measures and Intelligence operations alone. But .. there is a Need to promote the Rule of Law, the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Good Governance, Tolerance and Incusiveness, (in order) to offer a viable Alternative  to those who could be susceptible to Terrorist Rcruitment and to Radicalization leading to Violence", as he stressed in his Speech earlier today.

- That's why there is, today more than ever, "a kind of Natural Synergy" between UNO and CoE, the panEuropean Organization dedicated (mainly since 2005's Warsaw Summit of Heads of State/Government : Comp. "EuroFora" Co-Founders' NewsReports from the spot), he concluded.

- In Europe's Past History, "the Total Break Down of Human Rights Values was a Key Factor in the enormous Sufferinh brought about by the World War II", so that "European Leaders learned that, to rebuild Europe, and to prevent Catastrophic developments from occuring again, Institutional and Legally Binding Arrangements had to put in place. For this purpose, CoE was created to defend, develop and further promote Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law on the European Continent", Jagland reminded.

+ "Preventing Terrorism" goes straight at the Heart of our (CoE's) Mission to seek how we to uphold Human Rights' values in the Fight against Terrorism", he observed, pointing also to the fact that CoE has prepared since long certain "specific (Legal) Conventions" for that purpose, f.ex. on, "Prevention", "facilitation of prosecution" of terrorists,  "protection of victims", witnesses, etc., since "struggle against terrorism is an essential element of the Protection of People".
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- "In short, Prevention also covers Respect for People's Dignity and Human Rights in the implementation of counter-terrorism policies", added also from the outset, in his Morning Speech, UN SC CTC's experienced Executive Director, Mike Smith.

- Indeed, "the notion of "Prevention" has, recently, evolved .. : ...It means addressing what the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy calls "the Conditions Conducive to Terrorism" - Unresolved Conflicts ; Ethnic, National and Religious Discrimination, Violations of Human Rights, and lack of Good Governance- ... that can be exploited by Terrorist Recruiters tp attract individuals to their cause. ... It encompasses building Cultures of Tolerance and Understanding .. so that Communities work together and can resolve their differences in a spirit of Respect and Compromise". .. It covers ReHabilitation programs, particularly those carried out in Prisons... And, in a General way, it means carrying out all Counter-Terrorism activities with an understanding that Harsh Measures applied indiscriminately or Unfairly, or that are Not in accordance with the Rule of Law, can feed the Grievances of People that Terrorist Recruiters use to attract support", Smith explained.

- "This is a New Field, where different Governments are trying out Experimental Policies, .. the success of which remain, in many cases, Unproven. ...One thing is clear : Governments do not have all the answers. .. They will not necessarily have, .. frankly, the Credibility to conduct all the Social and Educational programs that could be needed. Above all, they are unlikely to be able to deliver the Messages to particular Segments of the Society, that will be needed to counter the siren call of the Terrorist Recruiters". So that "the Community, in its Broadest sense, will have to be involved. Academocs, Teachers, NGOs, Parliamentarians, Journalists, Lawyers, Religious leaders, private ..Business and Social Scientists, will all have a role to play", he anounced "here in Strasbourg".
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+ Advancing at least partly in this direction, one among CoE/CTC's Workshops focuses, indeed, to Terrorism early "Prevention through Dialogue", including "intecultural and interreligious", throughout "Private sector, Educational, Cultural and Religious Institutions, as well as "Business sector", etc.                              
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    For the 1st time in Strasbourg, this 3 Days-long Conference on "Prevention of Terrorism", prepared by the out-going Turkish Chair of UNO's CTC, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, former PR of Turkey to the UNO, in agreement with the out-(also) ...Turkish rotating CoE Chair Ambassador Batibay, and with the participation of the Turkish Secretary General of the Islamic Conference, prof.  Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglou, seems to also touch upon particularly "    Sensitive" issues of Human Rights, as that of Freedom of Expression, raising various Questions on where pass the dividing lines between Risk of Abuse and Legitimate Restrictions, particularly considering the notoriously excessive number of People still illegally persecuted and jailed in Turkey for simply stating some "hot" Facts or expressing Critical Opinions, as ECHR's abundant case-law clearly proves...

    Among many other Question-marks, f.ex., it's obviously unclear yet how some People might interpret a call to ... "get into the Minds of .. People trawling the Internet (sic !) and turn them away from (a) ... Website" that one or another Authority might find (reasonably, or not) to be "Extremist", and/or "Undermine (sic !) Narratives ... that clearly strike a chord in the Hearts of many individuals", if they are made by "Terrorist Groups", as UN CTC's SG, Mike Smith noted in his Speech earlier this morning.     

    The move seems extended further in one among the CoE/CTC's Workshops, considering that its Agenda goes even beyond what may be considered, or not, as "Preventing Incitement to Terrorism", and focuses also on what it calls    "Prevent Radicalization", (obviously risking to push towards a slipery slope on Freedom of Expression)..              

   
    A CoE Official Briefing Strasbourg Journalists appeared, last week, to give special attention to the "distinction between Freedom of Expression and Incitement to Terrorism" : An obviously delicate distinguo, particularly vis a vis Turkey, considering fex. that more than 2.500 People, even elected MP, Mayors, Regional Counsellors, etc., are currently arrested and detained in Turkish Prisons, even without any Judgement, for more than 2 Years, exclusively accused for Public Statements that they allegedly made..     

       

    => For various such reasons CoE's Parliamentary Assembly reacted on the Agenda proposed by the Turkish chair (see Supra) for UNO's Counter-Terrorism Committee in Strasbourg, after "noting that the Special Meeting of the UNSC CTC deals with an Impressive range of matters, focusing mainly on Prevention policies, Comprehensive and integrated strategies" :       

                                     
    - Torture, arbitrary Black-listing and/or undue State Secrecy must not be among the instruments used in the necessary Fight against Terrorism, because they are both inefficient and unacceptable, stressed experienced Swiss MEP Dick Marty, President of CoE Assembly's Monitoring Committee, and Lord Tomlinson from the UK,  referring for the rest to PACE's comprehensive resolutions.

    - “Terrorists – whatever their goals – are vicious killers who must be tracked, pre-empted and brought to justice,” “But, as PACE’s reports have shown, turning a blind eye to torture or blacklisting people without giving them a chance to prove their innocence will ultimately do more damage than good in the fight against terror", added Marty. "The UN, as a guardian of global values, must stand for the principle of fighting terrorism resolutely but fairly.”

    - First of all, pointing obviously at "Torture and Inhuman/Degrading Treatments" (Art. 3 of ECHR), Marty and Tomlinson warned that "under no circumstances can Rights which are Non-Derogable (not even in case of War !) under the European Convention on Human Rights and other International Human Rights instruments, be compromised". On the contrary, "Terrorism can and must be fought effectively in a manner which fully respects human rights and the rule of law", they stressed.

    - While, "Terrorists must be held to account and appropriately punished for human rights violations they have perpetrated", nevertheless, "Abusive recourse to the doctrine of State sSecrecy must be prohibited and cannot be invoked with respect to serious human rights violations", (as, f.ex., in the infamous "Secret Prisons" and/or "Reddition Flights" by CIA a.o. in the Past, in an over-reaction to 9/11, they added.

    - "Sanctions" "Targeted ... against individuals or specific groups (“Blacklists”) have a direct impact on individual human rights", and, therefore,  "must provide appropriate legal guarantees to ensure their credibility and effectiveness", they concluded, referring, for all other issues, to a relevant Report of CoE Assembly's Legal and Human Rights' Committee. .

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    - "Concerns that sometimes the Fight against Terrorism deviates from , or doesn't fully respect Human Rights", will be among the "issues" due to be "thoroughly and intensively" discussed by UNO, EU and CoE in Strasbourg during 3 Days of parallel "Workshops", the New Head of UNO's CTC, Indian Ambassador Singh Puri    , acknowledged, "ensuring" that the UN will do everything in their power to alleviate any such fears in Future :     

    - "I can ensure you, on behalf of my collegues (CTC's Members, Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives to UNO's Security Council) and the UN Secretariat", particularly since I started to chair "during these last 3 Months", (taking over from Turkey's chairmanship in the Past),  that, now, "there is now absolutely No Ambiguity in our minds, that this fight" against Terrorism, "has to be Anchored thoroughly, deeply on Human Rights", the experienced Indian Top Diplomat promissed.  

    - "And, now, we (UNO) have to take all the Good Practices which have been developed in the CoE, also in a UN, i.e. Universal canvas, together with other relevant Regional Organizations (as also the EU, etc), to see how we can bring all that together,

    - Because, we should "work for what I'd like to call : "a New Contact" (i.e. "New Deal") against Terrorism, so that, in the Next 10 Years, what we'll have will be more Comprehensive and Focused approach on counter-terrorism, and which, of course, Excludes Violations of Human Rights", Ambassador Singh Puri concluded.
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    - But, "Are the CoE Conventions enough in order to prevent States from Not respecting Human Rights in the Fighting agsinst Terrorism ? I mean, in Europe we had "Secret Flights" or whatever..?", (mainly by US CIA Airplanes reportedly kidnapping and transfering Suspects of Terrorism sometimes to "Secret Prisons", etc., as a Report by Swiss MEP Dick Marty had denounced), asked a collegue Journalist from Italy, (a country often shown as an example of a European State which succeeded  to face Terrorism in the Past while also keeping fundamental Democratic and Human Rights principles).  

    - "In your Speech, this Morning, you spoke about "Pressing Challenges, in the Fight against Terrorism", and you say that Terrorism is growing and expanding, becoming more and more Threatening. Why ? During these last 10 Years, we've seen much more Anti-Terror Activities than before" in History. "So, they are not working ?", she wondered.

    - "I didn't mean that there might be "loopholes" from the Human Rights dimesion in the fight against Terrorism", replied Ambassador Singh Puri. "I said something else : The International Architecture on Terrorism consists of several Sectoral Conventions, of which UN is one, and then, there are (also) 3 others arrangements : "The (UNO) Security Councl has an Architectue dealing with issues relating to Terrorism, like the Counter Terrorism Committee, which I chair, which is the main actor in general, then there is the (UN) Committee which deals with the Taliban (+ Al Queada, etc), and then there is a 3rd Committee which deals with Weapons of Mass Destruction and the possibility of falling into the hands of Non-State Actors, including Terrorists", (i.e. in addition to eventual Black-Mail exploiters, etc).

    - "My reference to a "Loophole" relates to the fact that we (UNO) (have not yet been able to agree yet on a Comprehensive Convention against Terrorism. And that is a Major Lacuna    . Because that issue is linked wih the issue of Definition of Terrorism", he regretted.

    + "On the Challenges, there are many, as I refer some to my introductory statement (earlier this morning). The issue is that, from my point of view, the Ideal objective of the CoE in my perception, as also for the UN,  should be "Zero Tolerance for Terrorism". I'm not willing to intellectually consider any other Scenario than "Zero Tolerance for Terrorism". Which means that  any "Selective" use of Terrorism as Instrument of Policy on a Justification of Terrorism in terms of .. Ideology or Religion" is excluded. "From my point of view, No Religion, No Ideology justifies Terrorism. But the Danger lies in ensuring that Everyone is on the Same Pace. And there is No Problem between the CoE and the UN, as well as some other Regional Organizations. But there are, Regrettably, still People in the World who believe that, if you have a Grievance, then, you should be allowed to pursue your grievance through the use of Terror as an Instrument", he denounced.  

    - "Now, that is a Major Challenge" he stressed.  "In some respects, I think we've got a handle on the issue (of Terrorism), but, then, there are some New Epicentres arising, f.ex. in Africa : In Somalia, etc. .. I won't go into details", he stopped short.

    - But, "I am now more Hopeful, than ever before, that, as a result of the work done by the CTC recently, may be we are now in the verge of seing the Light at the End of the Tunel", in order to "get a Comprehensive (UNO) Convention against International Terrorism". - "We have to get everyone at a same pace.  But, how can we do that ? We can do that, I think, in an Inclusive manner", the New Head of UNO's CTC

    - I believe, indeedd, that "You'd better do it in an Inclusive manner :  (i.e.) By dealing with the issue of Causation by making sure that there is Good Governance, that there is Respect for Human Rights, that the Legitimate Aspirations of People can be met within the Good Governance Structure, so that People's Grievances are limited".  

    - "Then, you appeal to those who have grievances, who pursue those grievances in terms of Democratic means."

    - "And I've said twice this Morning that I was in the belief that the Gandhian approach of utilizing Peaceful and Non-Violent Means to see a Social Change is a more Preferable and Superior instrument  for Social Change, than Violence itself".  

    - "And I believe that now there is a Recognition of that. I believe that in North Africa and the Middle East, in places where decisively you saw Demonstrators use Peaceful Assembly, and Democratic ways of dealing with Grievances. That's has had a Better Chance into resulting in Social Change, than take your Arms out, and then, the others take their Arms, and, then, you have a War"...     

    -  Now, 1O Years after 9/11, we need "a New Framework" against Terrorism, more Comprehensive, more Focused, and which, of course, Excludes Violations of Human Rights", the New Head of UN SC's CTC, Indian Ambassador Singh Puri promissed, focusing on Change, (Comp. also Supra).
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    In the recent Past, among some Landmark Events which "flash" on People's Memories come naturally the 9/11 Mass Killing of some 3.000 Innocent, Simple People coming to work an early Morning in the USA on 2001, as well as the 2004 Beslam School brutal kidnapping and slaughter even of small Children in Russia by so-called "extremist Islamists" revendicating Tchechen scissionism and Islamic Sharia at the Caucasus, followed by the vicious and Deadly Terrorist Attacks by Pakistani Islamic extremists, reportedly linked to Scissionists, against innocent Peopla at an Hotel and Railway station in Bombay, India, on 2009, the massacres commited by Bombs against simple shopping or even Worshipîng People by Bombs at Kirkuk and inside a Christian Church in Bagdad (Iraq) between 2008 - 2010, etc.
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    + Concerning  the current Turkish chairmanship of the CoE (and until recently even of UN SC's CTC : see Supra), earlier this Month, ECHR condemned Turkey for prosecuting in 2008 a Journalist for a "Book  (which) contains serious allegations of Crimes and illegal acts committed by members of the (Turkish) Security Forces or at the instigation of them", "mainly Killings". EuroJudges observed that "the persons denounced were, in certain points, described as "the Butcher", "who held the Trigger", "who Cut the Throats", or even "X, who was chasing (People) in the Roads and inside Homes, and BeHeaded them", (etc).

    But noone among them was ever really investigated, unmasked and punished...

    Therefore, it's interesting to note the fact that Prime Minister Erdogan himself supported last week in Strasbourg the on-going Investigation about "Terrorist" Plots by deep-State Army and Police Officials, Politicians, Criminal Thugs, Business and Media Establishment in Turkey, accused to be involved in the "Ergenekon" case, (from a Mongolian Mountainous area in deep Asia).

    - "Documents seized in the investigation ...would show that the Group Planned a Bomb Attack in İstanbul's Taksim Square, triggering Chaos that would be used as a Pretext for Military Intervention...", "Wikipedia" observes, noting also that "Ergenekon" is said to be related even with Terrorist "TMT" Organization which operated in the Turkish Occupied Territories of Cyprus since the 1960ies.

    - "The investigation officially began after the Trabzon Gendarmerie's.. tip-off line received an anonymous call on ...2007 saying that Grenades" and other "Explosives were to be found at ... Ümraniye", (an Istanbul's quarter). Indeed,  "at the stated address", in "a chest with Military equipment ..belonging to (2)... retired Captain(s) ..of the (Turkish Army's) Special Forces, ... were found 27 hand Grenades ..(which) bear the same Serial Number as those used in 14 Incidents throughout the country", it noted.

    - "The investigation exposed alleged links between an Armed Attack on the Turkish Council of State in 2006 that left a judge dead, a Bombing of a secularist Newspaper, Threats and Attacks against people accused of being unpatriotic ..., as well as links to the plans of some groups in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to overthrow the present government. According to the investigation, Ergenekon had a role in the Murder of Hrant Dink, a ...Journalist of Armenian descent (in 2007), Italian Priest Father Andrea Santoro in February 2006 and the Brutal Murders of 3 Christians, one a German national, killed in .. Malatyaoin April 2007"....(etc) "One of the most persistent allegations is that the organization has been planning to execute a Coup in 2009. The alleged masterminds behind this coup plot are (2) Generals (of the Turkish Army) ...co-ordinating Ankara ..and Istanbul troops. Both Generals were detained in January 2009. ....The Police said the round-up was triggered by orders ...given to assassinate 12 Armenian leaders in Sivas".

    - "The suspected ringleaders, ...will be held responsible for Criminal acts perpetrated by subordinates, and receive Life sentences". 12 of the arrests took place in Sivas, where Weapons were also found...A Map indicating the location of Arms Caches was found on (a) former Chief of the Police force's Special Operations Department... Excavations are underway; numerous Weapons have been found. This wave ...included numerous Senior Military Officials". "Ergenekon" alleged members have been indicted on charges of Plotting to foment Unrest... by Assassinating intellectuals, politicians, judges, military staff, and religious leaders, with the ultimate goal of Toppling the incumbent Government in a (Military) Coup that was planned to take place in 2009'.
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    -  "Although the investigation was officially launched in 2007, the existence of the organization was known beforehand", Wikipedia observes. "The bulk of the Ergenekon indictment was drawn from Déocuments found in 2001 (sic !) when a former (Turkish) National Intelligence Organization Agent named Tuncay Güney got detained (his identity unknown to the police) for a minor offense... "A police search of his house turned up the 6 sacks of Evidence on which the (Ergenekon) indictment is based". "No charges have been brought against him ....However, he is currently (on 2011) under investigation, and ...legal proceedings have been initiated to obtain his testimony from abroad using Interpol. ...Güney... says he will co-operate if the questioning is done by the Canadian police."

    Moreover,  "on March (2011), a journal allegedly written by former Naval Forces Commander retired Adm. Örnek, referred to as the "Coup Diaries", was included in the 2nd "Ergenekon" indictment.... It (mentioned 2) retired Land and Air Forces Commanders Generals ..as having devised Military Coup Plans ....between the years 2001 and 2004".

     "The existence of a "Deep State" was unveiled in Turkey after the notorious "Susurluk" Scandal in 1996", (when a Top MP and a Senior Police Officer were cought together with a Drug Trafficker and "wanted" Killer from the underground, Abdullah Çatlı, reportedly linked to "International NeoFascist Terrorism" and Drug Traffickers "transporting Opium from Afghanistan to Europe", via Pakistan and Turkey).

    Questions on eventual International Ramifications were inevitably raised by some, particularly during recent years (2008+), when it was revealed that a main Suspect widely considered to be the No 1 source on the "Ergenekon" affairs : Guney (See supra), had reportedly arrived in New York a few Months before 9/11, during which he was hiding at a nearby New Jersey neighbourhood, where various suspicious incidents took place then. (F.ex. Anthrax scare origin, individuals said to "salute" the 9/11 Mass-Killing, strange "Plumbers" intevening inside WTC the week before, obscure affair of New Jersey f. Security chief mixed up in Homosexuality Scandal with a Governor obliged to resign, etc). This was added to the jailing, at New York, shortly before 9/11, of also another Turkish notorious Thug, who was set free following a fast track visit of former Prime Minister Demirel, after he reportedly claimed that he had done something important there to "serve the (Turkish) State", (etc).     
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    + In order to help "implement" its "mandate" UNO's CTC uses various measures which "range from the importance of Criminalizing Terrorism, to bringing Terrorists to Justice, preventing them from Crossing Borders and/or from getting Financial Resources, and to Cooperate accross Borders". This includes an International and Regional dimension, as also with the CoE, to help States strengthen their anti-terrorist action, told Strasbourg Journalists Today, in a concise but concrete manner, the Experienced CTC's Executive Director Mike Smith.

    Astonishigly, however, among various other examples, even the main, Key Witness suspected for the biggest Organized Terrorism Scandal in Turkey's History : that of the infamous "Ergenekon" case, as well as other Thugs apparently linked with the Turkish "Deep State", seem able to Escape from prosecution, get a lot of Money, Travel abroad and stay at New York, cross to Canada, etc. even at the eve and aftermath of 9/11 !

    Concerning 9/11 itself, indeed, as well as some other recent Big Terrorist cases, several Questions remain still open :  

F.ex. No Mastermind behind 9/11 was ever arrested. The material execution of 9/11 Terrorists Attacks against simple People, were reportedly organized by Atta, a ring-leader allegedly linked to some corrupted Security Officials at Pakistan, but living in Hambourg, at the Nothern Sea, (i.e. betweeen the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany), but no instigator or was ever cought.

Noone, not even a secondary assistant, or a Mastermind hidden behind the Deadly London 2005 subway Bombings was ever identified and arrested, (etc). But, on the contrary, a lot of controversial Rules dangerously restricting Human Rights and Democratic Freedioms notoriously mushroomed in Europe, the USA and elsewhere,
+ 9/11 Victims' Families and Friends notoriously asked for complementary, independent and full Investigations, mainly on WTC at New York, already since October 2001, including on eventual (direct or indirect) Local Accomplices.
But, with the only exception of 2 or 3 insufficient Checks decided by former US President George W. Bush in response to Victims' FF demands, at this last Year of current US President Barack Obama, it remains yet to be seen whether he will endorse any such 9/11 critical Investigation, or not.

For the time being, the only relevant development was the Brutal Killing of Beverly Eckert, wife of 9/11 victim Sean Rooney, a Chicago headquartered Insurance Company AON's Senior Expert, who survived the Air crash but died because of WTC's scandalously blocked doors towards its flat top, accessible to nearby helicopters, after a controversial decision by local NY Security services shortly before the terrorist attack.  Hills, who had become Head of an active 9/11 FF's Association, was killed at a not fully elucidated yet Air Crash, just a week after meeting with Obama, a few Months after his election. It wasn't clear if she had asked Obama to launch a new, independent and full investigation on 9/11, WTC, etc., and what was his real stance on this pending issue.

2011 obviously is the Last Year to find out before the 2012 US Presidential Elections.