The Hindu : Kissinger promises non-partisan probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 03, 2002

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International

Kissinger promises non-partisan probe

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Dec. 2. The former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, now appointed to head an Independent Commission to investigate all aspects of the terror attacks of September 11,2001 has said that he would sever all ties with his current clients who posed a conflict of interest.

Dr. Kissinger heads the Kissinger Associates firm that is believed to do consulting work for a number of high profile companies and governments. The same view was echoed by the former Senate Majority Leader, George Mitchell, who will be Number Two in the Commission. Mr. Mitchell has said that he will have nothing to do with clients that posed a conflict of interest in his New York law firm. The former Secretary of State under the Nixon and Ford administrations did not disclose who his company's clients were but argued that he represented no governments in West Asia and that his firm had no clients from Saudi Arabia. "Under no circumstances would we ever permit — would I ever permit a foreign government to affect my judgement'', Dr. Kissinger said on a Sunday talk show.

"If there are any clients that are involved in the investigations, I will certainly sever my relations with them. But I cannot conceive that there will be any'', Dr. Kissinger maintained. Dr. Kissinger's response on Sunday has to be seen in the context of pressure from Democrats who have said that the former Republican official should sever links with firms, at least "for the time being'', that could raise questions. "It is going to be extraordinarily important for Dr. Kissinger to prove to the nation that he comes to this without any linkages that could remain suspect'', remarked Senator John Kerry.

The Democratic Senator from Massachussetts is a possible Presidential material for 2004 and has just formed a team to explore the idea further. Last week the U.S. President, George W Bush appointed Dr. Kissinger and Mr. Mitchell to an Independent Commission to investigate the attacks of 9/11.While the appointment of Dr. Kissinger was generally welcomed, there were some who expressed surprise that Mr. Bush would name a former Nixon administration official who was not exactly seen as levelling with Congress. Dr. Kissinger said last week that the Panel would go where the truth leads it to. The other eight members of the Panel will have to be appointed by December 15 and the entire team will look into such areas as aviation security, intelligence and immigration matters.

The Commission has been given 18 months to complete its work.

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