The September 11 investigation is getting nowhere fast, but is anyone who is paying attention surprised? Both the Pentagon and and the Justice Department are dragging their heels in responding to the federal investigating commission, which has to finish its work by May of 2004.

More frightening, however, is the Bush administration's refusal to allow officials to be interviewed without the presence of their government colleagues. According to the commission's chairman, Tom Kean, this tactic amounts to the intimidation of witnesses.

Well, yes, of course it does.

But how sincere is Kean? Remember, he was chosen to replace Henry Kissinger, when Henry Kissinger resigned the position rather than reveal his list of business clients. But what about Kean's business associates? No one seems to care, but two of his business partners are Mohammed Hussein al Amoudi and Khalid bin Mahfouz, both of whom are suspected to have ties to the Taliban. Both were named in a lawsuit brought by families of the victims of September 11. bin Mahfouz is, in fact, Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law.