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Pentagon pulls 'Able Danger' officer's clearance

By wire services
Published October 1, 2005

WASHINGTON - An officer who says a classified military unit identified four Sept. 11 hijackers before the 2001 attacks is facing Pentagon accusations of breaking numerous rules, charges his lawyer suggests are aimed at undermining his credibility.

The alleged infractions by Army Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, 42, include obtaining a service medal under false pretenses, improperly flashing military identification while drunk and stealing pens, according to paperwork from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency shown by his attorney to the Associated Press.

Shaffer was one of the first to publicly link Sept. 11 leader Mohamed Atta to the unit code-named Able Danger. Shaffer was one of five witnesses the Pentagon ordered not to appear Sept. 21 before the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the unit's findings.

The military revoked Shaffer's top security clearance one day before he was supposed to testify to a congressional committee.

WASHINGTON - Marine Gen. Peter Pace took over Friday as the military's top leader, facing a controversial war in Iraq, recruitment shortfalls at home and the possibility of an expanded role in domestic disasters.

At a swearing-in ceremony, President Bush said he will look to Pace to build on the work started by his predecessor, Gen. Richard Myers, who is leaving the military.

Pace is the first Marine to be named chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

NEW YORK - A school bus overturned on a Bronx expressway Friday, injuring dozens of children and adults returning from a teacher's funeral, authorities said.

The bus overturned when another vehicle struck the back end of the bus about 11:15 a.m., police said. The bus was carrying seventh-graders, parents and faculty from St. Joseph's Elementary School at the time.

The Archdiocese of New York said 42 students and 10 faculty members were injured.

[Last modified October 1, 2005, 01:46:16]