Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities of 9/11

Committee member, Carl Levin, interviews George Tenet (CIA Director), Robert Mueller (FBI Director) in regards to pertinent information not being shared with each Intelligence Agency, mainly the CIA and FBI. Levin grills Tenet over the Counter-terrorism's failure in sharing intelligence with the FBI of two USS Cole Bombing suspects, Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi (both 9/11 hijackers). Both men had multi-entry visas and were coming into the United States, the CIA analysts at Alec Station, did not share this information with the FBI at Alec Station or outside the agencies headquarters. Also Levin asks Mueller about why the FBI didnt act on the information listed in the "Phoenix Memo". (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Richard Shelby, interviews George Tenet (CIA-Director), Michael Hayden (NSA-Director) and Robert Mueller (FBI-Director). Shelby opens his inquiry by asking a simple question.....what does accountability mean. His question is then answered by each Director. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Doug Bereuter, interviews George Tenet (CIA-Director), Robert Mueller (FBI-Director) and Michael Hayden (NSA-Director). The interviews open with Bereuter asking Mueller about whether the lawyers and agents understand what is a "foreign power" and FISA warrants. Homeland Security which will open in the United States soon, and whether the Intelligence Community will be recipients to their data. (10-17-2002)

Collin Peterson interviews Robert Mueller (FBI Director) regarding Zacarious Moussoui's file and the supervisors in FBI headquarters and the Minneapolis special agent in charge who wanted a warrant to look into Moussoui's laptop, for which he was denied by his superiors (10-17-2002).

Committee member, Nancy Pelosi, interviews Robert Mueller (FBI-Director) and George Tenet (Director-CIA). Pelosi opens her inquiry with who funded the hijackers while they were in the United States.Could the September 11th attacks have been avoided, she asks if that there could have been another "group" awaiting if any one of the hijackers were arrested or apprehended. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Jane Harman, interviews Michael Hayden (NSA-Director), George Tenet (CIA-Director) and Robert Mueller (FBI-Director). Harman's inquiries encompass many areas which deal with The Homeland Security Department and Intelligence at the present moment. Harman asks whether the 9/11 attacks could happen again and has the defense of the country in the Intelligence field has improved. Harman also asks about the new watch-list service is going to be run thru a classification center. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Richard Burr, interviews George Tenet (CIA-Director) and Robert Mueller (FBI-Director). Burr opens up his inquiry asking Tenet & Mueller, in hindsight, what would have changed in their investigations regarding terrorist operations and operatives in the two years prior to the September 11th attacks. Burr also states to Tenet regarding Tenet;s declaration "war on terror" that the Intelligence Community knew the terrorist threat was more dangerous than previously known. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Tim Roemer, interviews Michael Hayden (NSA-Director), George Tenet (CIA-Director) and Robert Mueller (FBI-Director). Roemer begins his questioning in which he states mistakes were made which could have prevented 9/11. He states that intelligence agencies didnt share pertinent data with each other, but is wiling to forgive their mistakes. Roemer also states that there needs to be an independent committee to continue investigation with the information the Joint Inquiry is still collecting. Roemer asks Hayden if they need linguists at the agency, due to the NSA stating they couldnt read the data since no one spoke Arabic. He also asks Mueller, whether the FBI has the necessary data bases which will help with information. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Fred Thompson, interviews George Tenet (CIA-Director) and Robert Mueller (FBI-Director). Thompson opens his inquiry with Tenet, asking him about his analysis regarding the terrorist threat here in the United States. What rights there are for the public to know what the Intelligence Community has at their disposal starting with the USS Cole Bombing in 2000. Thompson also asks Tenet if the Intelligence Community is getting close to defeating the terrorist threat. Thompson also questions FBI Director Mueller in regards to analysis orientation. (10-17-2002)

Committee member and co-chair, Porter Goss, interviews George Tenet (CIA-Director) and Michael Hayden (NSA-Director) about why no one listened to the Intelligence Communities after the 1998 U.S Embassy Bombings in East Africa. Goss asks Hayden about if Bin Laden had "come across the bridge" would there had been capabilities inside the United States available per FISA Act, (10-17-2002)

Committee member and co-chair, Bob Graham, interviews FBI Director Robert Mueller regarding the United States state of preparedness against international terrorism. (10-17-2002)

George Tenet (CIA-Director) gives an opening statement. Tenet gives a broad statement which encompasses the history of Al Qaeda and it's history of conflict toward American targets here and abroad. The threats collected from human intelligence (HUMINT) thru "risky" and innovative tactics Tenet claims saved thousands of lives. Tenet also delves into Osama Bin Laden's background which saw the CIA opening a covert investigation going back to 1993. Tent also gives a historical narrative of how the CIA began tracking since 1993 to the date of September 11th 2001. One of the more important surveillance was the Kuala Lumpur Meeting held by high level Al Qaeda operatives of January 2000. the CIA knew of Khalid al-Mihdhar and photographed his passports while staying at a hotel. Tenet also states that the reason for not watch-listing Khalid al-Mihdhar was not something of importance, yet the CIA knew that al-Mihdhar was a terrorist. (10-17-2002)

Robert Mueller (FBI-Director) gives an opening statement. Mueller starts off his statement by giving adulation to the many agents who investigated the Islamic militant terrorist groups over the last 15 years. The multifaceted network regarding the Islamist organizations internationally are to be given strict attention from the Intelligence Community. he also states that the FBI-CIA communities have stopped many terrorist plots inside the United States. (10-17-2002)

Michael Hayden (NSA-Director) gives an opening statement. Hayden opens up with the personal accountability in how Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is obtained during and after the 9/11 attacks. Hayden also states that Al Qaeda attacked without warning and is puzzled as to why there was so little information about these attacks. Also Hayden states that they knew about certain hijackers names in the years prior to 9/11, including Nawaf al-Hazmi, Salim al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, and had data which laid out a "significant" attack but Hayden does explain that the NSA had no idea what this meant. NSA had more than 30 warnings and Hayden claims they reported these to the State Department, but the information was too vague he goes on to explain. Another point of contention Hayden makes clear is that the meta-data they collected before the 9/11 attacks was too much due to lack of manpower at the NSA. Some of that information could very well have prevented the attacks but Hayden doesn't state this, that information comes out later from former NSA analysts, William Binney and Thomas Drake. (10-17-2002)

Committee member, Michael Castle, interviews Louis Freeh (Former FBI Director). Castle opens up with a short statement about a "disconnect" between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Castle then asks Freeh about the structural problems within the FBI and what needs to be changed. (10-9-2002)

Committee member, Richard Shelby, interviews Louis Freeh (Former FBI Director). Shleby opens up his inquiry regarding Freeh's tenure as FBI Director whether the FBI did it's best in combating terrorism inside the United States. Also that the FBI-CIA cooperation was troubling and the lack of sharing information was imperative. The Phoenix memo was never shard with CIA, TSA or aviation officials. The lack of sharing from the Intelligence Community to State and Aviation agencies was absent which allowed terrorism to take place on September 11th. (10-9-2002)

Committee member, Diane Feinstein, interviews Louis Freeh (Former FBI Director) and Mary Jo White (Former US Attorney in NY). One of the inquiries by Feinstein was in regards to FISA warrants and what it entails and how to break down the "walls" of FISA warrants. Also how Intelligence regarding the religious extremist sector has made it difficult in certain domestic agencies, like the FBI, and how does information being collected by agencies like the FBI are subject to the law. She also brings up an Inspector General Report of how the FBI were unprepared in regards to a terrorist attack within the United States, (10-9-2002)

Warren Rudman (U.S Commission National Security) gives an opening statement in which he covers whether the United States was not prepared with terrorist attacks within the homeland what measures need to be taken to prevent another attack. He also details what the Intelligence Community needs to prevent future terrorists attacks. (10-9-2002)

Louis Freeh (Former Director FBI) gives an opening statement which starts off with the bravery of certain agents of the FBI, one in which was former counter-terrorism's chief John O'Neill. The USS Cole Bombing investigation and how the FBI from the NYC Field office became involved. The importance of strategic and tactical intelligence, which Freeh adds no matter how much would have prevented the attacks of September 11th 2001. The coordination between the FBI and CIA was "exemplary" according to Freeh, and will fall short against the "war on terrorism" because total war depends on the unrelenting efforts of current foreign policy decisions and the Intelligence Community's ability to examine with proper funding. In the mid 90's Freeh enhanced the counter-terrorism unit was approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and consolidated its program assets with the support of a greater analytical engine. (10-9-2002)

Committee member, Dianne Feinstein, interviews William Odom (Former National Security Counsel) and Frederick Hitz (Former CIA inspector general). The interview is in regards to a letter written by George Tenet (CIA Director) which encompasses lack of funding in which Odom & Hitz are asked to give opinions about. (10-3-2002)

Committee member, Jay Rockefeller, interviews Lee Hamilton, William Odom (Former National Security Council) and William Webster (Former Director FBI & CIA). The interview starts with Hamilton questioned about oversight in the House Select Committee regarding reform in the Intelligence Community. Rockefeller also inquiries about the lack of agents in counter-terrorism, and that the future holds many dangerous propositions for the citizenry of the United States. (10-3-2002)

Committee member, Gary Condit, interviews Lee Hamilton, William Odom (Former National Security Adviser Bush Sr.), William Webster (Former FBI & CIA Director) and Frederick Hitz (CIA Inspector General). Condit interviews many members of the Intelligence community while his main point of inquiry is regarding to Intelligence reform within each agency, (10-3-2002)

Committee member, Pat Roberts, interviews Lee Hamilton and William Odom (Former National Security Council). Roberts begins his inquiry to Homeland Security and its need for an analytical center. Roberts also inquires about about the number of subcommittees and investigative committees and how would the Joint Inquiry could be a "permanent" committee. (10-3-2002)

Committee member, Richard Shelby, interviews William Odom (Former National Security Council), Lee Hamilton and Frederick Hitz (Project On Intelligence Director). Shelby opens up his inquiry regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its provisions regarding information analysis. How would the (DHS) handle pertinent information here and abroad. (10-3-2002)

William Webster (Former CIA & FBI Director) gives an opening statement in which he covers his biographical experience into counter-terrorism and how it evolved during his long tenures in the intelligence community. (10-3-2002)