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Great Seal of the United States National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States



Twelfth public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) held its twelfth and final public hearing June 16-17, 2004, in Washington, DC. The two-day hearing focused on two distinct topics: the 9-11 Plot and the federal government’s immediate response to the attacks on September 11, 2001.

On June 16 at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center, the Commission heard from several of the federal government’s top law enforcement and intelligence experts on al Qaeda and the 9-11 plot. The hearing resumed on June 17, with the top military and civilian aviation officials testifying about their agencies’ responses to the 9-11 attacks. In addition to witness testimony, three staff statements were presented during the course of the proceedings.

“At this, the Commission’s final public hearing, we will attempt to close the circle,” said Commission Chair Thomas H. Kean. “We will look back to the roots and growth of al Qaeda, its previous attacks on the United States, its financing and international support, and how it plotted such detailed and intricate attacks on our soil. The Commission will then turn again to the day of September 11, 2001, to examine how the federal government learned of and responded to the attacks.”

“The Commission has to ask some important questions about that day,” said Commission Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton. “What was federal government protocol for responding to attacks of the kind we experienced on 9-11? How well did our government respond that day? How is the federal government now prepared to respond, in the event of future attacks?”

Archived Video and Transcripts

HEARING AGENDA

"The 9/11 Plot"

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

9:00 - 9:30 AM
*Note: This is a change.

STAFF STATEMENT NO. 15
Overview of the Enemy

9:30 - 11:00 AM

PANEL: AL QAEDA

Ms. Mary Deborah Doran
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Mr. Patrick J. Fitzgerald
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

CIA Official

11:00 - 12:00 PM

STAFF STATEMENT NO. 16
Outline of the 9/11 Plot

12:00 - 1:00 PM

BREAK

1:00 - 3:00 PM

PANEL: OUTLINE OF THE 9/11 PLOT

Ms. Jacqueline Maguire
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Mr. James N. Fitzgerald
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Mr. Adam B. Drucker
Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

CIA Official

 

"National Crisis Management"

Thursday, June 17, 2004

8:00 - 9:15 AM

STAFF STATEMENT NO. 17
Improvising a Homeland Defense

9:15 - 11:30 AM

PANEL: MILITARY RESPONSE ON 9/11

General Richard Myers, USAF
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Admiral (select) Charles Joseph Leidig, USN
Commandant of Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy

General Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF
Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command

Major General Larry Arnold, USAF (Ret.)
Former Commander, Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR)

11:30 - 1:00 PM

PANEL: FAA RESPONSE ON 9/11

Mr. Monte Belger
Former Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. Jeff Griffith
Former Deputy Director, Air Traffic Control, Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. John White
Former Facility Manager, Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center, Federal Aviation Administration

Mr. Benedict Sliney
Operations Manager, New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, Federal Aviation Administration

1:00 PM

Hearing Concludes.



Current News


The Commission has released its final report. [more]

The Chair and Vice Chair have released a statement regarding the Commission's closing. [more]

The Commission closed August 21, 2004. [more]

Commission Members


Thomas H. Kean
Chair


Lee H. Hamilton
Vice Chair


Richard Ben-Veniste
Fred F. Fielding
Jamie S. Gorelick
Slade Gorton
Bob Kerrey
John F. Lehman
Timothy J. Roemer
James R. Thompson

Commission Staff


Philip D. Zelikow
Executive Director


Chris Kojm
Deputy Executive Director


Daniel Marcus
General Counsel