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.