Sept. 11 commission interviews Condi Rice
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The commission reviewing the September 11 attacks is hearing from President Bush's national security adviser as it tries to determine what the government could have done to prevent the terrorist strikes.
Condoleezza Rice was to meet with the commission Saturday at the White House. Senior administration officials said before the session that Rice would be open and cooperative as she can and would work with the commission as long as needed. Rice is the top administration official to go before the commission.
Commissioners have said they want to question Rice about what the government knew about potential terrorist attacks against the United States before September 11, 2001.
In May 2002, Rice said there was no indication terrorists were considering suicide hijackings. But reports later indicated that intelligence officials had considered the possibility of such strikes as recently as one month before the attacks.
The commission is still trying to get Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to testify, as well as former President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.
Commissioners also want Rice and Cabinet members to testify in a public hearing, but they have not yet agreed.
"My feeling is that she should be testifying publicly and under oath," said Mary Fetchet of New Canaan, Connecticut, a member of the commission's Family Steering Committee. Her son, Brad, died in the attacks.
"The American public should hear her explain how she's had conflicting statements with regard to what she knew and didn't know," Fetchet said.
The September 11 panel -- known formally as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States -- was established by Congress to study the nation's preparedness before the attacks and its response afterward, and to make recommendations for guarding against similar disasters.
Commission members have complained that their work repeatedly has been delayed because of disputes with the administration over access to documents and witnesses.
Do cabinet members have some kind of immunity from testifying in a public court?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The commission reviewing the September 11 attacks is hearing from President Bush's national security adviser as it tries to determine what the government could have done to prevent the terrorist strikes.
Condoleezza Rice was to meet with the commission Saturday at the White House. Senior administration officials said before the session that Rice would be open and cooperative as she can and would work with the commission as long as needed. Rice is the top administration official to go before the commission.
Commissioners have said they want to question Rice about what the government knew about potential terrorist attacks against the United States before September 11, 2001.
In May 2002, Rice said there was no indication terrorists were considering suicide hijackings. But reports later indicated that intelligence officials had considered the possibility of such strikes as recently as one month before the attacks.
The commission is still trying to get Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to testify, as well as former President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.
Commissioners also want Rice and Cabinet members to testify in a public hearing, but they have not yet agreed.
"My feeling is that she should be testifying publicly and under oath," said Mary Fetchet of New Canaan, Connecticut, a member of the commission's Family Steering Committee. Her son, Brad, died in the attacks.
"The American public should hear her explain how she's had conflicting statements with regard to what she knew and didn't know," Fetchet said.
The September 11 panel -- known formally as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States -- was established by Congress to study the nation's preparedness before the attacks and its response afterward, and to make recommendations for guarding against similar disasters.
Commission members have complained that their work repeatedly has been delayed because of disputes with the administration over access to documents and witnesses.
Do cabinet members have some kind of immunity from testifying in a public court?
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