The Commission's seal

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up in late 2002 "to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the" September 11, 2001 attacks including preparedness for and the immediate response to the attacks. The commission was also mandated to provide recommendations designed to guard against future attacks. Some have compared its important, and potentially controversial, role to that of the Warren Commission of 1963-1964. Logo of the 9-11 Commission. ... Logo of the 9-11 Commission. ... The attack on the North Tower, which was seen on live television by many people across the world. ... September 11, 2001 attacks timeline Background History 1972: One World Trade Center completed. ... At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States strongest allies in west Asia are Turkey (a member of NATO), Israel and Egypt. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The September 11, 2001 attacks, often referred to simply as 9/11 (spoken as Nine Eleven), in addition to being traumatic for those directly involved, caused extreme tension for the United States as a nation and many others around the world. ... All times, except where otherwise noted, in New York Time (EDT). ... All times, except where otherwise noted, in New York Time (EDT). ... This article talks about the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. ... Any tributes to the individuals hurt or injured in this tragedy are welcome and encouraged at our memorial site // New York City According to the 9/11 Commisson, approximately 16,400 to 18,800 civilians were in the World Trade Center complex at the time of the attacks. ... Any tributes to the individuals lost in this tragedy are welcome and encouraged at our memorial site Australia: 10 Belarus: 1 [1] Belgium: 1 Bermuda: 1 Brazil: 3 Canada: 24 Chile: 2 China: 4 Côte dIvoire: 1 Colombia: 17 Democratic Republic of the Congo: 2 Dominican Republic: 1... American Airlines Flight 11 was an American Airlines flight aboard a Boeing 767-223ER, N334AA aircraft. ... United Airlines Flight 175 was a morning flight that regularly flew from Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, to LAX in Los Angeles, California (Boston-Los Angeles route). ... Security Camera image of the moment that American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon American Airlines Flight 77 was a morning flight that routinely flew from Washington Dulles International Airport in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., to LAX in Los Angeles, California (IAD-LAX). ... For Flight 93, the 2006 film, see Flight 93 (film) United Airlines Flight 93 was a flight that regularly flew from Newark International Airport (now known as Newark Liberty International Airport) in Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco International Airport. ... The World Trade Center in New York City (sometimes informally referred to as the WTC) was a complex of seven buildings designed by Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki and leased by Larry Silverstein from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey around a central plaza, near the south... A pre-9/11 view of The Pentagon, looking east with the Potomac River and Washington Monument in the distance. ... Photo of George W. Bush and Laura Bush visiting Shanksville on September 11, 2002 Shanksville is a borough located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. ... The following worldwide effects arose from the September 11, 2001 attacks: All United Kingdom military bases increased their level of security awareness. ... It is usually claimed that the September 11, 2001 attacks had immediate and far-ranging economic effects. ... Soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. government began detaining people who fit the profile of the suspected hijackers: mostly male, Arabic or Muslim non-citizens. ... Box-cutter knives were apparently used in the September 11, 2001 attacks, though such knives are not usually considered weapons. ... Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, several institutions responded with closures, cancellations, and postponements. ... The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 had an important impact on the audiovisual entertainment business, not just in terms of television coverage. ... // Military response The United States government has announced its intentions to engage in a protracted war against terrorists and states which aid terrorists in response to the attacks. ... The area surrounding the World Trade Center became the site of the greatest number of casualties and missing, and physical destruction. ... Charities and relief agencies raised over $657 million in the three weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the vast bulk going to immediate survivors and victims families. ... The first memorials to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks began to take shape online, as hundreds of webmasters posted their own thoughts, links to the Red Cross, and other rescue agencies, photos and eyewitness accounts. ... Responsibility for the September 11, 2001 attacks has been found to lie with Osama bin Laden and his organization al-Qaeda. ... Many individuals were directly responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks. ... Communications problems and successes played an important role in the September 11, 2001 attacks and their aftermath. ... A New York City firefighter looks up at the remains of the World Trade Center, two days after its collapse The collapse of the World Trade Center was caused by the September 11, 2001 attacks that sent one hijacked airliner into each of the main towers of the World Trade... Various terms and catchphrases Nine-eleven (or 9/11 in the US date notation for September 11th) Lets roll—the last known words of Todd Beamer. ... CNN broadcast of September 11 destruction when the second plane struck the south tower of the WTC. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft on the morning of September 11, 2001. ... There were isolated cases of commercial opportunism following the September 11, 2001 attacks and subsequent 2001 anthrax attacks. ... The Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities before and after the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 is the official name of the inquiry conducted by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence into the activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community in... The attack on the North Tower, which was seen on live television by many people across the world. ... Warren Commission report cover page The Presidents Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as The Warren Commission, was established on November 29, 1963 by Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of the U.S. President John F. Kennedy. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ...

Chaired by former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean, the Commission was comprised of five Democrats and five Republicans. Official language(s) None defined, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 47th 22,608 km² 110 km 240 km 14. ... Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ...

The Commission's final report was a very lengthy book, based on extensive interviews and testimony, but its primary conclusion was that the failures of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation permitted the terrorist attacks to occur and that had these agencies acted more wisely and more aggressively, the attacks could potentially have been prevented. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Official FBI Seal The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force and intelligence agency which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ...

After the publication of its final report, the Commission closed on August 21, 2004. August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Members

The members of the Commission were:

• Thomas Kean (Chairman) - Republican, former Governor of New Jersey
• Lee H. Hamilton (Vice Chairman) - Democrat, former U.S. Representative from the 9th District of Indiana
• Richard Ben-Veniste - Democrat, attorney, former chief of the Watergate Task Force of the Watergate Special Prosecutor's Office
• Fred F. Fielding - Republican, attorney and former White House Counsel
• Jamie Gorelick - Democrat, former Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration
• Slade Gorton - Republican, former U.S. Senator from Washington
• Bob Kerrey - Democrat, President of the New School University and former U.S. Senator from Nebraska
• John F. Lehman - Republican, former Secretary of the Navy
• Timothy J. Roemer - Democrat, former U.S. Representative from the 3rd District of Indiana
• James R. Thompson - Republican, former Governor of Illinois

The Commission's Executive Director was Philip D. Zelikow, and the Deputy Executive Director was Christopher Kojm. Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The Governor of New Jersey is the chief executive of the U.S. state of New Jersey. ... Lee Herbert Hamilton (1931 - ) was born in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Fla. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The chamber of the United States House of Representatives is located in the south wing of the Capitol building, in Washington, D.C.. The Media:United States House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Congress of the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 38th 94,321 km² 225 km 435 km 1. ... Richard Ben-Veniste (born January 3, 1943), a key member of the 9-11 Commission, is known for his pointed questions and criticisms of members of both the Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The Watergate building. ... Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is senior partner at Wiley, Rein, & Fielding, a Washington, D.C. law firm. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States. ... Jamie S. Gorelick (born May 6, 1950) was the number two official in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Clinton administration. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... Order: 42nd President Term of Office: January 20, 1993–January 20, 2001 Preceded by: George H. W. Bush Succeeded by: George W. Bush Date of birth: August 19, 1946 Place of birth: Hope, Arkansas Date of death: Place of death: First Lady: Hillary Rodham Clinton Political party: Democratic Vice President... Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Official language(s) None Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 18th 184,824 km² 385 km 580 km 6. ... Senator Bob Kerrey Joseph Robert Kerrey (born August 27, 1943) was Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987, and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1989–2001) and a Democrat. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The New School is an institution of higher learning in New York City. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 16th 200,520 km² 340 km 690 km 0. ... John F. Lehman John F. Lehman, Jr. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy. ... Timothy John Roemer (born October 30, 1956 in South Bend, Indiana) is a former U.S. Congressman from Indiana who served from 1991 to 2003. ... The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 38th 94,321 km² 225 km 435 km 1. ... James Robert Thompson (born May 8, 1936), also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the longest-serving Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... This is a list of Governors of Illinois. ... Philip D. Zelikow is best known as the executive director of the 9/11 Commission. ...

Past and present government officials who were called to testify include:

• Colin Powell - Former United States Secretary of State
• Richard Armitage - Deputy Secretary of State
• Madeleine Albright - Former Secretary of State
• Donald H. Rumsfeld - United States Secretary of Defense
• Paul Wolfowitz - Deputy Secretary of Defense
• William Cohen - former Secretary of Defense
• Condoleezza Rice - National Security Advisor to the President
• Sandy Berger - former National Security Advisor
• Richard A. Clarke - former Counter-terrorism officer in the George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush Administrations

President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, former President Bill Clinton, and former Vice President Al Gore all gave private testimony. President Bush and Vice President Cheney insisted on testifying together, while Clinton and Gore met with the panel separately. Colin Luther Powell, KCB, (born April 5, 1937) was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving from January 20, 2001 to January 23, 2005 under President George W. Bush. ... Richard Lee Armitage (born April 26, 1945) was, from 2001 to 2005, the 13th United States Deputy Secretary of State, the second-in-command at the State Department. ... Madeleine Korbel Albright (born May 15, 1937 in Prague) served as the 64th United States Secretary of State. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a US politician currently serving as the 21st United States Secretary of Defense, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... Seal of the United States Department of Defense The United States Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense, concerned with the armed services and The Secretary is appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate, and is a member of the Cabinet. ... Paul Dundes Wolfowitz (born December 22, 1943) is an American academic and political figure. ... William Cohen William Sebastian Cohen (born August 28, 1940) is a Republican politician from Maine who served as a United States Secretary of Defense under President Clinton. ... Dr. Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th and current United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush. ... The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues. ... Sandy Berger Samuel R. Sandy Berger (born October 28, 1945) served as United States National Security Advisor to President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001. ... Richard A. Clarke (born 1951) provided national security advice to four U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, consulting on issues of intelligence and terrorism, from 1973 to 2003. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... George Herbert Walker Bush, GCB, (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States (1989–1993). ... Richard Bruce Cheney (born January 30, 1941), widely known as Dick Cheney, is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States under President George W. Bush. ... Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. ...

Report

The cover of the final 9/11 report, which can be purchased in bookstores across the United States and around the world

Main article: 9/11 Commission Report

The commission issued its final report on July 22, 2004. After releasing the report, Commission Chair Thomas Kean declared that both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had been "not well served" by the FBI and CIA [1]. The commission interviewed over 1,200 people in 10 countries and reviewed over two and a half million pages of documents, including some closely-guarded classified national security documents. Before it was released by the commission, the final public report was screened for any potentially classified information and edited as necessary. Source: http://www. ... Source: http://www. ... The cover of the final 9/11 report, which can be purchased in bookstores across the United States and around the world The 9/11 Commission Report, formally titled The Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, is the official report on the events... 22 July is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. ... The presidential seal was first used by president Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii The President of the United States (often abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... Official FBI Seal The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force and intelligence agency which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Classified information is secret information to which access is restricted by law or corporate rules to a particular hierarchical class of people. ...

Additionally, the commission has released several supplemental reports on the terrorists' financing, travel, and other matters.

Criticisms

Main article: Criticisms of the 9/11 Commission Report

Because the investigation was controversial and politically sensitive, many participants have been criticised during the process. Most of the complaints fit into the following categories. Criticisms of the 9/11 Commission Report have come from a variety of sources. ... Look up Controversy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A controversy is a contentious dispute, a disagreement in opinions over which parties are actively arguing. ...

Claims of bias within the commission

Some members of victims' families have claimed that the commission has numerous conflicts of interest. 9/11 CitizensWatch, in particular, called for the resignation of Philip D. Zelikow, the executive staff director. Zelikow is a Bush-appointee who served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. He spent three years on the President George H. W. Bush's National Security Council. Zelikow worked closely with Bush NSC advisor Condoleezza Rice and even co-wrote a book with her. Some worry that Zelikow may be using his power to deflect blame from himself and to protect Rice. Philip D. Zelikow is best known as the executive director of the 9/11 Commission. ... George Herbert Walker Bush, GCB, (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States (1989–1993). ... The National Security Council (NSC) of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. ... Dr. Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th and current United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush. ...

In addition, many members had ties which could be viewed as conflicts of interest.

Members of the 9/11 commission. Top row: Ben-Veniste, Lehman, Roemer, Thompson, Kerrey, Gorton. Bottom row: Fielding, Hamilton, Kean, Gorelick.

• Thomas Kean has ties to the National Endowment for Democracy, a long-time conduit of CIA covert operations abroad. Kean also has a history of investments that link him to Saudi investors who have financially supported both George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden in the past. One example is his former business connections to Khalid bin Mahfouz, an alleged terrorist financier. He was also at one point or still is on the board of Pepsi Bottling, Amerada Hess, UnitedHealth Group, CIT Group and Aramark.
• Fred F. Fielding has done legal work for two of Bush's leading "Pioneer" fund-raisers. Fielding also works for a law firm lobbying for Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.
• Slade Gorton has close ties to Boeing, which built all the planes destroyed on 9/11, and his law firm represents several major airlines, including Delta Air Lines.
• James Thompson is the head of a law firm that lobbies for American Airlines, and he has previously represented United Airlines.
• Richard Ben-Veniste has represented Democratic National Chairman Terry McAuliffe, and continues to represent Boeing and United Airlines.
• Max Cleland, former US senator, has received $300,000 from the airline industry. He has since resigned from the commission.
• Lee Hamilton sits on many advisory boards, including those to the CIA, the president's Homeland Security Advisory Council, and the US Army.
• Tim Roemer represents Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
• Jamie Gorelick's firm has agreed to represent Prince Mohammed al Faisal in the suit by the 9/11 families. The families contend that al Faisal has legal responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. According to Attorney General John Ashcroft in his testimony before the commission, Gorelick wrote a procedural memo that would have prevented communication between various government agencies (the wall memo[2]). She is on the board of United Technologies.

The commission's defenders claim that these do not represent significant conflicts of interest, and that the commission can be expected to maintain its neutrality. Download high resolution version (953x671, 300 KB)Work of US government source: http://www. ... Download high resolution version (953x671, 300 KB)Work of US government source: http://www. ... Richard Ben-Veniste (born January 3, 1943), a key member of the 9-11 Commission, is known for his pointed questions and criticisms of members of both the Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations. ... John F. Lehman John F. Lehman, Jr. ... Timothy John Roemer (born October 30, 1956 in South Bend, Indiana) is a former U.S. Congressman from Indiana who served from 1991 to 2003. ... James Robert Thompson (born May 8, 1936), also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the longest-serving Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Senator Bob Kerrey Joseph Robert Kerrey (born August 27, 1943) was Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987, and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1989–2001) and a Democrat. ... Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. ... Fred Fisher Fielding (born March 21, 1939) is senior partner at Wiley, Rein, & Fielding, a Washington, D.C. law firm. ... Lee Herbert Hamilton (1931 - ) was born in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Fla. ... Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean (born April 21, 1935 in New York City) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. ... Jamie S. Gorelick (born May 6, 1950) was the number two official in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Clinton administration. ... The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is non-profit organization which claims to help train people in democracy and manages money grants to that effect, which was founded in 1983. ... Osama bin Laden in a photo from the 1990s Usāmah bin Muhammad bin `Awad bin Lādin (born March 10, 1957; Arabic: ), commonly known as Osama bin Laden, or Usama bin Laden, (Arabic: ), is an Islamic fundamentalist and the founder of the militant organization al-Qaeda. ... Khalid bin Mahfouz (Arabic: خالد بن محفوظ) is a wealthy Saudi Arabian businessman who is suspected of having links to terrorism. ... Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. ... The Amerada Hess Corporation (NYSE: AHC) is an integrated oil company based in New York City. ... UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group) is a managed health care company. ... From CITs web site: CIT Group Incorporated is a leading commercial and consumer finance company, providing clients with financing and leasing products and advisory services. ... ARAMARK Corporation NYSE: RMK is a multinational corporation involved in the business of providing institutional services, including food and uniform service, to clients including hospitals, schools, businesses, and sports facilities. ... Spirit Airlines (IATA: NK, ICAO: NKS, and Callsign: Sprit Wings) is a US low-cost airline operating scheduled and charter service with headquarters in Miramar, Florida. ... United Airlines, the major subsidiary of UAL Corporation, is a major airline of the United States. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)(TYO: 7661 ) is the worlds leading aircraft and aerospace manufacturer, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with its largest production facilities in Everett, Washington, about 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington. ... Delta Boeing 757-232 at LAX in August 2003. ... AA 777-200ER landing at London Heathrow Airport American Airlines and American Eagle aircraft at San Juan Note: For the arenas named after this company, see American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas), or American Airlines Arena (Miami, Florida). ... Terry McAuliffe opening the 2004 Democratic National Convention Terrence Richard Terry McAuliffe (born 1957) is an American political leader from the Democratic Party; he served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from February 2001 to February 2005. ... Joseph Maxwell Cleland (born August 24, 1942) is an American politician of Georgia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Homeland Security Advisory Council is part of the Executive Office of the President. ... US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Timothy J. Roemer is a Democratic politician in the United States. ... Lockheed/BAE/Northrop F-35 Lockheed Trident missile C-130 Hercules; in production since the 1950s, now as the C-130J Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is an aerospace manufacturer formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... Jamie S. Gorelick (born May 6, 1950) was the number two official in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Clinton administration. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... John David Ashcroft (born May 9, 1942) was the 79th Attorney General of the United States. ... United Technologies Corporation (UTC) (NYSE: UTX) is a major multinational corporation based in Hartford, Connecticut. ...

Claims of lack of cooperation from the White House

In April 2002, Bush said that the investigation into 9/11 should be confined to Congress because it deals with sensitive information that could reveal sources and methods of intelligence. [3]. But by September, the White House came under intense fire concerning the commission from many victims' families [4]. President Bush promptly responded, only a few days later, that he now supported the creation of an independent 9/11 commission. [5] The southern side of the White House The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America. ...

However, The White House insisted that they be able to appoint the commission's chair, leading some to question the commission's independence. The initial person appointed to head the commission, Henry Kissinger, has been accused by many of having been involved in past government coverups in South America (specifically, the overthrow of the Allende government in Chile). Henry Kissinger circa 1970s. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Dr. Salvador Isabelino Allende Gossens (June 26, 1908 – September 11, 1973) was a Chilean politician whose service in government spanned nearly 40 years, as a senator, deputy, and cabinet minister. ...

Even after Kissinger resigned, the White House was often cited as having attempted to block the release of information to the commission [6] and for refusing to give interviews without tight conditions attached (leading to threats to subpoena [7]). They have further been accused of attempting to derail the commission by giving it one of the smallest independent commission funding levels in recent history ($3 million [8]), and by giving the commission a very short deadline. The White House insists that they have given the commission "unprecedented cooperation".

While President Bush and Vice President Cheney did ultimately agree to testify, they did so only under several conditions:

• They would be allowed to testify jointly;
• They would not be required to take an oath before testifying;
• The testimony would not be recorded electronically or transcribed, and that the only record would be notes taken by one of the commission staffers;
• These notes would not be made public.

The commission agreed to these conditions, and the President and Vice President gave their testimony on April 29. April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ...

Investigation Lacked Adequate Funds

". . .Whereas the investigation of the Challenger disaster received $50 million, Bush promised only $3 million for the investigation of the much more deadly and complex disaster of 9/11. He then initially resisted when the commission asked for an additional $8 million."

from David Ray Griffin's The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions. p.284

Claims the commission was used for partisan purposes

Some conservatives believe that the Democratic Party used the commission for partisan advantage during the 2004 election campaign. Rather than focusing equally on all factors, critics predicted that Congressional Democrats would ignore any policy errors made by Bill Clinton while emphasizing the mistakes of President Bush.[9] William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ...

In contrast many opponents of the Bush administration believe that the commission was set up to perform a superficial examination of the background of the attacks, thereby meeting public demands for an investigation while still preventing any substantive examination. Also they argue that Republicans on the commission and in Congress ignored mistakes of the Bush admistration while exaggerating those made by former President Clinton.

Four books that critique the official Commission are "Crossing the Rubicon" by Michael Ruppert, [10] "The Terror Timeline: Year by Year, Day by Day, Minute by Minute" by Paul Thompson, [11] "The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions, A Critique of the Kean-Zelikow Report" by David Ray Griffin, [12] and "Cover Up: What the Government is Still Hiding About the War on Terror" by Peter Lance. [13] All describe severe conflicts of interest that the Commissioners had and point out problems in the official narrative that suggest the attacks were allowed to happen in order to achieve long-sought policy changes (the Iraq war and "Homeland Security").

Claims the commission ignored information regarding Able Danger

The reputation and credibility of the commission has recently been damaged by evidence of a lack of thoroughness or possibly a coverup. In August 2005, Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer claimed he had informed 9/11 Commission Executive Director Dr. Philip D. Zelikow about a highly classified data-mining project called Able Danger that had identified two of the three terrorist cells responsible for 9/11. Shaffer said Dr. Zelikow was initially very interested and gave Shaffer his card to contact him again. However, Shaffer claims when he contacted Dr. Zelikow, he was no longer interested in information about Able Danger. [14] The commission later issued a response saying they found Shaffer "not sufficiently reliable" and the information was "lacking historical significance" and did not warrant further investigation. [15] Subsequently, four additional "credible witnesses" have come forward to support Shaffer's account of Able Danger.[16] Former Senator Slade Gorton, R-Wash., a member of the Commission, said, "Bluntly, it just didn't happen and that's the conclusion of all 10 of us." A search for documents on Able Danger has not been very productive leading Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) to speculate that a coverup may have occurred. [17] The Pentagon investigated the matter and has not been able to find any documentary evidence confirming the allegations.[18] Pentagon spokesman Army Maj. Paul Swiergosz said, "We've interviewed 80 people involved with Able Danger, combed through hundreds of thousands of documents and millions of e-mails and have still found no documentation of Mohamed Atta." But Weldon claims that the Pentagon ordered the destruction of a large volume of documents related to Able Danger.[19] Anthony Joshua Shaffer, (May 15, 1926 – November 6, 2001), was a English dramatist. ... Philip D. Zelikow is best known as the executive director of the 9/11 Commission. ... Able Danger was a highly classified United States Special Operations Command military intelligence program under the command of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). ... Slade Gorton Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. ... Curt Weldon (born July 22, 1947) is an American politician. ...

See also

• War games in progress on September 11, 2001
• Criticisms of the 9/11 Commission Report
• Researchers questioning the official account of 9/11
• 9/11 Truth Movement
• 9/11 conspiracy theories

During the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US was holding multiple annual and one-time war games with at least one resembling the actual attacks. ... Criticisms of the 9/11 Commission Report have come from a variety of sources. ... Some researchers questioning the official account of 9/11 have developed a number of alternatives to the common account after investigating many aspects of the attacks. ... The 9/11 Truth Movement is a collection of groups and individuals who disagree to varying degrees with the mainstream media account of what occurred during the September 11, 2001 attacks, believe that the truth is not yet known by the general public, and state that they wish to bring... CNN broadcast of September 11 destruction when the second plane struck the south tower of the WTC. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft on the morning of September 11, 2001. ...

External links

• Official website
• The Complete 9/11 Commission Report (7 MB PDF)
• The full text of the 9/11 Commission Report in a searchable on-line format or downloadable eBook
• Search the 9/11 Commission Report indexed by individual paragraphs
• 9/11 Public Discourse Project (Set up by Commission members following completion of report)
• Video excerpts from the final staff report hearing
• Map showing connections between Kean, Gorelick and Lehman to other major corporations(click a couple of times, you'll get there)

• Critical Essays and Books
  • The Five Unanswered Questions About 9/11
  • 9/11 Commission Report ? An exercise in escapism
  • The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions, by David Ray Griffin
  • Whitewash as Public Service: How The 9/11 Commission Report defrauds the nation
  • 9/11 Commission tells truth, but not whole truth
  • The Final Fraud