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CNN Live Today
Lawmakers Look at Phoenix Memo, Moussaoui Case
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tough questions on Capitol Hill today. House and Senate lawmakers are looking into what clues the intelligence community may have missed leading up to the attacks of September 11.
CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us again from Capitol Hill -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Well, the focus of today's testimony was on two separate incidents. One involved the so-called Phoenix memo, a memo written by Special Agent Kenneth Williams in the Phoenix FBI office, suggesting that Osama bin Laden may have been sending individuals to U.S. flight schools with the goal of committing terrorist acts. And of course, the arrest and subsequent investigation into Zacarias Moussaoui.
Now, much of what was discussed today we have heard before, but this was laid out in very stark detail. Information that was available pre-9/11, what was and was not done with that information. But more importantly, how the information was isolated from other information that was available within the intelligence community, and never put in any context.
The staff director, Eleanor Hill, underscored that problem in a statement she made earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELEANOR HILL, STAFF DIRECTOR, JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: No one will ever know whether a greater focus on the connection between these events would have led to the unraveling of the September 11 plot. But clearly, it might have drawn greater attention to the possibility of a terrorist attack within the United States, generated a heightened state of alert regarding such attacks, and prompted more aggressive investigation and intelligence gathering regarding the information that our government did possess prior to September 11.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: One new fact did emerge today. One of the individuals mentioned in the Phoenix memo, it has been found out subsequent, was an associate of Hani Hanjour. If you remember Hani Hanjour is believed to be the pilot that flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon. The suggestion being if the FBI had aggressively pursued leads, it may have led them to Hani Hanjour.
Also in that testimony was information regarding Moussaoui and the frustrations in dealing with that case as well.
Back to you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tough questions on Capitol Hill today. House and Senate lawmakers are looking into what clues the intelligence community may have missed leading up to the attacks of September 11.
CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us again from Capitol Hill -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Well, the focus of today's testimony was on two separate incidents. One involved the so-called Phoenix memo, a memo written by Special Agent Kenneth Williams in the Phoenix FBI office, suggesting that Osama bin Laden may have been sending individuals to U.S. flight schools with the goal of committing terrorist acts. And of course, the arrest and subsequent investigation into Zacarias Moussaoui.
Now, much of what was discussed today we have heard before, but this was laid out in very stark detail. Information that was available pre-9/11, what was and was not done with that information. But more importantly, how the information was isolated from other information that was available within the intelligence community, and never put in any context.
The staff director, Eleanor Hill, underscored that problem in a statement she made earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELEANOR HILL, STAFF DIRECTOR, JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: No one will ever know whether a greater focus on the connection between these events would have led to the unraveling of the September 11 plot. But clearly, it might have drawn greater attention to the possibility of a terrorist attack within the United States, generated a heightened state of alert regarding such attacks, and prompted more aggressive investigation and intelligence gathering regarding the information that our government did possess prior to September 11.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: One new fact did emerge today. One of the individuals mentioned in the Phoenix memo, it has been found out subsequent, was an associate of Hani Hanjour. If you remember Hani Hanjour is believed to be the pilot that flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon. The suggestion being if the FBI had aggressively pursued leads, it may have led them to Hani Hanjour.
Also in that testimony was information regarding Moussaoui and the frustrations in dealing with that case as well.
Back to you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kelli Arena, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
