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CNN Live At Daybreak
Commission Investigating 09/11 Attacks Says Probe Slow Going
Aired July 09, 2003 - 05:35 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, turning now to the war on terror, the independent commission investigating the September 11 terror attacks says so far their probe has been slow going. And they blame the government, from the White House on down.
CNN's Bob Franken explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was probably inevitable that the passionate commitment to finding out what went wrong before September 11 no matter what would cool. The independent commission investigating the attacks must complete its work by next May. But for the Republican chairman and Democratic vice chairman, the first six months have often been exasperating.
THOMAS KEAN, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON 9/11: And time is slipping by. Every day lost complicates our work.
FRANKEN: The complaint? Delays by the White House, Justice Department, FBI, Defense Department, national security agencies throughout the government in providing highly classified intelligence documents. This is the commission originally opposed by the president, until political reality set in.
Then...
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September the 11th.
KEAN: We believe the president when he says he's committed to assisting the commission.
FRANKEN: The commission chairman admitted he was applying pressure and he was joined by families of the September 11 victims.
CARIE LEMACK, VICE PRESIDENT, FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11: We want to see full disclosure. We want to see no one making this a political situation. We want to make sure that everybody is communicating with each other so that they can learn lessons and make sure that my mother and 3,000 other people did not die in vain.
FRANKEN: The response from the White House and several agencies, they're doing their best.
FBI Director Robert Mueller spoke to CNN's Larry King. ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: I look forward to working with the commission. I think that the -- I'm always anxious to have views from others about how we can do things better.
FRANKEN: The commission, the chairman announced, will try to question both President Bush and former President Clinton, although it will not subpoena them.
(on camera): Both, they said, have promised to cooperate, a promise commission members have gotten from many parts of the government that they believe has not yet been fully kept.
Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Going>
Aired July 9, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, turning now to the war on terror, the independent commission investigating the September 11 terror attacks says so far their probe has been slow going. And they blame the government, from the White House on down.
CNN's Bob Franken explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was probably inevitable that the passionate commitment to finding out what went wrong before September 11 no matter what would cool. The independent commission investigating the attacks must complete its work by next May. But for the Republican chairman and Democratic vice chairman, the first six months have often been exasperating.
THOMAS KEAN, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON 9/11: And time is slipping by. Every day lost complicates our work.
FRANKEN: The complaint? Delays by the White House, Justice Department, FBI, Defense Department, national security agencies throughout the government in providing highly classified intelligence documents. This is the commission originally opposed by the president, until political reality set in.
Then...
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September the 11th.
KEAN: We believe the president when he says he's committed to assisting the commission.
FRANKEN: The commission chairman admitted he was applying pressure and he was joined by families of the September 11 victims.
CARIE LEMACK, VICE PRESIDENT, FAMILIES OF SEPTEMBER 11: We want to see full disclosure. We want to see no one making this a political situation. We want to make sure that everybody is communicating with each other so that they can learn lessons and make sure that my mother and 3,000 other people did not die in vain.
FRANKEN: The response from the White House and several agencies, they're doing their best.
FBI Director Robert Mueller spoke to CNN's Larry King. ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: I look forward to working with the commission. I think that the -- I'm always anxious to have views from others about how we can do things better.
FRANKEN: The commission, the chairman announced, will try to question both President Bush and former President Clinton, although it will not subpoena them.
(on camera): Both, they said, have promised to cooperate, a promise commission members have gotten from many parts of the government that they believe has not yet been fully kept.
Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Going>
