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CNN Live Today

9/11 Investigation: Simmering Subplots

Aired March 24, 2004 - 10:48   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There's a lot more testimony to come today in front of the 9/11 Commission. A pause in that testimony right now, so we'll take a chance to get some analysis of what we've been hearing, including a lot of criticism of what was and not done by the U.S. military.
Let's go ahead to Barbara Starr, who's standing by at the Pentagon.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, about an hour and 45 minutes of testimony now from the CIA director George Tenet, who, of course, served under both President Clinton and now President Bush. Director Tenet recounting in some detail how the CIA attempted to track Osama bin Laden over the years, but mainly they were looking at him and the al Qaeda threat overseas, in Afghanistan, not necessarily looking at the threat they might pose here in the United States. The director expressing some of his frustration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: The predominant focus and threat of the reporting took us overseas, but we could not discount the possibility of an attack on the homeland, although the data just didn't exist with any specificity to take you there. I mean, that is what was maddening about this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: The director also reiterating what several other witnesses have said, the difficult problem of trying to get to Osama bin Laden in these past years, because he's always been on the move. The director saying that they would have had to operate from standoff range, if you will, knowing hours ahead of time, precisely where Osama bin Laden might be in order to launch an attack against him, not the kind of intelligence that the U.S. had with any certainty.

But then, Daryn, there was also a very human note to all of this. The director of Central Intelligence, long-known as one of the toughest customers in Washington, D.C., making a reference to the family members sitting in the audience behind him, many of them continuing to hold pictures of the loved ones they lost on 9/11. The director saying, "The men and women who lost their family members know we have to do better." And the audience breaking into applause when he said that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you for that.

In just a little bit, or later today we'll be hearing from Richard Clarke. He of course in the news this week having released his book called "Against All Enemies."

Previously serving under a number of administrations, including the Bush administration. This book very critical about how he believes the Bush administration handled the war on terrorism. The Bush administration has come out swinging this week in a counterattack. Let's go to the White House now and get more from John King -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Out swinging, Daryn, because of the potential damage to the president, politically and from a policy standpoint, if Richard Clarke's opinion takes hold across the country.

One of the things he is quoted as saying this morning is that "the Bush administration is guilty of not doing enough to try to break al Qaeda in the weeks and months before the September 11 attacks." You just heard the CIA director say it was maddening that the intelligence was not specific, that there was the possibility of an attack here in the United States. But that most intelligence point overseas.

This morning I interviewed the White House chief of staff, Andrew Card. He said much the same thing. And he said if Richard Clarke thought anything else, if he thought there would be a strike in the United States, he did not bring that information to the attention of the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: We did not anticipate the kind of attack that happened on September 11. I don't think anyone could have.

But if Dick Clarke had a way to understand that that attack was going to come and didn't say anything about it, he was irresponsible and he did not live up to his oath of office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Another constant theme in the hearing this morning was the failure of the CIA and the FBI and other agencies to communicate well before September 11. That has been a key focus of the inquiry. Would things have been different if the FBI and the CIA did a better job of sharing information before 9/11?

In that interview with Andy Card this morning, he said that he did worry that one of the haunting chapters of this commission's work would be, what if?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARD: I believe that the firewall had not have been there, there would have been a better understanding of the al Qaeda network that was already in the United States. And it wasn't just a firewall between the CIA and the FBI. It was also kind of a firewall between regional offices of the FBI and the Washington office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: So, Daryn, the administration believes Director Tenet made the case this morning. It believes that if Richard Clarke tells this commission that the president underestimated the al Qaeda threat, the White House says that is simply not the case.

And the deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, added to the committee's agenda this afternoon to testify after Richard Clarke to give the administration a chance, if it feels necessary, to rebutt his testimony.

KAGAN: Well let's also look ahead at who else is coming up. And that would be Samuel Berger, previously serving for the National Security Council under the Clinton administration.

Over the last two days, John, we've been hearing criticism of Condoleezza Rice. She's cooperated with this commission, but she turned down the invitation to testify publicly. What does the White House have to say about that?

KING: It's an arcane explanation that probably leaves many viewers scratching their heads. But it is long a tradition that presidential staffers, senior staffers and presidents themselves do not testify before congressional bodies.

This commission is a creature of Congress created by the Congress. Director Tenet, Secretary Powell, Secretary Rumsfeld, they are all subject to Senate confirmation. So tradition is they do testify on such panels.

Tradition is the national security adviser does not. The White House say it will stick to that. That if the commission wants to question her in any more settings, she will do so privately, just as the president will. But the White House says it will not put her out in public. Some political heat for that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, John King at the White House. We'll be checking back with you throughout the day. Thank you.

As you heard, families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks knew the hearings would likely offer little comfort. But many have chosen to attend. Some say they walked away from the first day's hearing more dispirited than they expected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KRISTEN BREITWEISER, 9/11 WIDOW: I think it was -- certainly it's been a long time in coming to have these people come before the American public.

But I have to tell you, it was very disheartening to hear that we have a State Department that is mired in diplomacy and we have a Defense Department that is clearly suffering from paralysis by analysis.

We spend billions of dollars on our defense and intelligence. And it's just wholly unacceptable to hear these lame excuses.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Breitweiser also said that she walked away from the testimony feeling that the country is no safer today than it was before 9/11.

Let's look ahead again who we expect this afternoon testifying before the commission. Samuel Berger is up next, national security adviser to President Clinton. We expect him in the next hour.

And then the widely-anticipated testimony from Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism adviser to Presidents Clinton and Bush. More specifically, the author of the newly released book accusing the Bush administration of largely ignoring the al Qaeda threat before 9/11.

And as John King was mentioning, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will appear. And National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has refused to testify in public. As we mentioned, though, she did testify in a closed session back in February.

There is other news to look at today. Kobe Bryant and his accuser, a face-to-face encounter as her sexual past is scrutinized.

And the Supreme Court takes up the issue of pledging allegiance under God. They have agreed to look to at the case. A live report is straight ahead.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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 March 24, 2004 - 10:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There's a lot more testimony to come today in front of the 9/11 Commission. A pause in that testimony right now, so we'll take a chance to get some analysis of what we've been hearing, including a lot of criticism of what was and not done by the U.S. military.
Let's go ahead to Barbara Starr, who's standing by at the Pentagon.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Well, about an hour and 45 minutes of testimony now from the CIA director George Tenet, who, of course, served under both President Clinton and now President Bush. Director Tenet recounting in some detail how the CIA attempted to track Osama bin Laden over the years, but mainly they were looking at him and the al Qaeda threat overseas, in Afghanistan, not necessarily looking at the threat they might pose here in the United States. The director expressing some of his frustration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE TENET, CIA DIRECTOR: The predominant focus and threat of the reporting took us overseas, but we could not discount the possibility of an attack on the homeland, although the data just didn't exist with any specificity to take you there. I mean, that is what was maddening about this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: The director also reiterating what several other witnesses have said, the difficult problem of trying to get to Osama bin Laden in these past years, because he's always been on the move. The director saying that they would have had to operate from standoff range, if you will, knowing hours ahead of time, precisely where Osama bin Laden might be in order to launch an attack against him, not the kind of intelligence that the U.S. had with any certainty.

But then, Daryn, there was also a very human note to all of this. The director of Central Intelligence, long-known as one of the toughest customers in Washington, D.C., making a reference to the family members sitting in the audience behind him, many of them continuing to hold pictures of the loved ones they lost on 9/11. The director saying, "The men and women who lost their family members know we have to do better." And the audience breaking into applause when he said that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you for that.

In just a little bit, or later today we'll be hearing from Richard Clarke. He of course in the news this week having released his book called "Against All Enemies."

Previously serving under a number of administrations, including the Bush administration. This book very critical about how he believes the Bush administration handled the war on terrorism. The Bush administration has come out swinging this week in a counterattack. Let's go to the White House now and get more from John King -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Out swinging, Daryn, because of the potential damage to the president, politically and from a policy standpoint, if Richard Clarke's opinion takes hold across the country.

One of the things he is quoted as saying this morning is that "the Bush administration is guilty of not doing enough to try to break al Qaeda in the weeks and months before the September 11 attacks." You just heard the CIA director say it was maddening that the intelligence was not specific, that there was the possibility of an attack here in the United States. But that most intelligence point overseas.

This morning I interviewed the White House chief of staff, Andrew Card. He said much the same thing. And he said if Richard Clarke thought anything else, if he thought there would be a strike in the United States, he did not bring that information to the attention of the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: We did not anticipate the kind of attack that happened on September 11. I don't think anyone could have.

But if Dick Clarke had a way to understand that that attack was going to come and didn't say anything about it, he was irresponsible and he did not live up to his oath of office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Another constant theme in the hearing this morning was the failure of the CIA and the FBI and other agencies to communicate well before September 11. That has been a key focus of the inquiry. Would things have been different if the FBI and the CIA did a better job of sharing information before 9/11?

In that interview with Andy Card this morning, he said that he did worry that one of the haunting chapters of this commission's work would be, what if?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARD: I believe that the firewall had not have been there, there would have been a better understanding of the al Qaeda network that was already in the United States. And it wasn't just a firewall between the CIA and the FBI. It was also kind of a firewall between regional offices of the FBI and the Washington office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: So, Daryn, the administration believes Director Tenet made the case this morning. It believes that if Richard Clarke tells this commission that the president underestimated the al Qaeda threat, the White House says that is simply not the case.

And the deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, added to the committee's agenda this afternoon to testify after Richard Clarke to give the administration a chance, if it feels necessary, to rebutt his testimony.

KAGAN: Well let's also look ahead at who else is coming up. And that would be Samuel Berger, previously serving for the National Security Council under the Clinton administration.

Over the last two days, John, we've been hearing criticism of Condoleezza Rice. She's cooperated with this commission, but she turned down the invitation to testify publicly. What does the White House have to say about that?

KING: It's an arcane explanation that probably leaves many viewers scratching their heads. But it is long a tradition that presidential staffers, senior staffers and presidents themselves do not testify before congressional bodies.

This commission is a creature of Congress created by the Congress. Director Tenet, Secretary Powell, Secretary Rumsfeld, they are all subject to Senate confirmation. So tradition is they do testify on such panels.

Tradition is the national security adviser does not. The White House say it will stick to that. That if the commission wants to question her in any more settings, she will do so privately, just as the president will. But the White House says it will not put her out in public. Some political heat for that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, John King at the White House. We'll be checking back with you throughout the day. Thank you.

As you heard, families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks knew the hearings would likely offer little comfort. But many have chosen to attend. Some say they walked away from the first day's hearing more dispirited than they expected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KRISTEN BREITWEISER, 9/11 WIDOW: I think it was -- certainly it's been a long time in coming to have these people come before the American public.

But I have to tell you, it was very disheartening to hear that we have a State Department that is mired in diplomacy and we have a Defense Department that is clearly suffering from paralysis by analysis.

We spend billions of dollars on our defense and intelligence. And it's just wholly unacceptable to hear these lame excuses.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Breitweiser also said that she walked away from the testimony feeling that the country is no safer today than it was before 9/11.

Let's look ahead again who we expect this afternoon testifying before the commission. Samuel Berger is up next, national security adviser to President Clinton. We expect him in the next hour.

And then the widely-anticipated testimony from Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism adviser to Presidents Clinton and Bush. More specifically, the author of the newly released book accusing the Bush administration of largely ignoring the al Qaeda threat before 9/11.

And as John King was mentioning, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will appear. And National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has refused to testify in public. As we mentioned, though, she did testify in a closed session back in February.

There is other news to look at today. Kobe Bryant and his accuser, a face-to-face encounter as her sexual past is scrutinized.

And the Supreme Court takes up the issue of pledging allegiance under God. They have agreed to look to at the case. A live report is straight ahead.

This is CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com