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Lee H. Hamilton
VICE CHAIR The Honorable Steven I. Cooper
Chief Information Officer
Richard Ben-Veniste
Department of Homeland Security
Max Cleland Naval Security Station
Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues, NW
Fred f. Fielding Washington, DC 20393
Jamie S. Gorelick
Dear Mr, Cooper:
Slade Gorton
John F. Lehman
As you know, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United
States (better known as the 9-11 Commission) is directed by statute to prepare a
TLmotHyJ. Roemer full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks, including the nation's preparedness for, and immediate
James R- Thompson
response to, the attacks. The Commission is also chartered to identify and
evaluate lessons learned and provide recommendations to prevent future acts of
Philip D. Zelikow terrorism upon our nation.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Commission wishes to discuss a wide range of topics with you, including (but
not limited to) your description, analysis, and assessment of:
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• The nation's homeland security strategy, the implementation of the Homeland
Security Act of 2002, and the establishment of the Department of Homeland
Security.
• The legal, policy, and technological issues affecting the collection, processing,
analysis, and dissemination of counterterrorism information, including
watchlisting information, within DHS.
• The role of the DHS Chief Information Officer with respect to the operations
of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center.
You may wish to review notes and other documents to refresh your recollection of
these matters prior to the interview.
We are, of course, interested in any other issues you deem relevant to the
Commission's understanding of 9-11 specifically and national security, intelligence,
and homeland security issues generally, as well as your thoughts on policy
recommendations for the future. Members of the Commission may attend, but the
interview will be conducted by Commission staff. It is the general policy of the
Commission to record interviews.
Please have a member of your staff contact Joanne Accolla at (202) 401 -1774 to
indicate your availability for such an interview and to relay any questions you or
your staff may have. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation with
the Commission and its staff in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Philip Zelikow
Executive Director