Commission to study Sept. 11 attacks wins Senate panel backing

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Thursday called for a commission to investigate the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.

Similar commissions examined the surprise attack on U.S. naval forces at Pearl Harbor at the outbreak of World War II, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Under the bill (S. 1867), which passed on a voice vote, the commission would examine the facts and causes of the September 11 terrorist attacks. After examining the information, the commission would report to the president and Congress, its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for preventing future acts of terrorism.

"Certain events stand out in our history for having left an indelible mark of pain and sorrow on America," Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said when he introduced the bill last December. "On this past September 11, the United States suffered assaults on its territory unparalleled in their cruelty, destruction and loss of life.

"Americans were stunned both by the magnitude of the loss and the maliciously simple plan that had caused the carnage," Lieberman said, adding that Americans have also been wondering why the plan was successful, whether it could have been stopped and what can be done to prevent future attacks.

An amendment, which was added to the bill by voice vote, incorporated language from similar legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., the ranking Republican on the committee, said he thought the investigation should be even broader, but he agreed to support the bill.

The commission would have 14 members, divided evenly by party. Four members would be appointed by the president, the rest by the chairmen of House and Senate committees dealing with intelligence and military affairs.