Thomas H.

Kean October 30, 2003

CHAIR

Lee H. Hamilton
VICE CHAIR
The Honorable George J. Tenet
Richard Ben-Veniste Director of Central Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
Max Cleland
Washington, DC 20505
Frederick F. Fielding
Dear Director Tenet:
Jamie S. Gorelick

Slade Gorton 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
John F. Lehman
full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11,
Timothy J. Roemer 2001 terrorist attacks, including the nation's preparedness for, and immediate
response to, the attacks. The Commission is also chartered to identify and
James R. Thompson
evaluate lessons learned and provide recommendations to prevent future acts of
terrorism upon our nation.
Philip D. Zelikow
EXj^-' 1TIVE DIRECTOR
Public Law 107-306 authorizes the Commission to secure needed information
directly from any agency. Thus far, with the support of you and your Agency, the
Commission has compiled an extensive written record numbering over 2 million
pages. Building on this record, meetings with senior officials are essential to
developing an authoritative narrative on the September 11, 2001 attacks. Your
perspective is vital to informing the Commission's understanding of 9-11 and its
aftermath, and we are therefore writing to request an interview with you during
the week of January 19, 2004.

The Commission hopes to discuss a wide range of topics with you, including (but
not limited to) your description, analysis, and assessment of:

1. The CIA's role in the development and execution of U.S. counterterrorism

policy from January 1, 1998, until September 20, 2001, specifically:

• Your participation in relevant Principals' Committee meetings involving

U.S. counterterrorism policy, including a description of pre-9-11
discussions of possible al Qaeda attacks on U.S. soil.

• The 1998 East Africa embassy bombings, the Millennium plots, and the
2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and lessons learned from these events.

301 7'h Street SW, Room 5125

Washington, DC 20407
T 202.331.4060 F 202.296.5545
ww w.9-11 commission.gov
The Honorable George J. Tenet
October 30, 2003
Page 2

• How the CIA fought al Qaeda during this period, including special
activities conducted against Usama Bin Laden and al Qaeda; the legal
authorities, supporting infrastructure, and resources for carrying out such
activities; and the role of foreign liaison.

• The Defense Department's support of the CIA's special activities, and

overall CIA-DOD cooperation.

• The handling of counterterrorism issues during the Clinton-Bush transition

period, including a detailed discussion of briefings given and
recommendations offered.

• The CIA's immediate response to 9-11 itself.

2. The Intelligence Community and the CIA's resources devoted to

counterterrorism, including overall funding for counterterrorism, human and
technical intelligence collection efforts and results, foreign liaison, and
personnel, both operations officers (including non-official cover officers) and
analysts.

3. The CIA's current role with respect to carrying out U.S. counterterrorism
policy.

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 important to the
Commission's understanding of 9-11 specifically and U.S. counterterrorism
policy 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.

This proposed interview is separate from your requested participation in a public

hearing to be held in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2004. You will receive a
separate invitation to testify in the coming weeks, and we hope that you will agree
to appear before the Commission for this important public forum.

Please have a member of your staff contact Daniel Leopold at (202) 331-4064 to
indicate your availability for such an interview and to relay any questions you or
The Honorable George J. Tenet
October 30, 2003
Page 3

your staff may have. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation with
the Commission and its staff in this important matter.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas H. Kean Lee H. Hamilton

Chair Vice Chair

cc:
9/11 Closed by Statute