9/11 Commission

9/11 Commission, officially known as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, was established by United States Congress and President George W. Bush to investigate the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The commission was led by Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, and included other notable members such as Richard Ben-Veniste, Bob Kerrey, and John Lehman. The commission's work was supported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Agency (NSA), among other United States Department of Justice and United States Department of Defense agencies.

● Introduction

The 9/11 Commission was created in response to the devastating September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries. The commission's mandate was to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the attacks, and to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in the United States' preparedness and response to terrorism. The commission held numerous hearings and interviews with key figures, including President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet. The commission also reviewed documents and evidence from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), among other agencies.

● Background

The 9/11 Commission was established on November 27, 2002, when President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-306, which created the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The commission was modeled after the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the Church Committee, which investigated intelligence agency abuses in the 1970s. The commission's staff included experienced investigators and analysts from the FBI, CIA, and other agencies, as well as experts in counterterrorism, intelligence, and homeland security. The commission worked closely with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to collect and analyze documents related to the September 11 attacks, including records from the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense.

● Commission Findings

The 9/11 Commission issued its final report on July 22, 2004, which provided a detailed account of the September 11 attacks and the events leading up to them. The report identified al-Qaeda as the perpetrator of the attacks, and noted that the group's leader, Osama bin Laden, had been planning the attacks for several years. The report also criticized the FBI and CIA for failing to share intelligence and coordinate their efforts to prevent the attacks. The commission's findings were based on extensive research and analysis, including reviews of documents from the National Security Council (NSC), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The commission also drew on the expertise of terrorism experts, including Richard Clarke, Rand Beers, and Daniel Benjamin.

● Recommendations

The 9/11 Commission made several key recommendations to improve the United States' preparedness and response to terrorism. These included the creation of a National Intelligence Director to oversee the intelligence community, the establishment of a National Counterterrorism Center to coordinate counterterrorism efforts, and the implementation of improved aviation security measures, such as passenger screening and air marshal programs. The commission also recommended the creation of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate homeland security efforts, which was established in 2003. The commission's recommendations were influenced by the work of think tanks, such as the Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), as well as the expertise of congressional committees, including the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

● Legacy and Impact

The 9/11 Commission's report and recommendations had a significant impact on United States policy and national security practices. The report's findings and conclusions were widely accepted, and its recommendations were implemented in large part by the United States Congress and the Bush administration. The commission's work also influenced the development of counterterrorism policies and practices in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with many of its recommendations remaining in place, including the Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. The commission's work has also been recognized by awards and honors, including the National Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

● Controversies and Criticisms

Despite its significant contributions to United States policy and national security practices, the 9/11 Commission's work was not without controversy. Some critics argued that the commission's report was too focused on al-Qaeda and did not adequately address the role of other terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Others criticized the commission's recommendations, arguing that they did not go far enough to address the root causes of terrorism or to prevent future terrorist attacks. The commission's work was also criticized by some congressional committees, including the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Judiciary, which argued that the commission's recommendations were not adequately implemented. Despite these criticisms, the 9/11 Commission's report and recommendations remain widely regarded as a landmark achievement in the war on terror and a significant contribution to United States national security policy. Category:National commissions in the United States