NATIONAL NEWS
June 5, 2002
Looking Back at 9/11 Clues
Congress holds hearings to figure out where federal government agencies made mistakes
 Lawmakers speak with reporters about the 9-11 hearings. |
Did the U.S. government respond properly to warnings before September 11 that terrorists were planning to attack the United States? Congress is holding hearings this week to answer that question.
Who Knew What and When?
The goal of the hearings is to get to the bottom of what the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) knew before September 11. The FBI and the CIA are government agencies that gather information, or "intelligence," to help protect our nation. The FBI primarily investigates crimes inside America's borders. The CIA spends more time looking into threats to U.S. security that come from other countries.
 |  FBI Director Robert S. Mueller speaks before a U.S. Senate committee about his agency. |
Finding Answers
Lawmakers decided to hold the hearings after recent reports that the FBI and CIA failed to respond to warning signs of possible terrorist attacks. Congressional leaders hope the hearings will help them figure out what may have gone wrong before September 11, as well as help to avoid future terrorist attacks.
The FBI’s director, Robert S. Mueller III, last week admitted that the agency had clues that terrorists were planning to attack but failed to follow up on them. Minneapolis agent Coleen Rowley said FBI headquarters ignored a request to investigate one of the men who is now charged with helping the hijackers on September 11.
As a result of these agency breakdowns, Mueller said protecting the nation against more terrorist attacks will become the agency’s top priority. He said the FBI will double the number of counter-terrorism agents and hire hundreds of foreign-language speakers. A new Office of Intelligence will coordinate, or pull together, important information.
