Thomas H.

Kean October 31,2003

CHAIR

Lee H. Hamilton
VICE CHAIR
General John A. Gordon (USAF, ret.)
Richard Ben-Veniste Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor
Max Cleland
Homeland Security Council
1650 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Frederick F. Fielding Washington, DC 20502
Jamie S. Gorelick
Dear General Gordon:
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
Timothy J. Roemer a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September
James R. Thompson
11, 2001 attacks, including the nation's preparedness for, and immediate
response to, the attacks. The Commission is also chartered to identify and
evaluate lessons learned and provide recommendations to prevent future acts
Philip D. Zelikow
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
of terrorism upon our nation.

Public Law 107-306 authorizes the Commission to secure needed information

directly from any agency. Thus far, the Commission has compiled an
extensive written record numbering over 2 million pages. Building on this
record, meetings with senior policymakers will be essential to developing the
Commission's final report. Your perspective is vital to informing the
Commission's understanding of issues pertaining to intelligence, national
defense, and homeland security, and we are therefore writing to request a
meeting with you during the week of January 5, 2004.

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

• The nation's national homeland security strategy; the implementation of

the Homeland Security Act of 2002; and the establishment of the
Department of Homeland Security.

• The establishment and operation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center.

• The role of the Office of Homeland Security in the development and

coordination of homeland security policy, procedures and programs.

301 7 lh Street SW, Room 5125

Washington, DC 20407
T 202.331.4060 F 202.296.5545
www.9-11 commission.gov
General John A. Gordon (USAF, ret.)
October 31,2003
Page 2

• The relationship of the Homeland Security Advisor to the National Security Advisor,
the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Director of Central
Intelligence.

• The role of the Congress in establishing priorities, allocating resources and providing
oversight of intelligence, defense and homeland security agencies.

• The legal and policy framework governing counterterrorism activities of the federal
government and whether further legal and policy changes are necessary.

• The strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. intelligence community to provide warning
of terrorist attacks, and to respond to transnational threats.

• The response of the federal government, and the intelligence community specifically,
to the East Africa bombings.

• The capabilities of the national laboratories in countering terrorism.

You may wish to review notes and other documents to refresh your recollection of these
matters prior to the meeting.

We are of course interested in any other issues you deem important to the Commission's
understanding of 9-11 specifically, and homeland security generally, as well as your
thoughts on policy recommendations for the future. Members of the Commission and
select staff will attend, and it is the general policy of the Commission to record such
meetings.

Please have a member of your staff contact Daniel Leopold at (202) 331-4064 to indicate
your availability for such a meeting 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.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas H. Kean Lee H. Hamilton

Chair Vice Chair

cc: Daniel Levin, U.S. Department of Justice

Thomas A. Monheim, Associate Counsel to the President