9/11 panel holds public hearing Tuesday (3/23/2004)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and William Cohen, his predecessor under the Clinton administration, are among those scheduled to testify Tuesday before an independent commission investigating the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The public hearing comes at a time when the Bush administration is under new fire for its anti-terrorism efforts, blasted in a just-published book by a former aide who says the president ignored warning signs before September 11, 2001, and later wrongly focused on Iraq at the expense of more vigorously targeting al Qaeda.

The book "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror" by former antiterrorism chief Richard Clarke has been denounced by the White House as a wildly inaccurate account of the administration's efforts. But Clarke has stood by his assertions, saying Bush "botched the response to 9/11."

more: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/22/911.commission/index.html

Hearing Agenda

"Counterterrorism Policy"

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

9:00 - 9:30 AM
STAFF STATEMENT NO. 5
Diplomacy

9:30 - 11:00 AM
The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright
Former Secretary of State

11:00 - 12:30 PM
The Honorable Colin L. Powell
Secretary of State

12:30 - 1:30 PM
Break

1:30 - 2:00 PM
STAFF STATEMENT NO. 6
The Military

2:00 - 3:30 PM
The Honorable William S. Cohen
Former Secretary of Defense

3:30 - 5:00 PM
The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense

Wednesday, March 24 2004

8:30 - 9:00 AM
STAFF STATEMENT NO. 7
Intelligence Policy

9:00 - 10:30 AM
The Honorable George J. Tenet
Director of Central Intelligence

10:30 - 11:00 AM
STAFF STATEMENT NO. 8
National Policy Coordination

11:00 - 12:30 PM
The Honorable Samuel R. Berger
Former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

12:30 - 1:30 PM
BREAK

1:30 - 4:00 PM
Mr. Richard A. Clarke
Former National Coordinator for Counterterrorism, National Security Council

4:00 - 5:30 PM
The Honorable Richard L. Armitage
Deputy Secretary of State

5:30 PM
Hearing concludes. Press Availability to follow.

Lots of people. Make sure we get exactly what comes out of their mouths, not what they may change in the record later.