WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to Senate and House
passage of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, which
contains language establishing the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
Upon the United States, the Campaign for an Independent Commission, a
coalition of 9/11 families' organizations, has set forth the following
parameters for the selection of commissioners:
1. We believe that the commissioners should represent a diversity of
backgrounds and interests in order to ensure that different
perspectives are brought to bear.
2. We welcome a mix of academics, practitioners, those with a background
in law, and people who have served in the government in one capacity or
another.
3. The 10 commissioners must, together, be able to bring expertise in the
fields of intelligence, foreign policy, terrorist financing, aviation
security, immigration/border security, and law enforcement.
4. The commissioners must not have any potential financial ties to any
stakeholders in the intelligence, defense or energy fields.
5. Those selected must be able to make the work of the commission their
highest priority, devoting as much time as necessary to the
commission's deliberations.
6. The number of commissioners who have served in the federal government
over the last four years should be very limited to avoid conflicts.
7. Most importantly, commissioners must be of the highest integrity,
willing to act independently and aggressively, and possess a
determination to work as a team with their colleagues on the commission
in a non-partisan manner.
An independent, bipartisan commission is critical to the understanding of
the causes and weaknesses that led to the tragedy that befell the country on
September 11th. It is essential to our national security that we determine
what went wrong at any and all levels of government and take corrective
measures to ensure that no other families in the United States suffer the
losses experienced by our families on September 11th. We are hopeful that the
compromise language allowing Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Richard Shelby
(R-Ala.) to approve one of the Republican appointees will ensure that the
commission can accomplish its mandate -- an effective, comprehensive and
independent investigation into what happened on that horrific day. The
ultimate success of the commission will depend in large part on the integrity,
expertise and credibility of the commissioners who are chosen.
Members of the Campaign for an Independent Commission are Families of
September 11, September 11th Advocates, Skyscraper Safety Campaign, and Voices
of September 11th.
SOURCE Families of September 11
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.familiesofseptember11.org
CONTACT:
Robin Wiener of the Families of September 11,
office: +1-202-662-8512, or cell: +1-202-309-2864
|
