Intelligence

DATE=7-24-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS SEPT. 11 (s-update)

NUMBER=2-305776

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The joint Congressional committee has released a long-awaited report on its probe of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports the document is critical of intelligence agencies for mishandling information, but concludes there is no evidence the government could have prevented the attacks.

TEXT: The report, containing some 900 pages, sharply criticizes intelligence agencies for failing to share and act on information about the hijackers prior to their attacks on New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the document does not answer questions about the Saudi role in the attacks. The Bush administration has withheld 28 pages of the report dealing with Saudi Arabia.

Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, suggested the White House wants to avoid embarrassing a key ally.

/// SCHUMER ACTUALITY ///

There is an attempt here to conceal evidence that implicates the Saudi regime in a terrible tragedy.

/// END ACT ///

The White House denies such an accusation, saying the information was withheld for national security reasons. (Signed)

Neb/dat