Military

DATE=6-18-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS TERRORISM (S)

NUMBER=2-291098

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Key U-S lawmakers from the joint House-Senate Intelligence Committee have resumed their closed door hearing into the September 11th terrorist attacks. The committee will be hearing today (Tuesday) from three top U-S officials from the law enforcement and intelligence community. More from V-O-A's Deborah Tate on Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller, Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet and National Security Agency head Michael Hayden are all scheduled to appear before the joint committee.

The officials are expected to answer questions about intelligence lapses before September 11th, and whether the attacks could have been avoided.

Mr. Mueller may face questions about why F-B-I headquarters did not allow an aggressive probe of suspected terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui in the weeks before September 11th. The Moroccan-born French citizen was in custody on immigration-related charges at the time, but has since been charged as an accomplice in the attacks.

Mr. Tenet could face questions about why his agency did not do more to warn U-S government officials about two of the eventual hijackers after learning of their al-Qaida connections before September 11th.

Lawmakers also want to know why the C-I-A and F-B-I did not do more to share intelligence information. (Signed)

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