Administration Seeks to Limit Terror Probe
VOA News
30 Jan 2002 18:45 UTC
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Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle says the White House wants to limit the Congressional investigation into the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Mr. Daschle says he shares the administration's concern that a broad inquiry could divert intelligence and defense officials from the war against terrorism. But he also says the American people have the right to know what happened, and why.

The Senate Democratic leader says Vice President Dick Cheney asked that only the House and Senate intelligence committees investigate how U.S. intelligence agencies failed to detect the terror attacks in advance. The vice president said he fears a proliferation of Congressional hearings would take resources and personnel away from the anti-terror effort.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer did not confirm Senator Daschle's account. But the Associated Press reports he said President Bush wants to make sure any review by Congress does not unduly burden U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.

The House and Senate intelligence committees still are trying to decide how their hearings will proceed, including how much information should be made public and what should be kept classified. Some members of Congress have called for a broader investigation, looking at various federal government agencies in addition to the intelligence community.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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