Eleanor Hill Opening Statement: Morning Session (9-18-2002) (A Breakdown)

Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Brian Birdwell is a Texas Senator and survived the attack at the Pentagon in which he was less than 20 yards from the impact. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body. He gives an opening statement. (3-31-2003)

When Babrak Kamal was appointed as the country’s third Democratic President backed by the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) for which Kamal was a primary leading member of, it was ultimately the Soviets who ran the country and it’s government. The Pakistan government under Zia ul-Haq had every reason to start military training for the Afghan rebel forces, he feared the communist bloc could very well collapse Afghanistan. With the fall of Kamal, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the voices of Afghanistan for a call of a jihad against the secular, communist bloc began. One of those who heard their call was Abdullah Anas, an Algerian scholar and ardent student of Abbassi Madani the founder of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) who rose against the tyranny against the Algerian Army when they interfered in a free election.

Anas then travelled to Afghanistan and saw the need for a regulated system to welcome and train the influx of Muslims who wanted to help push back against the Soviet invaders. By 1988, Anas had spoke to Abdullah Azzam, an Islamic scholar, author and teacher based out of Jenin, Palestine, about the need to ensure Muslim help reached northern Afghanistan, and not just that of Western NGO's. Together they implemented the idea of a services bureau which serviced the incoming Arabs from around the world, the Maktab al-Khidamat (Afghan Services Bureau). However, as the Jihadists began to arrive from Egypt, the center, which was funded in part of a notable rich Saudi, Osama Bin Laden, witnessed a change in their training and teaching. Anas saw what was happening and thus left the bureau altogether only to see his dear friend, Azzam, backstabbed by the influence of Egyptians known as "takfiri" (apostates). Algeria was also witnessing a civil war between the government and the takfiri's under the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). Anas knew of the potential problems this could post, as he witnessed it in Afghanistan. In the end, the enemy was no longer clear in Anas eyes.

Colleen Rowley, Division Counsel (Former) Federal Bureau of Investigation, testified about shortcomings in information sharing and supervision at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Ms. Rowley had written a letter to Director Mueller complaining that FBI officials had thwarted efforts to investigate Zaccarias Moussaoui, who was later indicted for his involvement in September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Among the issues she addressed were the need to streamline the FBI bureaucracy and reform the culture of the agency to allow more effective and efficient investigations (6-6-2002)

Chad Creevy, Morgan Stanley South Tower

Bob Beckwith FDNY