Joe Lieberman: “If this commission functions as its sponsors want it to, this national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United…”

“If this commission functions as its sponsors want it to, this national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States, it will have the high-quality commissioners devoted to its work, as well as a large, first-rate staff that will have the capability both to pick up the work in the intelligence community and carry it as far as it can be carried forward to answer all relevant questions relating to the causes of September 11, but also to investigate the other subject matter areas we have talked about--diplomacy, law enforcement, aviation policy, et cetera. Of course, the question of whether the Intelligence Committee investigation goes on is a separate question. And this commission idea stands on its own. I am encouraged, as I mentioned, that the chair and vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, Senators Graham of Florida and Shelby, both support the establishment of an independent commission.”