Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Release of the Joint 9/11 Inquiry

I welcome the public release of the report of the investigation of U.S. intelligence by the congressional intelligence committees. This report is a serious attempt to analyze the problems in intelligence gathering and coordination that led to September 11th. It is critically important that we address these intelligence failures so that we never again face a tragedy like 9/11. The issues that this study addresses are literally a matter of life and death; this report must not be allowed to gather dust on a bookshelf. We must learn all that we can because the bottom line for all of us should be that no family should ever again have to suffer the pain and grief that comes in the wake of a terrorist act like September 11th.

My colleagues' criticism that too much of the final report remains classified is a cause of great concern. It would indeed be ironic if a document meant to shed light on intelligence failures were in any way used to shield those failures from scrutiny.