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(U//FOUO) Supporting the 9/11 Panel's Independent Investigation
FROM: The SID 9/11 Response Team (a.k.a. the MAG)
Unknown
Run Date: 10/20/2003
(U//FOUO) You may remember from DIRgram-286 that another investigation into the events of
9/11 is gaining momentum as we speak. The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
United States (also known as the Kean Commission, or the Independent Commission) is
gathering information from the Federal Government, State and local governments and the
private sector to document the definitive history of the events of 9/11 and to examine systemic
issues that may be corrected to prevent future attacks. So, how does SID fit into this
investigation? Here is some information to bring you up to date!
(U//FOUO) First, let us introduce ourselves. We are the SID 9/11 Response Team -- a four
member team on SID Staff, dedicated exclusively to supporting the National Commission's
investigation. Also known as the MAG, the team was put into place during the House and Senate
Intelligence Committees' Joint Inquiry into 9/11. Our membership has changed since the Joint
Inquiry, but the team's mission remains the same -- to pinpoint the information the National
Commission requests from SID and provide it promptly and effectively, ensuring candor,
completeness and correctness. Working closely with NSA's Office of General Counsel (the Agency
lead), we anticipate the National Commission's interests or concerns and alert folks in SID to
information they may be asked to provide. So, if you hear from our team, you'll know why! As
the Director made clear in DIRgram-286 , NSA is providing the same level of full support to the
National Commission's investigation that it provided to the Joint Inquiry.
(S//SI) As far as the investigation goes, SID has responded to several National Commission
requests by providing large volumes of SIGINT assessment reporting on terrorism, strategic
business plans, analytic demonstrations, explanations of SID's analytic strategy and the SIGINT
Requirements process, as well as briefings from the Counterterrorism, Regional Targets, Middle
East and North Africa, and Geospatial Exploitation product lines. With few exceptions, National
Commission staffers are not SIGINTers by trade. So, all of these briefings and discussions have
given them valuable insight into our business and an appreciation for the complexities of our
work! While at NSA, staff members have also had the benefit of seeing time-sensitive operations
at the NSOC and the Meade Operations Center first-hand.
(U//FOUO) The National Commission is now moving into the next phase of its investigation and
is preparing to interview SID personnel. Chances are you will not be one of the few SID
personnel interviewed. However, if you are, we will work with you and with the Office of General
Counsel to give you background information on the investigation and share the Commission's
perspectives, so that you are prepared and the interviews are as productive and informative for
the Commission staffers as possible.
(U//FOUO) So far, National Commission staff members have been favorably impressed with
SID's technical and analytic expertise, as well as its extraordinary level of cooperation. This is
not surprising! The Director has told us to be forthcoming during this investigation and both MG
Quirk and Mr. Meals have expressed strong support for SID's interactions with the Commission.
We also have an obligation to our nation. As the investigation progresses, we look forward to
seeing more examples of the outstanding response the SID workforce has shown to date. For
specific details on the National Commission's investigation, see DIRgram-286. To reach the SID
9/11 Response Team, call
or send an e-mail to
.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108