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Commission Public HearingNew York, NYSeptember 10, 2008

Commission on Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism

[START TAPE 1]CHAIRMAN BOB GRAHAM: On behalf of myself and our ViceChairman, Senator Jim Talent

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and the other members of thecommission, we welcome you to the first public hearing ofthe Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of MassDestruction and Terrorism. We are convened almost seven-years to the day, of the 2001 terrorist attack on the UnitedStates, and particularly on this city.The aftermath of that day of infamy, Americans wanted toknow how could it have happened. The joint congressionalinquiry and the independent 9/11 Commission were established

to investigate. The 9/11 Commission held its first publichearing in this place on March 31st, 2003.When the commission reported to the American people in 2004,it wrote, ‘the greatest danger of another catastrophicattack in the United States will materialize if the world’smost dangerous terrorists acquire the world’s most dangerousweapons.’ Congress received this warning through theefforts that Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader Mainor[phonetic], Senate Majority Leader Reid, and Minority LeaderMcConnell. Congress passed House Resolution 1, whichconcludes a provision establishing this new commission, ourmandate to build on the work of the 9/11 investigations andcomplete a critical task to assess how is our nation doingat preventing the proliferation of weapons of massdestruction and terrorism, and to provide a road map forgreater security with recommendations for improvement.This commission is distinguished in that it is not focusedon the rearview mirror. There has not been an attack for usto investigate, and for that, we are all incrediblyfortunate. But it gives us an opportunity to be forwardlooking, to examine the government’s current policies andprograms, identify the gaps in our prevention strategy, andto recommend how best to close those gaps. Our report willbe issued this fall; our audience will be the next Presidentof the United States of America, and the next congress.Our commission is focused on nuclear and biologicalterrorism. We do that for a simple reason. A terroristattack using those weapons would be a game changer. Theimpact on the United States’ foreign policy, on our nationallife, would be so momentous that it could usher in a newworld disorder. A nuclear or biological terrorist attackwould be so catastrophic and so consequential that ourgovernment must explore every option, take every precaution,pursue every sensible means to deter and prevent it.The report card issued by the 9/11 Commission in 2005, ayear after its final report, gave U.S. efforts to secureweapons of mass destruction a D. More recently, the non-profit group, Partnerships for a Secure America, rated it asa C. Senator Sam Nunn, one of today’s witnesses, serves onthe board of that group and their assessment also concluded,today, almost seven-years after the tragic events ofSeptember 11, 200l, the threat of a new major terroristattack on the United States is still very real.A nuclear chemical or biological weapon in the hands of

terrorists remains the single greatest threat to our nation.Earlier this year, the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates,stated, every senior leader, when you’re asked, what keepsyou awake at night? It’s the thought of a terrorist endingup with a weapon of mass destruction, especially nuclear.Our commission has spent the last four-months surveying whatthe government is currently doing to prevent theproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism.We’ve interviewed over 200 government and non-governmentexperts, have held four major commission meetings.We’ve traveled to the Sandia National Laboratory in NewMexico, as well as London and Vienna, to meet with counterterrorism and intelligence officials, and with theinternational organizations working to stem proliferation.Later this month, we plan to travel to Russia and Pakistan.Our government is not sitting idly by in the face of thisthreat, but there is more that can and must be done. Overthe last seven-years, we have seen innovation and greatefforts in the counter-terrorism arena, though most of thishas been limited to defense and intelligence operations. Itneeds to be extended to include diplomacy and other means ofsoft power.In the area of non-proliferation, the old cold war, pre-globalization regimes have not sufficiently adapted. Andindeed, in many instances are in disrepair. Meanwhile ourenemies are not sitting idle either. The 2007 NationalIntelligence Estimate on Terrorism conclude that Al-Qaeda“has regenerated key elements in its homeland attackcapability, including a safe haven in Pakistan, operationallieutenants, and its top leadership.” The report continues,“Al-Qaeda continues to plan high impact attacks withvisually dramatic destruction.”To put it plainly, we are not safe. But we can achieve afar greater measure of security. So our commission is heretoday, to review the current dangers posed by weapons ofmass destruction, proliferation, and terrorism. Our nexthearing, which will be held on October 1st, in Washington,will take the next step and examine how the government canintensify it’s efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction andterrorism.We look forward to hearing from the witnesses and very muchappreciate their time and commitment. They each bringunique experiences and vital perspectives that will inform