If you imagine someone with 100 percent determination and 100 percent intelligence you can discard a lot of intelligence before they stop succeeding. But if you start discarding determination you very quickly get an ineffectual and perpetual grad student.

Someday we'll learn the whole story of why George W. Bush brushed off that intelligence briefing of Aug. 6 2001 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.' But surely a big distraction was the major speech he was readying for delivery on Aug. 9 his first prime-time address to the nation.

Louis Freeh said on national TV that actionable intelligence could have allowed us to stop the hijackings.

The Intelligence Committee will also examine present counterintelligence programs for the Department of Energy the National Laboratories and the Department of Defense.

Legislation passed in the aftermath of September 11 2001 enhanced our intelligence capabilities and strengthened our national defense but until now our nation's immigration policies have not adapted to the needs of a post-September 11th world.

The PATRIOT Act brought down the wall separating intelligence agencies from law enforcement and other entities charged with protecting the Nation from terrorism.

I have had national security background 10 years on the Intelligence Committee the last two years as chair.

The Patriot Act removed major legal barriers that prevented the law enforcement intelligence and national defense communities from talking and coordinating their work to protect the American people and our national security.

I will not nor will I ever publicly divulge sensitive intelligence sources and methods. For when that happens our national security is endangered and lives can be lost.

The original PATRIOT Act greatly increased our nation's ability to share intelligence information made better use of technology and provided terrorism investigators tools that have long been available in cases involving illegal drugs and organized crime.