WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The sixth public hearing of the Washington commission to examine the 9/11 terror attacks focused on balancing national security and civil liberties.
"The unprecedented attacks of 9/11 provoked a strong response," Thomas Kean, chairman of the 9/11 Commission, said Monday.
That response, including the USA Patriot Act and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, prompted pointed questions from commissioners.
Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste questioned the need to reduce privacy protections to gather information about potential terrorists.
"Our intelligence with respect to the 9/11 hijackers was pretty good," he said. "Law enforcement just didn't utilize the information."
Panelist and former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson defended additional law enforcement powers.
"With the help of Congress, we in this country have made great strides to get more tools and resources for our war against terrorism," he said.
Commissioners also discussed detentions of enemy combatants, penalties for unknowingly supporting terrorists and changes to law enforcement and intelligence gathering institutions.
