WITHDRAWAL NOTICE

RG: 148 Exposition, Anniversary, and Memorial Commissions

SERIES: Team 3,9/11 Commission
NND PROJECT NUMBER: 52100 FOIA CASE NUMBER: 31107

WITHDRAWAL DATE: 12/15/2008

BOX: 00006 FOLDER: 0001 TAB: 43 DOC ID: 31212211

COPIES: 1 PAGES: 10

_ACCESs RESTRICTED
The item identified below has been withdrawn from this file:

FOLDER TITLE: JenkinsVHurley's Notes: [Shelton Inteview]

DOCUMENT DATE: DOCUMENT TYPE: Note/Notes

FROM:

TO:

SUBJECT: Notes on Shelton interview

This document has been withdrawn for the following reason(s):

9/11 Classified Information

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE
Fhomas H. Kean October 30, 2003
:HAIR

_ee H. Hamilton
i/ICE CHAIR
General H. Hugh Shelton (USA, ret.)
•lichard Ben-Veniste President of International Operations and Vice Chair
MIC Industries
Vtax Cleland
11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 1000
Frederick F. Fielding Reston, VA 20190
lamie S. Gorelick Dear General Shelton:
Slade Gorton
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (better
lohn F. Lehman known as the 9-11 Commission) is directed by statute to prepare a full and
Timothy J. Roemer
complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks, including the nation's preparedness for, and immediate response
lames R. Thompson to, the attacks. The Commission is also chartered to identify and evaluate lessons
learned and provide recommendations to prevent future acts of terrorism upon our
Philip D. Zelikow nation.
=X!' fVE DIRECTOR
Interviews with former senior policymakers are essential to developing an
authoritative narrative of the September 11, 2001 attacks. As the former
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, your perspective is vital to the
Commission's collective understanding of 9-11, and we are therefore writing to
request an interview with you during the week of January 26, 2004.

The Commission wishes to discuss a wide range of topics with you, including (but
not limited to) your description, analysis, and assessment of:

• The role of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in the development of U.S.
counterterrorism policy from January 1, 1998, through September 20, 2001,
including your participation in relevant Principals' Committee meetings, the
JCS position articulated at these meetings, and your advice to the Secretary of
Defense, White House officials, and other principals about the proper strategic
and tactical responses to the al Qaeda threat.

• The military's counterterrorism responsibilities, the effectiveness of U.S.

counterterrorism policy, and the readiness of the military to carry out possible
orders to strike al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

301 7 lh Street SW, Room 5125

Washington, DC 20407
T 202.331.4060 F 202.296.5545
www.9-1 lcominission.gov
General H. Hugh Shelton (USA, ret.)
October 30, 2003
Page 2

• The effectiveness of interagency coordination on the al Qaeda threat,

including guidance provided to the Department of Defense and JCS in
relevant presidential decision directives and national security presidential
directives.

• The Department of Defense and JCS response to the 1998 East Africa
embassy bombings, the Millennium plots, and the 2000 attack on the U.S.S.
Cole, including the military's views on the various response options
considered.

• Military options requested, considered, rejected, or approved regarding al

Qaeda from January 1, 1998, to September 20, 2001, including paramilitary or
special forces missions and steps taken by the JCS in preparation for a
possible order to strike al Qaeda or Taliban targets.

• The handling of counterterrorism issues during the Clinton-Bush transition

period, including a detailed discussion of briefings given and
recommendations offered.

• Intelligence support to the military on the al Qaeda threat, including the

cooperation between the CIA and the military in responding to that threat and
discussions on the use of UAVs.

• The military's efforts to ensure international military cooperation against al

Qaeda, including with the government of Uzbekistan.

• Discussions that took place from January 1, 1998, to September 11, 2001, on
possible al Qaeda attacks on U.S. soil and the Department of Defense's
preparations for homeland defense.

• The Pentagon's immediate response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and
your personal involvement in that response.

You may wish to review notes and other materials you may have to refresh your
recollection of these matters prior to the interview.

We are, of course, interested in any other issues you deem important to the
Commission's understanding of 9-11 specifically and counterterrorism policy
generally, as well as your thoughts on policy recommendations for the future.
The Commission anticipates that classified information will be discussed at this
private session, requiring that the interview take place at the Commission's 2100
K Street, NW, location. Members of the Commission may attend, but the
General H. Hugh Shelton (USA, ret.)
October 30, 2003
Page 3

interview will be conducted by Commission staff. It is the general policy of the

Commission to record interviews.

This proposed interview is separate from your requested participation in a public

hearing to be held in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2004. You will receive a
separate invitation to testify in the coming weeks, and we hope that you will agree
to appear before the Commission for this important public forum.

Please have a member of your staff contact Daniel Leopold at (202) 331 -4064 to
indicate your availability for such an interview and to relay any questions you or
your staff may have. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation with
the Commission and its staff in this important matter.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas H. Kean Lee H. Hamilton

Chair Vice Chair
Nov-04-03 16:24 From-MIC INDUSTRIES 703-318-9321 T-860 P.02 F-585

Michael S. Ansari
*\_^ Chairman & CEO
Goneral H. Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.)
President, International Operations
I N 0 U 8 T H I E S Gonaral Anthony C. Zlnnl, USMC, (Ret.)
Special Assistant to the Chairman

Board of Advisors

Honorable William S. Cohen - Chairman

General H. Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.) -Vice Chairman

General Anthony C. Zlnnl, USMC, (Ret) Ruth Rabb

Honorable Ronald V. 0«llum* Ben Gazzira
Central Charles E. Wllhclm, USMC, (Ret) Susan EltonnoV»«r

November 4,2003

The Honorable Thomas H. Kean

Chair, 9-11 Commission
301 7th Street SW, Room 5125
Washington, D.C. 20407

Dear Chairman Kean:

1 received your request to appear before the 9-11 Commission during the week of 26 January
2004. I will be happy to accommodate your request; however, in looking through the list of
questions and proposed areas of discussion, I am concerned that I will be unable to provide you
with many of the insights you are seeking. It has been nearly 30 months since I was Chairman
and 1 have "no notes or other materials" to refresh my memory since most of this material was
classified; consequently, it will have to be to the "best of my memory."

As you know, the Chairman's position is an extraordinarily busy position, usually with a number
of activities occurring simultaneously. This makes the task of remembering exact times and
dates even more difficult. Nevertheless, I will honor your request and provide insights to the
best of my ability.

Respectfully,

H. Hugh Shelton

One Founian Square. 11911 Freedom Drive. Restcn, Virginia 20190, U.S.A., Telephone: (703) 318-1900, Facsimile: (703) 318-9321
Dec-24-03 1 1 : 1 3 From-MIC INDUSTRIES 703-318-9321 T-265 P.02 F-353

Michael S. Ansari
Chairman & CEO
General H. Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.)
President, International Operations

General Anthony C. Zlnnl, U3MC, (Ret)

Special Assistant to the Chairman

Board of Advisors
Honorable William S, Cohen - Chairman
General H. Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.) - Vice Chairman

General Anthony C. Zlnnl, USMC, (Reu) Ruth

Hononblo Ronald V. Dallum* Ban Qazzarj
Gan«ral Chartaa E. Wllhalm, USMC, (gat) Susan Elionhower

The Honorable Thomas H. Kean

Chair, 9-11 Commission
301 7lh Street SW, Room 5125
Washington, D.C. 20407

Subject: 9-11 Commission Interview

Reference: Letter dated November 4, 2003 from General Shelton to Chairman Kean

Dear Chairman Kean:

I will not be appearing, as scheduled, before the Commission. Alter further review of the
questions and areas of discussion that are being proposed, T doubt that I would be able to provide
any substantive testimony. As 1 mentioned in my previous letter to you, it has been more than 30
months since I was Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Since the information about 9-1 1 is mostly
classified and 1 no longer have access to notes or other materials that might refresh my memory
about events during mat time, I believe my Contribution at this late date is negligible.

T appreciate the efforts put forth by the Commission.

Respectfully,

Henry H. Shelton

HHS/dmc

One Fountain Square, 119n Freedom Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190, U.S.A., Telepnona: (703) 318-1900, Facsimile: (703) 318-9321