White House willing to talk about Sept. 11 panel

The White House Wednesday opened the door a crack to the idea of creating an independent commission to study government actions during the months leading up to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, pledging to discuss the issue with lawmakers once the congressional panel now investigating possible intelligence failures finishes its work.

"The administration's focus is to let Congress finish what it's working on now," said White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. But then, Fleischer added, the White House would be willing to "talk to members of Congress about whether anything additional, that goes into broader areas, is necessary."

Fleischer said the previous rejection of an independent commission applied to the idea of a panel that would probe intelligence failures, an issue it said only the Intelligence Committees should investigate.

Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., reportedly have prepared legislation establishing a commission to investigate the performance of various agencies in the days leading up to Sept. 11 and may seek to attach the bill to legislation establishing a Homeland Security Department.