For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 6, 2004
President Bush Announces Formation of Independent Commission
The James S. Brady Briefing Room
1:32 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Today, by executive order, I am creating an independent commission, chaired by Governor
and former Senator Chuck Robb, Judge Laurence Silberman, to look at American intelligence capabilities, especially our
intelligence about weapons of mass destruction.
Last week, our former chief weapons inspector, David Kay, reported that Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons programs and
activities in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and was a gathering threat to the world. Dr. Kay
also stated that some pre-war intelligence assessments by America and other nations about Iraq's weapons stockpiles have
not been confirmed. We are determined to figure out why.
We're also determined to make sure that American intelligence is as accurate as possible for every challenge in the
future. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses the most serious of dangers to the peace of the world.
Chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorist or terror regimes could bring catastrophic harm to
America and to our friends.
It is the policy of the United States government to oppose that threat by any means necessary. Our efforts against
proliferation begin with and depend upon accurate and thorough intelligence. The men and women of our intelligence
community and intelligence officers who work for our friends and allies around the world are dedicated professionals
engaged in difficult and complex work.
America's enemies are secretive, they are ruthless, and they are resourceful. And in tracking and disrupting their
activities, our nation must bring to bear every tool and advantage at our command. In Iraq, America and our coalition
enforce the clearly stated demands of the world -- that a violent regime prove its own disarmament. In the aftermath of
September the 11th, 2001, I will not take risks with the lives and security of the American people by assuming the
goodwill of dictators.
And now, as we move forward in our efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we must stay ahead of
constantly changing intelligence challenges. The stakes for our country could not be higher, and our standard of
intelligence gathering and analysis must be equal to that of the challenge.
The commission I have appointed today will examine intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and related 21st century
threats and issue specific recommendations to ensure our capabilities are strong. The commission will compare what the
Iraq Survey Group learns with the information we had prior to our Operation Iraqi Freedom. It will review our
intelligence on weapons programs in countries such as North Korea and Iran. It will examine our intelligence on the
threats posed by Libya and Afghanistan before recent changes in those countries. Members of the commission will issue
their report by March 31, 2005.
I've ordered all departments and agencies, including our intelligence agencies, to assist the commission's work. The
commission will have full access to the findings of the Iraq Survey Group. In naming this commission, these men as
co-chairmen of the commission, I'm also naming, today, Senator John McCain; Lloyd Cutler, former White House Counsel to
Presidents Carter and Clinton; Rick Levin, the President of Yale University; Admiral Bill Studeman, the former Deputy
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Judge Pat Wald, a former judge on the D.C. Court of Appeals. Those are
seven members named. The commission calls for up to nine members. As we vet and find additional members to fill out the
nine, we will let you know.
Thank you for your attention.
END 1:37 P.M.