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The first public hearing of
Us
the National Commission
on Terrorist Attacks Upon
First public hearing of the National Commission on the United States was held
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
on March 31 - April 1, 2003
at the U.S. Custom House,
Statement of Lee S. Wolosky to the One Bowling Green, New
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
York City, New York,
United States
April 1,2003 [more]

Thank you for inviting me to testify before you today on Commission Members
the subject of terrorist financing. This Commission has
been invested with profound responsibilities. It is my honor Thomas H. Kean
and privilege to be able to assist you in discharging your Chair
responsibilities on behalf of the American people.
Lee H. Hamilton
BACKGROUND Vice Chair

Richard Ben-Veniste
Unlike state-sponsored terrorist groups, al-Qaeda is
financially robust. Having developed multiple sources of Max Cleland
support, it is free from the control of any government. As Fred F. Fielding
such, it historically has been able to operate from failed or 3amie S. Gorelick
dysfunctional states. Indeed, when it was headquartered in Slade Gorton
both Sudan and Afghanistan, the al-Qaeda terrorist John F. Lehman
organization provided important financial support to its Timothy 3. Roemer
host state-instead of the other way around. James R. Thompson

The construction of al-Qaeda's financial support network Commission Staff

constituted a primary source of Osama Bin Laden's
personal influence. Unlike other terrorist leaders, Bin
Philip D. Zelikow
Laden was not a military hero, nor a religious authority,
Executive Director
nor an obvious representative of the downtrodden and
disillusioned. He was a rich financier, both a scion of one of
Chris Kojm
Saudi Arabia's most influential families and a challenger to
Saudi Arabia's existing system of governance, Deputy Executive Director
distinguished by his ability to organize an effective
network. Daniel Marcus
General Counsel
He built al-Qaeda's financial network from the foundation
of a system originally designed to channel resources to the
mujahideen fighting the Soviets. It was that network that
sustained the organization when bin Laden was forced to
move from Saudi Arabia to Sudan, and then again when
al-Qaeda was forced to uproot its infrastructure and
relocate to Afghanistan.

http://www.9-ll commission.gov/hearings/witness_wolosky.htm 4/14/2003