Good morning. This is a timely and important hearing and Senator Specter is to be commended on his tireless efforts in this area. I also wish to thank our witnesses for sharing their insights with us this morning.

I agree with my colleagues Senator Shelby and Senator Graham who say we need to make public much of the information from the Congressional report on intelligence activities surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. There needs to be a full and open debate of these issues, not just in relationship to the role of Saudi Arabia but world-wide.

For example, I am concerned about terrorism in Africa. We should put an end to the illicit trade in so-called blood diamonds which fund the activities of Liberian President Charles Taylor in his own country and Sierra Leone, among others. Reportedly, this trade has also supported conflicts in Angola and the Congo.

I am equally concerned about terrorism in Asia. We must stop the activities of terrorists like those in Bali who used $30,000 in laundered funds to finance the nightclub bombings that killed more that 180 people on October 12, 2002.

The findings of the 9/11 report provide an important lesson not only for the need to track and coordinate intelligence on terrorist funding from Saudi Arabia but also for other entities bent on the destruction of the United States.

It is a lesson we cannot afford to ignore.

I look forward to our panelists' testimony.