9/11 inquiry subpoenas Pentagon

The 11 September attacks traumatised America

A United States federal commission investigating the 11 September 2001 attacks has voted to subpoena the Pentagon.

The panel said they were "dismayed" that documents they had requested about the country's air defences on the day of the attack had not been provided.

They subpoenaed the Federal Aviation Administration last month, accusing the organisation of slowing down their inquiry.

The 10-member, bipartisan panel has until May to report on its investigation into lapses in national security relating to the plane hijackings that led to the deaths of about 3,000 people.

They had requested information from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Norad, which is responsible for protecting North American airspace.

Ministerial backing

"The commission has encountered some serious delays in obtaining needed documents from the Department of Defense," they said in a statement.

"We are especially dismayed by problems in the production of the records of activities of ... Norad and certain Air Force commands on September 11, 2001."

"The commission has therefore voted to issue a subpoena requiring the production of these records."

They issued a subpoena to the Federal Aviation Administration in October requesting information on air traffic control tracking of hijacked aircraft.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was said to back the commission's request for documentation.

"The commission has a statutory deadline to meet," said Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence, Stephen Cambone.

"The Secretary has directed that the department be responsive to held ensure the commission can meet its deadlines."