New information has come to light about Al Qaeda and its capabilities since the congressional committee finished its 800 page report on intelligence failures and whether 9/11 could have been prevented. As a result, another probe is expected to begin shortly--this time focusing on the Government's responses to the terrorism threats. It will cover both the Bush and Clinton administrations.

The bipartisan commission appointed by Congress and President Bush is conducting what participants believe is the most ambitious government investigation in history, looking not only into intelligence failures, as the congressional committee did, but much more broadly at how the U.S. government responded to the terrorist threat.

"There is new information that has come to us, both classified and unclassified, since Congress finished its work," said commission Chairman Thomas H. Kean, a former Republican governor of New Jersey. The new information, he said, may provide new facts and lead to some recommendations that are different from those of the joint committee, but he declined to reveal specifics.

In addition to looking at the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the commission is examining anti-terrorism policies across the board, including in immigration, border control and aviation.

The commission will also examine the actions of Congress, both in terms of its responses to agency funding requests and in fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities.