NEW YORK (AP) -- A commission created by President Bush to investigate the Sept. 11 attacks opened a two-day hearing Monday with testimony from survivors and relatives of the dead who urged them to ``point fingers'' to prevent future bloodshed.
In a quiet, raspy voice _ the result of inhaling burning jet fuel inside the north tower of the World Trade Center _ Harry Waizer said he hoped his story helped people remember.
``My hope is that by speaking today, I am putting a human face on the tragedy ... to help build a safer, more secure tomorrow,'' Waizer said.
The scope of the investigation by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States is broad, covering intelligence, law enforcement, diplomacy, aviation, the flow of assets to terrorist organizations and the government's response the day of the attacks.
The purpose is to find out ``why things happened and ... what could have been done to avert this tragedy,'' said Thomas Kean, the commission chairman.
The speakers included a Cantor Fitzgerald worker horribly burned by a fireball and a man whose wife was aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Some said they hoped their stories would help jump start the inquiry.
``I think this commission should point fingers _ I'm not suggesting that you find scapegoats, but there were people, people in responsible positions who failed us,'' said Stephen Push, whose wife, Lisa Raines, was aboard American Airlines Flight 77.
Lee Ielpi, father of one of the 343 firefighters lost at the trade center, told the panel they ``now bear responsibility to see that the lessons you learn at these hearings are remembered, and more importantly, acted on.''
Mary Fetchet played a recording of her son Brad's telephone call from the south tower in which he said he was fine and signed off with a quick ``love you.''
Fetchet said the 24-year-old equity trader had been told it was safe to remain in his office, and she wants to know ``what were the failures and who was accountable.''
Several speakers, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said the most obvious breakdown was airline security. He also urged the commission to recommend to Congress that it appropriate more money ``to the cities most vulnerable to attack.''
``Homeland security funds should be allocated on the basis of threat analysis and risk,'' Bloomberg said. ``Any other formula defies logic and makes a mockery of the country's counterterrorism efforts.''
President Bush signed the law creating the commission on Nov. 27 and named former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as chairman. Kissinger, who runs an international consulting firm, resigned 17 days later in response to questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Bush then turned to Kean, who was New Jersey's governor from 1982 to 1990. The other nine members were appointed by congressional leaders.
