It represents the latest in a series of moves by the president to rehabilitate previously discredited or controversial figures, leading British newspaper the Guardian reported Thursday, November 28.

Bush signed legislation Wednesday that creates a new independent commission, headed by Kissinger, to investigate the attacks.

The appointment received the backing of both Democrats and Republicans.

"This commission will help me and future presidents to understand the methods of America's enemies and the nature of the threats we face," Bush said at a White House signing ceremony attended by the relatives of September 11 victims.

"This investigation should carefully examine all the evidence and follow all the facts wherever they lead. We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September 11," said Bush.

"America will learn more about the evil that was done to us," said Bush.

"Dr Kissinger will bring broad experience, clear thinking and careful judgment to this important task... we share the same commitment."

He thanked Kissinger for "returning to the service of your nation."

Kissinger's manipulative style and ruthless realpolitik he displayed under President Nixon and President Ford have made him something of a demon for liberals, especially over policy in Cambodia and Latin America, said another British newspaper, the Independent.

But most important for the current U.S. president is his style, secretive where needs be and always conscious of the realities of power.

This trait could become highly important if, as expected, Bush himself is called before the panel to testify about what he knew of the terrorist threat before September 11.

German-born Kissinger, 79, said he would take the investigation to wherever "the facts lead us. We are under no restrictions, and we will accept no restrictions.

"This is not a matter simply for New York, it is a matter for all of America. To the families concerned, there's nothing that can be done about the losses they've suffered, but everything must be done to avoid that such a tragedy can occur again."

If no stone is left unturned, the investigation could prove explosive.

Not only will it explore how much was known by government agencies before the attacks on New York and Washington, it can also hardly avoid the matter of the foreign support for Al-Qaeda, above all from the territory of important American allies such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, claimed the Independent.

His task will be to investigate intelligence failures and whether the attacks could have been avoided.

The 10-member commission will consist of an equal number of Republican and Democratic nominees.

They have 18 months to report, although Bush indicated Wednesday that he expects much swifter conclusions.

Six votes are needed to subpoena witnesses under a compromise deal which effectively grants both parties veto power over who the commission may question.

The Intelligence Authorization bill also contains provisions to create a database of suspected terrorists and fund improvements in intelligence agencies' capacity to translate foreign languages.

"The sooner we have the commission's conclusions, the sooner this administration will act on them."

Kissinger's appointment is a controversial one.

Kissinger has also faced attacks by activists and journalists who say he sacrificed the human side in any case he worked on.

Several recent books and a documentary have questioned his honesty and integrity.

Christopher Hitchens's book, The Trial of Henry Kissinger, accuses him of war crimes for his activities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Chile and Daniel Ellsberg's new book, Secrets, currently in the best-seller lists, paints a damning picture of his behavior during the Vietnam war era.

Kissinger's ability to travel abroad is already circumscribed, because of fears that he could face arrest in some countries.

He has been asked by Chilean courts to testify about the 1973 coup.

Congressional investigations into the September 11 attacks revealed a string of warnings of possible terror attacks before hijackers seized four airliners and set course for New York and Washington last year.

But a House of Representatives and Senate report issued in September found there was no specific warning on how, when and where such an attack could occur.

Bush had long resisted an inquiry along the lines of the 1964 commission under Chief Justice Earl Warren into the Kennedy assassination, maintaining that its broad subpoena powers could lead to embarrassing leaks and interfere with the war against terrorism, reported the Independent.

But he eventually bowed to intense pressure from the families of the victims demanding that the facts be uncovered, after last summer's congressional hearings threw light on the shortcomings of the FBI, the CIA and the National Security Agency, and the inability of the various intelligence agencies to co-operate.

Bush thanked the people who pushed for the probe.

"You've been motivated by a noble goal: You want to spare the Americans the kind of suffering you faced. I appreciate that sentiment," Bush said.

The White House had been concerned that an independent probe would turn into a political witch hunt, and that leaks could harm the U.S. anti-terror campaign, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).