to Germany to be a student — and only wanted to visit this free and beautiful country as a tourist.

In reality, he was an al-Qaida operative dispatched by Osama bin Laden to carry out the worst terrorist attack in the history of our nation.

In the 15 months before 9/11, Jarrah came and went from the United States at will — entering this country on deceitful terms no less than seven times.

After his first entry, according to a staff report of the 9/11 Commission, he instantly violated the terms of his visa. Yet, again and again, he was welcomed at U.S. airports and granted entry to the United States.

Jarrah did not appear to be a radical Islamic terrorist. He did not seem to have the sort of background thatwould lead him to hijack a commercial jet and fly it into the ground in Shanksville, Pa., murdering 40 Americans.

"Given his background and personality, Jarrah seemed a relatively unlikely candidate to become an al Qaeda operative," said a statement issued by the 9/11 Commission staff.

"From an affluent family, he studied at private, Christian schools in Lebanon before deciding to go abroad in Germany," said the statement. "He knew the best nightclubs and discos in Beirut, and partied with fellow students in Germany, even drinking beer — a clear taboo for any religious Muslim."

When Jarrah first applied for a tourist visa at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, the commission staff concluded, he must have seemed like a "strong visa candidate."

"(O)ur review of Berlin visa policy for third-country nationals suggests