9/11 Commission Report: Strong Guidance for a Safer America

Today marks the release of the long awaited report and recommendations from the bi-partisan 9/11 Commission. The commission has done a tremendous service to the nation and Americans should be grateful for its professionalism and commitment to America's security. While the report will conclude that no one person or institution may have prevented the attacks, it will clearly show that we could have done more to intervene in the plot and will highlight the dire need for reform of our national security apparatus.

• Our leaders should take the commission's findings seriously. The commissioners conclude that "deep institutional failures" allowed the 9/11 plot to fall through the cracks between our fragmented domestic and international intelligence units. Failures in collecting, sharing, and acting on critical intelligence information – across all institutions – kept our government from fully realizing the threats against us.
• The Bush administration should stop the political gamesmanship on terrorism. As the leaks and press conferences over the past few days have clearly shown, the Bush administration and its surrogates appear more focused on tearing down opponents than on reforming our security infrastructure. The administration fought the formation of the commission; delayed the handover of key documents; attacked commissioners; and pre-judged its recommendations. Now that the report is out, Americans should demand to know exactly what the administration plans to do to keep the country safe.
• We should act as soon as possible on the commission's recommendations and do what is necessary to protect America. Unfortunately, the politics are unlikely to cease. Congressional leaders have already said that no action on the report will be taken until after the elections; conservatives continue to push odd conspiracy theories about the Clinton administration; and Secretary Ridge has already dismissed the commission's main recommendation for a cabinet-level intelligence czar. America's security suffers as a result of these political games and we should move forward as quickly and as thoroughly as possible to implement reforms.

Daily Talking Points is a product of the Center for American Progress, a non-partisan research and educational institute committed to progressive principles for a strong, just and free America.