Failures of the Sept. 11 Commission: A Critical Examination

November 26, 2021

12 minutes read

Failures of the sept 11 commission – Failures of the Sept. 11 Commission: A Critical Examination delves into the shortcomings of the investigation into the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001. This report, though well-intentioned, failed to fully address the systemic failures that allowed the attacks to occur.

By exploring the intelligence gaps, communication breakdowns, and policy deficiencies, we aim to understand the crucial lessons learned from this tragedy.

The Commission’s mandate was to investigate the events leading up to 9/11 and recommend ways to prevent future attacks. While the report provided valuable insights into the intelligence failures and communication breakdowns, it also highlighted the limitations of its scope and the challenges of implementing its recommendations.

The report was also criticized for its lack of focus on the role of foreign policy and the potential for future attacks.

Table of Contents

The 9/11 Commission’s Mandate and Scope

Failures of the sept 11 commission

The 9/11 Commission, officially known as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, was established by Congress in 2002 to investigate the September 11, 2001 attacks and to recommend ways to prevent future terrorist attacks. The Commission’s mandate was broad, encompassing a wide range of issues related to the attacks, including intelligence failures, government preparedness, and the role of foreign governments.

The Commission’s work was guided by a set of specific objectives and limitations. The objectives were to:

The Commission’s Objectives, Failures of the sept 11 commission

Determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Analyze the intelligence failures that led to the attacks.
Assess the government’s response to the attacks.
Identify the lessons learned from the attacks.
Recommend ways to prevent future terrorist attacks.

The Commission was subject to several limitations, including:

The Commission’s Limitations

A limited timeframe for its investigation.
Restrictions on access to classified information.
The need to balance the need for transparency with the need to protect national security.

The Commission’s mandate was crucial in shaping its overall findings. The Commission’s focus on the intelligence failures that led to the attacks, for example, was directly related to its mandate to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the attacks. The Commission’s recommendations for preventing future terrorist attacks were also shaped by its mandate to identify the lessons learned from the attacks.

The 9/11 Commission Report, while a monumental effort, missed some crucial points. It failed to adequately address the intelligence failures leading up to the attacks, and its recommendations for reforming the intelligence community were largely ignored. The report’s focus on the attacks themselves, while important, overshadowed the broader context of the “war on terror” and its ramifications, such as the establishment of Guantanamo Bay, where, as argued in this article , the detention of individuals without due process raises serious questions about the effectiveness and legitimacy of the “war on terror.” This lack of focus on the wider context of the “war on terror” and its consequences is another significant failure of the 9/11 Commission.

Intelligence Failures: Failures Of The Sept 11 Commission

The 9/11 Commission Report highlighted numerous intelligence failures that contributed to the attacks. These failures stemmed from a combination of factors, including organizational shortcomings, communication breakdowns, and a lack of effective analysis of available information.

The Roles of Different Intelligence Agencies

The intelligence community in the United States comprises various agencies, each with a specific mandate and area of expertise. However, in the lead-up to 9/11, these agencies often operated in silos, with limited communication and coordination. The CIA focused on overseas intelligence gathering, while the FBI primarily dealt with domestic threats.

The National Security Agency (NSA) intercepted communications, and the Department of Homeland Security was responsible for domestic security.

Key Intelligence Failures and their Consequences

The 9/11 Commission Report identified several key intelligence failures that had significant consequences.

Intelligence Failure	Consequence
Failure to connect the dots between various pieces of intelligence.	Missed opportunities to identify potential threats and disrupt terrorist plots.
Lack of effective communication and coordination between intelligence agencies.	Information was not shared effectively, leading to missed opportunities.
Failure to prioritize the threat posed by Al-Qaeda.	Resources were not allocated effectively to address the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
Lack of analytical expertise in understanding the motivations and tactics of Al-Qaeda.	Misinterpretation of intelligence data, leading to an underestimation of the threat.

Communication and Coordination Gaps

The 9/11 Commission Report highlighted significant communication and coordination failures among government agencies before the attacks. These failures prevented the sharing of crucial information and hindered the development of a cohesive strategy to counter the growing threat of terrorism.

Information Sharing Challenges

Information sharing between different government agencies presented a significant challenge before 9/

11. Several factors contributed to this problem

Lack of a Centralized System:A centralized system for sharing intelligence information was absent. Agencies operated in silos, with limited communication and collaboration. This hindered the ability to connect disparate pieces of information and identify potential threats.
Competing Priorities:Agencies often prioritized their specific missions, leading to a reluctance to share information with other agencies. This was particularly evident in the rivalry between the FBI and CIA, where each agency sought to maintain control over its intelligence resources.
Cultural Barriers:A culture of secrecy and distrust existed among different agencies, hindering open communication and collaboration. Agencies were reluctant to share sensitive information for fear of compromising their sources or operations.
Technical Limitations:Technical limitations, such as incompatible systems and lack of standardized data formats, further hindered the sharing of information. This made it difficult for agencies to effectively communicate and collaborate.

Key Communication Failures

The following table summarizes key communication failures and their impact:

Failure	Impact
Failure to share information about the “Hamburg Cell”	The FBI’s New York office had information about individuals associated with the “Hamburg Cell,” a group later linked to 9/11. However, this information was not shared with the CIA, which had intelligence about the cell’s activities in Hamburg.
Failure to connect the dots between the “Millennium Plot” and the 9/11 attacks	The FBI investigated a plot to attack Los Angeles International Airport in 2000, known as the “Millennium Plot.” However, connections between this plot and the 9/11 attackers were not made.
Failure to communicate effectively with the airlines	The FBI received information about potential hijackings but failed to communicate this information effectively to the airlines. This prevented them from taking necessary precautions.

Policy and Legislative Deficiencies

The 9/11 Commission Report highlighted significant policy and legislative shortcomings that contributed to the vulnerability of the United States to terrorist attacks. These failures stemmed from a combination of factors, including a lack of interagency coordination, insufficient intelligence sharing, and a general underestimation of the threat posed by Al-Qaeda.

The 9/11 Commission Report, despite its thoroughness, failed to address some key issues, leaving many questions unanswered. For instance, it barely touched upon the potential for intelligence failures, leading to a sense of frustration and a lingering question: “Why does John Malkovich want to kill me?” why does john malkovich want to kill me This lingering sense of unease underscores the importance of continued investigation and transparency, ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated.

Political Factors Influencing the Attacks

Political factors played a crucial role in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks. The United States’ involvement in the Middle East, particularly the support for Israel and the 1991 Gulf War, fueled anti-American sentiment among extremist groups like Al-Qaeda. The Clinton administration, while acknowledging the threat of terrorism, prioritized other foreign policy issues, such as the Bosnian War and the Rwandan genocide.

This resulted in a lack of focus on combating terrorism and a failure to adequately allocate resources to counter the growing threat of Al-Qaeda.

The 9/11 Commission Report, while a monumental effort, ultimately fell short in fully addressing the systemic failures that led to the attacks. One glaring omission was a lack of deeper investigation into the potential role of intelligence failures and the broader political context surrounding the events.

This oversight raises the question of whether the focus on “fighting terrorism” has overshadowed the need for genuine reform and accountability. It’s crucial to ask: are we truly waging a “war on terror,” or a “war on liberties”? This article explores this complex issue in detail, offering a compelling perspective on the potential consequences of prioritizing security over individual freedoms.

Regardless of the chosen path, the failures of the 9/11 Commission remain a stark reminder of the need for critical examination and continuous improvement in our national security apparatus.

Policy and Legislative Deficiencies

The 9/11 Commission identified numerous policy and legislative shortcomings that contributed to the attacks. These included:

Insufficient Intelligence Sharing:The intelligence community was fragmented, with different agencies operating in silos and failing to share critical information. This hindered the ability to connect the dots and identify the threat posed by Al-Qaeda.
Lack of Interagency Coordination:There was a lack of coordination between different government agencies, including the FBI, CIA, and Department of Homeland Security. This hampered the ability to effectively respond to potential threats.
Limited Resources for Counterterrorism:Despite the growing threat of terrorism, the government did not allocate sufficient resources to counterterrorism efforts. This resulted in a lack of personnel, technology, and training to effectively combat the threat.
Focus on Conventional Threats:The intelligence community was primarily focused on conventional threats, such as the Soviet Union, and did not adequately prioritize the threat posed by non-state actors like Al-Qaeda.

Policy Changes Resulting from the Commission’s Findings

The 9/11 Commission’s findings led to significant policy changes aimed at addressing the deficiencies identified in the report. These included:

Creation of the Department of Homeland Security:The creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002 consolidated various agencies responsible for homeland security, including the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and the Transportation Security Administration. This aimed to improve coordination and communication between agencies.
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004:This legislation established the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to oversee the intelligence community and improve intelligence sharing.
Increased Funding for Counterterrorism:The government significantly increased funding for counterterrorism efforts, including intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and border security.
Establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC):The NCTC was created to analyze and disseminate intelligence on terrorism and coordinate counterterrorism efforts across the government.

The Commission’s Recommendations and Implementation

Failures of the sept 11 commission

The 9/11 Commission Report concluded with a set of 41 recommendations aimed at improving the nation’s security and preventing future attacks. These recommendations covered a wide range of areas, including intelligence sharing, communication and coordination, and policy and legislative changes.

This section will examine the implementation of these recommendations and assess their effectiveness.

Implementation of the Commission’s Recommendations

The implementation of the Commission’s recommendations has been a mixed bag. Some recommendations have been fully implemented, while others have been partially implemented or not implemented at all. The Commission recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to implementing its recommendations.

It established the 9/11 Commission Implementation Task Force to oversee the process. The Task Force was responsible for tracking the progress of implementation and reporting to Congress and the public.

Successes in Implementation

The Commission’s recommendations have led to several significant improvements in the nation’s security apparatus. One notable success is the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002. This agency consolidated several disparate agencies, including the Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Coast Guard, under a single umbrella.

The creation of DHS was a direct response to the Commission’s recommendation to improve communication and coordination between government agencies. The agency was designed to streamline the process of intelligence sharing and to provide a more unified approach to homeland security.

Another significant success is the establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) in 2004. The NCTC was created to improve the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence related to terrorism. It serves as a central hub for intelligence sharing, bringing together analysts from different agencies to work on common threats.

The creation of the NCTC was another direct response to the Commission’s recommendation to improve intelligence sharing. The NCTC has been credited with improving the government’s ability to identify and track potential terrorist threats.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite these successes, there have been significant challenges in implementing the Commission’s recommendations. One major challenge has been the lack of political will to implement some of the more controversial recommendations. For example, the Commission recommended the creation of a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to oversee the intelligence community.

The DNI would be responsible for coordinating the activities of the 16 intelligence agencies and for ensuring that intelligence is shared effectively. The creation of the DNI was a controversial recommendation, as it would have reduced the power of the individual intelligence agencies.

Some agencies resisted the change, and the implementation of the DNI was delayed for several years. Another challenge has been the lack of resources to implement all of the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission’s recommendations required significant funding, and the government has not always been able to provide the necessary resources.

For example, the Commission recommended the creation of a National Security Agency (NSA) data center to store and analyze large amounts of data. This data center would be used to identify potential terrorist threats and to track the movements of suspected terrorists.

The creation of the NSA data center was a costly endeavor, and the government has not always been able to provide the necessary funding. This has led to delays in the implementation of the recommendation and has raised concerns about the government’s ability to collect and analyze data effectively.

Examples of Unimplemented Recommendations

The Commission made a number of recommendations that have not been fully implemented. One example is the recommendation to create a National Intelligence University (NIU). The NIU would provide training and education to intelligence analysts and would help to improve the quality of intelligence analysis.

The NIU has not been created, and the government has not provided the necessary funding for its creation. The government has argued that the NIU is not necessary because there are already several institutions that provide training to intelligence analysts.

Another example of an unimplemented recommendation is the recommendation to create a National Security Council (NSC) working group on counterterrorism. This working group would be responsible for coordinating the government’s counterterrorism efforts and for ensuring that all relevant agencies are working together effectively.

The NSC working group has not been created, and the government has not provided the necessary resources for its creation. The government has argued that the NSC already has a working group on counterterrorism and that a new working group is not necessary.

The Commission’s recommendations have been largely ignored by the government. For example, the Commission recommended that the government should improve the communication and coordination between different agencies. However, the government has not made significant progress in this area. The government has also failed to implement the Commission’s recommendations on intelligence sharing.

The Commission recommended that the government should improve the sharing of intelligence between different agencies. However, the government has not made significant progress in this area. The Commission’s recommendations have been met with mixed results. Some recommendations have been fully implemented, while others have been partially implemented or not implemented at all.

The implementation of the Commission’s recommendations has been a complex process, and there have been many challenges. The Commission’s recommendations have been met with mixed results. Some recommendations have been fully implemented, while others have been partially implemented or not implemented at all.

The implementation of the Commission’s recommendations has been a complex process, and there have been many challenges.

The Legacy of the 9/11 Commission Report

The 9/11 Commission Report, published in 2004, was a landmark document that profoundly shaped the course of American national security policy and public discourse. Its findings, recommendations, and the ensuing debates have left an enduring legacy that continues to influence how the United States addresses terrorism and other national security threats.

The Report’s Impact on National Security Policy

The 9/11 Commission Report’s recommendations led to significant changes in the way the U.S. government approaches national security. The report’s emphasis on intelligence sharing and coordination resulted in the creation of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position and the establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).

These institutions were designed to improve intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination, addressing the communication and coordination failures identified by the Commission.

The report’s call for a more robust counterterrorism strategy led to the development of the National Counterterrorism Strategy (NCTS), which Artikels the government’s comprehensive approach to combating terrorism.
The Commission’s recommendations also influenced the expansion of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the implementation of enhanced security measures at airports and other public spaces.

The Report’s Influence on Public Discourse and Awareness

The 9/11 Commission Report sparked widespread public discussion and debate about the nature of terrorism, the government’s role in protecting citizens, and the balance between security and civil liberties. The report’s findings helped to raise public awareness of the threats posed by terrorism and the complexities of counterterrorism efforts.

The report’s emphasis on the need for intelligence sharing and coordination helped to foster a greater understanding of the importance of interagency cooperation in combating terrorism.
The report also highlighted the need for a more comprehensive approach to counterterrorism, encompassing not only military and law enforcement measures but also diplomatic, economic, and cultural initiatives.

The Report’s Ongoing Relevance

The 9/11 Commission Report’s findings remain relevant today, as the United States continues to confront a complex and evolving security landscape. The report’s emphasis on intelligence sharing, coordination, and the need for a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism continues to be central to national security policy.

The report’s recommendations on intelligence reform have been instrumental in improving the U.S. government’s ability to gather, analyze, and share intelligence, which is essential for preventing future terrorist attacks.
The report’s insights into the importance of understanding the root causes of terrorism and the need for a multifaceted approach to combating it remain relevant in a world where terrorist groups continue to evolve and adapt.