The Feds' Rotten Report Card

The 9/11 Commission's report card for how the government has reacted to terrorism is filled with gentleman's Ds and Fs:

The 10-member bipartisan panel—whose book-length report on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks became a surprise best-seller—issued a "report card" that included 5 "F's," 12 "D's" and two "incompletes" in categories ranging from airline-passenger screening to improving first responders' communication systems.

The group also said there has been little progress in forcing federal agencies to share intelligence and terrorism information and sharply criticized government efforts to secure weapons of mass destruction or establish clear standards for the proper treatment of U.S. detainees.

The commission assigned letter grades to assess progress, or lack thereof, regarding each of its 41 recommendations.

According to the panel, the government deserves only one top grade, an A-, for its "vigorous effort against terrorist financing." The panel also gave out B's and C's for government performance on issues ranging from the creation of a director of national intelligence to an ongoing commitment to Afghanistan.

But in nearly half the categories, the government merited a D, an F or an incomplete grade, according to the report card. Kean and other commission members said at a news conference in Washington that all the goals should be achievable, but that many have languished amid political skirmishing and bureaucratic turf battles.

Whole thing here.