Editorial: Thwarting 9-11 panel

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

This week the independent, bipartisan commission investigating the 9-11 terrorist attacks asked that the deadline for completing its final report be extended beyond May 27, to at least July. A spokesman for the White House, which in the past has fought any extensions and didn't even want a 9-11 commission created in the first place, would only say that it's up to Congress to decide whether to extend the deadline. Despite the sudden profession of neutrality on the deadline, it's clear that Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert is doing the bidding of the White House by his opposition to any extension, resistance that very well could doom a thorough report from being issued.

From the start the White House has feared the report could be politically damaging to President Bush. The administration has made it increasingly difficult for the commission to do its job, refusing to turn over documents to the commission in a timely manner. Ironically, it has been the White House's own stonewalling that has led to the commission having difficulty in finishing its important task.

The 9-11 commission only came into being after a groundswell of support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress refused to go along with the White House's opposition. We hope that same level of bipartisan support emerges again, forcing the deadline to be reasonably extended. This is no time for partisanship. We need to know from an independent, respected source some of the security shortcomings that contributed to 9-11 and what short-term and long-term strategies should be implemented to protect against further acts of terrorism.