Saddam & Osama: Sullivan gets it right today, in a big way. The wording from the 9/11 commission on the Iraq-Qaeda nexus is being sold by the media as a definitive refutation of the Cheney thesis. I think it was Laurie Mylroie who phrased it thus, employing the terms more strictly: We don't have proof that Saddam and al Qaeda cooperated, but we do have evidence. The media has simply said, "There's no evidence . . ." That's just false.

it's worth noting that the tone of a lot of coverage of the 9/11 panel seems to indicate that they will sit around and look pleased with themselves for telling the several agencies of the government what they did wrong. Should we make changes at the FAA? Obviously. But terrorism exploits weaknesses, and it depends on surprise. That is how the few can fight the many. And so the masterminds of terror must have known that using airplanes was a one-shot deal. As flight 93 showed, even before the day was done, the effectiveness of the hijacked missile strategy was used up -- thwarted not by the FAA or air marshalls, but by passengers who got the gist and fought back.

My guess is that sleeper agents in the U.S. already have their next target planned. Looking back should be about 1% of the panel's mandate. The rest should be asking, "Where will the next strike come?"