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SALT LAKE CITY -- A new report card shows a number of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations have not been implemented sufficiently nearly 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The report from the Bipartisan Policy Center states "Today, our country is undoubtedly safer and more secure than it was a decade ago." But it also indicates nine of the commission's 41 recommendations issued in 2004 remain concerns.
The biggest issues - lack of enough reliable explosive detection equipment and difficulty in spotting concealed weapons on people.
The report applauds improvements in intelligence sharing and cites significant progress in security screening at airports.
The Transportation Security Administration says it continues to improve its airport screening processes. Recently it unveiled new screening software that cuts down on anatomy shown and alerts agents of potential problems.
TSA Director Mark Hadfield said, "The machine will determine where a possible anomaly is. If it's a wristwatch, you'll see a bounding box, or a highlight around the area where the machine wants you to look further. We have taken the analysis from the human and given it to the machine."
Still, the report's underlying message is stern: "A decade after 9/11 ... the nation is not yet prepared for a truly catastrophic disaster."
The report also says the director of national intelligence still doesn't have enough power, and not all states have met federal standards in creating standardized, secure IDs.
The report is actually an improvement over a similar report card issued by former members of the commission last year. That report used letter grades -- 12 "Ds,"5 "Fs," and two "incompletes."
Meanwhile, the federal government is stepping up security around the country in preparation for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and conducting confidential briefings with state and local law enforcement organizations. But officials say there is no specific indication that a terror plot against the U.S. is under way.
An intelligence official tells The Associated Press that Americans can expect more security at airports, mass transit stations, U.S. borders, government buildings and major athletic events over the next month. The official spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive security matters.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department have been briefing state and local law enforcement around the country on ways to enhance security and be aware of potential threats. Intelligence briefings are routine, but the recent focus has been on the 10-year anniversary.
Written by Andrew Adams and The Associated Press. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
