After nearly three years, haunting questions remain unanswered about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States: How did the 19 hijackers elude detection to carry out their deadly plot? And why did the government fail to take stronger action against al Qaeda earlier? An independent commission is preparing a long-awaited report on what went wrong on 9/11 and what can be done to prevent future catastrophes. Due in late July, the bipartisan panel's report is expected to fault both the Clinton and Bush administrations for failing to recognize the dangers posed by Osama bin Laden and to call for significant changes in U.S. intelligence agencies. But some experts say even major reforms cannot eliminate the danger of future attacks by determined enemies. Indeed, the government is warning that major terrorist attacks are possible in the United States this summer.

Kenneth Jost is Supreme Court editor, CQ Press; associate editor, CQ Researcher; and author of The Supreme Court Yearbook since the 1992-1993 edition.