EDITORIAL
Sept. 11 reports belong to everyone

Public hearings have been under way in Washington on the work of a commission that was supposed to look into the terrible events of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Based on how the administration has reacted to previous reviews of that terrible incident, it is difficult to see how much good work can be accomplished.

Case in point is the congressional (House and Senate) report on the terrorist attacks completed last year. Despite efforts in Congress, that report remains largely secret and — even in its limited redacted version — under lock and key and available only to authorized eyes.

What is in there that average Americans are not supposed to see?

According to the Los Angeles Times, a national security review of the congressional report left it "gutted" and devoid of important information.

Even so, members of the new 9-11 review commission, led by former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, can only look at the congressional review under close supervision and without access to original materials.

This report should be declassified and made available to both the American public and to the commission Gov. Kean now heads.