WASHINGTON -- The recent 9/11 Commission report is without a doubt one of the most thorough, most important and best studies by any such independent group in recent decades in the United States. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry and now President George W. Bush, as well as much of the Congress, are right to push for quick consideration of many of its proposals.

Ironically, though, it is weakest in precisely those areas -- specifically, intelligence reform -- where its suggestions are garnering the most attention.

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration have a lot of work to do in assessing the commission's recommendations. Some will need refinement if they are not to prove distracting -- or even downright counterproductive -- in our real task of protecting the country.