Topic: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

Anwar al-Awlaki dead: what it means for US, Yemen

The assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki, a US citizen and Al Qaeda recruiter in Yemen, will be heralded as a major triumph in the US today. But it has very little to do with Yemen's own problems.

Iranian group's big-money push to get off US terrorist list

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: A roster of influential former US officials is speaking at rallies in support of removing the MEK, an Iranian opposition group with a violent anti-American history, from the US terrorist list. A decision is expected within weeks.

Why an accurate US account of the bin Laden attack is so important

The fumbled recountings of the attack on the bin Laden compound undermine the operation itself and the credibility of the US government, analysts say. It also helped to fuel conspiracy theories.

TSA looks to expedite screening for air cargo on US-bound passenger planes

Screening for all air cargo shipped to the US via commercial passenger planes must be in place by the end of 2011, under a TSA proposal. The Yemen bomb plot led TSA to accelerate its timetable.

Yemen packages: Air cargo was a target before. Why is it still vulnerable?

Long before explosive packages were shipped on flights out of Yemen, terrorists eyed air cargo as a means of attacking the US. Yet millions of tons of air cargo bound for the US still are not screened.

Nine years after the attacks of 9/11, how safe is America?

A new report says Al Qaeda and its allies still have the capacity to kill many Americans, and that the threat today is more complex and more diverse than at any time since the attacks of 9/11.

September 11 in schools: How teachers are helping students understand

September 11 can be a difficult subject for students to make sense of, but teachers have an expanding set of resources to help students think about the day.

Intelligence director Dennis Blair knew his days were numbered

Dennis Blair knew for months that his tenure would be coming to a close.

Yemen balks at possible US strike on cleric Anwar al-Awlaki

Yemen said this weekend it is not hunting Anwar al-Awlaki, the US-born cleric who has been linked to the Fort Hood shooter and Christmas Day underwear bomber. Awlaki was recently added to the CIA's hit list.

Best books for the next generation: Harry Potter – and "The 9/11 Commission Report"?

British readers had some unusual answers when asked what books they most wanted to pass on to the next generation.

Terrorism? Fort Hood report doesn’t mention Islamic extremism.

At congressional hearings Wednesday on Fort Hood, House Armed Services Committee Republicans said Islamic extremism is the ‘800 pound gorilla’ in the room.

Head of 9/11 Commission: Christmas intel errors were different

The Monitor's View: Screen out useless reactions to Christmas Day attack

Drop the partisan politics and knee-jerk security measures resulting from the Christmas Day attack. Focus on what’s useful: passenger screening and terrorist watch lists.

Christmas Day terrorist attack: have 9/11 reforms failed?

Congress is gearing up to look into why the security changes made after 9/11 didn't prevent the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on an airline landing in Detroit.

Senators say Fort Hood shooting was terrorism

Several lawmakers and terror experts at Senate hearings on the Fort Hood shooting Thursday called the incident a terrorist attack, and warned of the danger of homegrown jihad.

Fort Hood shooting: Was Nidal Malik Hasan inspired by militant cleric?

Alleged Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Malik Hasan had ties to US-born militant Moslem cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a leading figure seeking to recruit English speakers to violent jihad.

Clinton: Hard to believe Pakistan can't find Al Qaeda

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's blunt comments about Al Qaeda havens during her trip to Pakistan have raised eyebrows.

Five things New Orleans wants from Obama

When President Obama speaks to New Orleans residents Thursday, they will likely tell him they need federal help to make the city more hurricane-proof and to fix a moonscape of post-Katrina potholes.

Homeland security to repeal national ID law

The Obama administration wants to replace the controversial Bush initiative with a cheaper, less rigorous ID program.

To probe detainee abuse, Congress leans toward outsourcing

Success of the 9/11 commission means lawmakers often punt toughest investigations to independent bodies – despite some internal resistance.

Congress inches toward 'truth commission' for torture probe

Democrats and Republicans are finding little common ground, leading some Senators to say an independent investigator is needed.

USA

Opinion: Send more U.S. students abroad

We can't be competitive globally if we lack exposure beyond US borders.

The Monitor's View: REAL ID, real resistance

States have legitimate concerns about lack of funding for more secure driver's licenses.