9/11 and the Future of Transportation Security

"9/11 and the Future of Transportation Security performs the extraordinary service of looking back at the failures of 9/11, and looking forward to the pressing challenges of transportation security. Bill Johnstone offers a remarkably well-researched and engagingly written analysis that builds on his outstanding work on the 9/11 Commission." -- Lee H. Hamilton, Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and former Vice-Chair, National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the Unites States

Divided into three parts, this book analyzes the aviation security system's history and institutions to explain why the system failed on 9/11 in part one. Part two looks at what has been done in aviation and transportation security since 9/11, and part three outlines a suggested approach for improving US transportation security.

R. William Johnstone served on the transportation security staff of the 9/11 Commission, and wrote this book to build upon and supplement the Commission's work. In its pages, he explains the aviation security system failure on 9/11, uses that as a means for evaluating post-9/11 transportation security efforts, and proposes remedies to continued shortcomings.

9/11 and the Future of Transportation Security is based on information originally provided to the 9/11 Commission, augmented by unpublished reports and a wealth of other material that has come to light since the issuance of the Commission's own report in July 2004. Part One analyzes the aviation security system's history and institutions to explain why the system failed on 9/11. Part Two looks at what has been done in aviation and transportation security since 9/11, including the Commission's recommendations and the congressional response to them. Finally and most significantly, Part Three outlines a suggested approach for improving current U.S. transportation security. It begins with fundamental policy questions that must be answered if we are to optimize transportation security efforts, and concludes with both underlying principles for action and specific recommendations.