In amazing detail and as a testament to the power of open government, the Sept. 11 commission presents an exhaustive – and sobering – assessment of how terrorists were able to turn passenger airlines into guided missiles.

The commission had a difficult birth. It was opposed by President Bush, had to fight mightily to get access to important documents and administration insiders, and was threatened by a highly charged partisan atmosphere created in a presidential election year. Despite the obstacles, the commission has done an admirable job laying bare the ugly facts of the Sept. 11 attacks.

It’s a story of failure. Failure by successive presidents, Congress, the military and the intelligence community to grasp the changing realities of the post-Cold War world. There were plenty of warning signs, very specific ones in hindsight. But the country missed them all.

But one part of the story, already known, gives us reason for hope. Normal people, everyday citizens, armed with nothing more than cell phones, information and a drink cart were able to do something that the entire defense structure on the United States could not: Thwart at least part of the terrorists’ plans. Passengers on United Flight 93 saved untold lives when they forced terrorists to crash the plane in Pennsylvania, before reaching its target.

These brave souls, intent on their purpose, were able to react to a changing and hostile environment.

Surely, the Washington establishment, presented with a diagram of what’s wrong, can put partisanship and power struggles aside to do what’s right for the country.

The Sept. 11 Commission offers important recommendations for reform. Some are better than others, and all need to be publicly debated.

What’s not up for debate is the need to act now. Election year or not, this work needs to begin in earnest.

Matzen cleared

Auburn’s Ethics Committee cleared Councilman Kelly Matzen of charges that a vote he cast in favor of selling $5 million in bonds to build a parking garage violated the city’s conflict of interest rules.

As this page has suggested, Matzen’s vote did not appear to represent a clear-cut conflict. After a crazy-long process, the Ethics Committee has agreed.

During its investigation, the committee found that this whole mess could have been avoided. But the city reverted to its odd habit of keeping important information secret, even when there’s no good reason.

Before the final vote on the bond on March 1, the city attorney reviewed the question of whether Matzen should recuse himself. According to the Ethics Committee, no conflict was found, but the information was kept from most of the City Council and the public. Only the city staff, Matzen and Mayor Norm Guay were informed of the finding.

Keeping that information quiet was a mistake on two counts. First, the fact that city leaders sought a legal opinion before the final bond vote shows they were concerned about a possible conflict of interest and took appropriate action to safeguard the process. Second, the information could have eased the concerns of other council members, including Bob Mennealy and Belinda Gerry, who, along with 68 city residents, asked for the ethics investigation.

The Ethics Committee will recommend that the city admit the error and, in the future, seek out the input of the panel before a problem arises. Good advice, to be sure.

We’ll offer one more idea: Learn from the mistake. The city should not automatically look to keep information secret.