We know you want answers. We all do. On Sept. 11, 2001, our worlds changed, and there are few who would argue that these changes, though safer, are necessarily better than the way things were before American 11’s transponder went dead.

But not all things can come so easily.

After years of investigation, the independent Sept. 11 commission has learned a great deal about the events of what is now the most infamous day in American history. And they’ve offered solutions as well, from reorganizations within the intelligence community to the creation of a new cabinet office to act as a liaison between the United States’ 15 intelligence agencies, a joint congressional committee to oversee homeland security, and a counterterrorism center.

Many answers, indeed. But not all our questions can be wrapped up so easily.

Why did this happen? Beyond the rhetoric, why did these men decide to do what they did? We may now be able to stop another group of men from hijacking airplanes and using them as guided missiles, but does that mean we’re safe? And who in all of this is to blame?

The proposed cabinet position provides little comfort for any of these things except the last. Bureaucracy had a hand in allowing the attack, and we are weary of adding another name to the list of those who can be held responsible if the unthinkable happens again.

The terror of Sept. 11 comes from the concept that no one — regardless of CIA warnings — could have predicted a multi-plane suicide bombing, and very little could have been done to prevent it for long. Now, after the fact, it seems all that is left is blame and questions.

The suggestions outlined in the report would likely work well for stopping the scenario that we’re all familiar with now. But the chances of another attack of that kind are thankfully slim.

Yet if the attacks come from elsewhere, what then? Will these new offices have plans ready? Will the communication between an essentially extended government community be faster? Will they help us to be able to think on our feet if these things still fail?

There is no real safety with these things, and there really can’t be. Not totally. A new solution is needed to keep our country from harm, one that embraces both the known attacks, and the unknown.

But as long as there are those who would give their lives to harm us, we will be vulnerable. Perhaps the time has come to finally mend ties with the countries we only speak of derisively, usually as a “breeding ground for terrorists.” Perhaps we should ask the people of these countries themselves who have suffered because of American influence what caused this to happen.

Maybe there, in the end, we will find our answers.