Glenview, Ill. ? President Bush on Thursday acknowledged “deep institutional failures” in the nation’s defense that led to the 2001 terrorist attacks, and he said he would seriously consider the Sept. 11 commission’s recommendations to better anticipate threats.

“The job’s not done, and this report will help our country identify even more steps to better defend America,” Bush said.

He was silent, however, on one of the panel’s key recommendations — to create a Cabinet-level national intelligence director, who would oversee the 15-agency intelligence community. The idea got a cool response on Wednesday from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who said, “I don’t think you need a czar.”

Bush said the panel’s report was “serious and comprehensive.” He called for better coordination among intelligence agencies, increased collection of intelligence by humans and better technology to track enemies anywhere in the world.

“I agree with their conclusion that the terrorists were able to exploit ‘deep institutional failings’ in our nation’s defenses that developed over more than a decade,” Bush said.

“We will give serious consideration to every idea because we share a common goal: to do everything in our power to prepare for and to stop any terrorist attack.”

Bracing Americans for the possibility of another terrorist attack, Bush said: “They intend to strike the United States again. They’re seeking increasingly powerful weapons that would allow them to kill our citizens on an unprecedented scale. That’s the reality of the world we live in today.”

Bush spoke at Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy here just hours after the independent panel released its 575-page tome in Washington. While the report focused Americans on the nation’s vulnerability to attack, Bush highlighted steps he says he’s taken to better safeguard the nation.

President Bush, right, receives a copy of the Sept. 11 Commission's report from Thomas H. Kean, left, chairman of the commission, during a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House. Bush praised as very

He said the administration had:

l Melded more than 20 agencies with 180,000 personnel into a single Department of Homeland Security.

l Spent millions of dollars to equip first-responders and help them communicate.

l Made improvements at ports.

l Helped develop and stockpile vaccines and antidotes for chemical and biological weapons.

l Found faster ways to send local officials information on evolving threats.

l Refocused the FBI on homeland defense, and improved the way investigators share information.