9/11

[jsoceanlord]

i don't remember if this topic is off limits (9/11).

anyway, i read that an air guard F-15 from otis ANGB almost intercepted the second airliner that hit the WTC.

that would've been like a heroic hollywood movie.

 

[EagleRJ]

that would've been like a heroic hollywood movie.

Whatever.

It's true that ANG fighters almost reached two of the hijacked airliners before they crashed, but whether they would have been able to gain permission from the elaborate chain of command is a mere point of conjecture.

If we had been forced to shoot down one of our own airliners, it would have compounded the tragedy. Also, we likely would not have exercised the extraordinary amount of restraint that we have against the terrorists and their sponsors.

 

[SpeedBug]

Re: Re: 9/11

Whatever.

It's true that ANG fighters almost reached two of the hijacked airliners before they crashed, but whether they would have been able to gain permission from the elaborate chain of command is a mere point of conjecture.

If we had been forced to shoot down one of our own airliners, it would have compounded the tragedy. Also, we likely would not have exercised the extraordinary amount of restraint that we have against the terrorists and their sponsors.

Watched a documentary on TLC not too long ago about the President and his actions that day. It was most informative with one on one interview with the Prez, VP, National Security Advisor and Andy Card.

If I recall, during the interview with Cheney, he said that after he spoke with AF1 and had confirmed it was indeed a terrorist attack, they learned of the plane over PA which was still a possible at that time and the second one just minutes away from the WTC.

He (Cheney) tried to re-reach AF1 but they (the WH) could not and they assumed the worst due to some use of a code word on an open ATC channel.

He then ordered the shoot down of any hijacked jets.

The ANG was something like 4 minutes behind the PA jet and the one that hit the second tower had a 15 hot on his tail, the pilot actually saw the jet impact the tower.

I also remember the interview Time Mag did with the commander of NORAD who ordered airborne any and all fighters we had and that better than half launched unarmed. He mentioned in the interview that he briefly consulted with his deputy about the possibility of ordering the unarmed jets to ram a passenger jet if it came to that.

They were worried at that point about as many as 10 to 15 others, which the FBI and Secret Service still listed as possible.



I agree if those Godless Bastards had indeed forced us to take down one of our own, the repercussions upon them would have been much worse.

Further…

I just wonder what would have happened IF they had successfully hijacked those other jets which never left the ground due to quick thinking and the ones they found similar weapons in (the box cutters found in seat backs etc…) Imagine if we had to watch as these attacks hit say two targets in three, four or five cities and we suffered 3,000 dead in each city?

What would our response have been then?

I guess it’s a good thing I was not President then and now, my idea of a war on terror and the rest of the worlds idea of a war on terror is two entirely different things.

 

[airtoair]

I just wonder what would have happened IF they had successfully hijacked those other jets which never left the ground due to quick thinking and the ones they found similar weapons in (the box cutters found in seat backs etc…) Imagine if we had to watch as these attacks hit say two targets in three, four or five cities and we suffered 3,000 dead in each city?

What would our response have been then?


Just curious why some people think that retaliation is based on the amount of life that was lost? Is 6,000 worse than 10,000 or worse than 1??? It becomes easy to over simplify and justify our inactions and lack of response because it was only 3,000. If only it would have been two more cities...Then we would be really angry. So go ahead, knock that chip off my shoulder - I dare you! Ok, do it again - I dare you. All right do it again then I'll be really mad...