<div>Of course, given we know what attack Bin Laden was determined to make on US soil that resulted in 9/11, it is difficult to now make recommendations for what Bush should have done prior, not influenced by this knowledge. But the August 6, 2001 briefing mentions the World Trade Center prior attacks as an example of what Bin Laden intends, and that hijacking aircraft is a potential tactic. Thus it seems rather obvious that increasing airport surveillance and screening for potential terrorist suspects, and increased fortifications against unauthorized access to commercial aircraft cockpits, including arming of pilot(s), are common sense responses, along with much increased airspace security for important potential targets, including (DUH!) the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, White House, all major US population centers, along with dams, nuclear power plants, military installations, et. al. </div>
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<div>I recall being in Chicago just a few months before 9/11, and the Sears Tower was easy to walk into and take an elevator to a high floor, for a free view of the Chicago skyline, etc., with no one asking any questions. Just a few months after 9/11, the Sears Tower had a guarded security perimeter, etc. and I did not even bother to go near it...</div>
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<div>One of the main questions of 9/11 conspiracy theorists is how the hijacked aircraft were allowed to veer off course for as long as they did, without being confronted by military fighter jets, who could either force the aircraft to land or if this was not possible, shoot the aircraft down to prevent it's use as a weapon, especially if the aircraft were approaching high risk critical targets.</div>
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<div>According to this article from Popular Mechanics, which is focused on refuting 9/11 conspiracy theories, they make the following claim:</div>
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<div>Debunking the 9/11 Myths: Special Report</div>
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<div><a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1227842.html?page=3" target="_blank">http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/1227842.html?page=3</a></div>
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<div><span style="COLOR: #006600; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">FACT:</span> On 9/11 there were only 14 fighter jets on alert in the contiguous 48 states.</div>
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<div>In reading this article, it appears that all possible measures, including being ready to utilize US military aircraft to prevent a terrorist attack using a hijacked commercial aircraft, were not in place. For example, commercial aircraft should broadcast identifying signals that cannot be turned off by hijackers (DUH!), as was the case in the 9/11 hijackings, so they can be located by military aircraft in case of a hijacking. </div>
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<div>It is clear there were measures that could have been taken to lessen the chances of a 9/11 style attack succeeding, or of lessening the damage and loss of life, if such an attack were under way.</div>
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<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 9:58 AM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:garrettmc@verizon.net" target="_blank">garrettmc@verizon.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class="gmail_quote">
<div>Andreas writes:<br><br>"With the information Bush had before 9/11, I'm not sure what an appropriate response would have been."<br><br><br></div>For one thing, when Bush was told a plane crashed into the WTC, an appropriate response would be to become a competent commander in chief since there was warning of that type of strike. You would assume he would have excused himself from reading to the classroom, instead of just sitting there.<br>
<br>An inappropriate response was the invasion of Iraq.<br><br>I think the PATRIOT Act was an inappropriate response, too.<br><br>It does make you wonder about Bush's grasp of reality and motives.<br><br>Garrett Clevenger<br>
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