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Many different groups in Washington are supposed to have studied all possible threats. I simply am unable to understand why so many brilliant people did not think of such a simple plot and devise adequate countermeasures. It is not hard to imagine that some people did think of it, but were ignored or muzzled.
P.S. Another puzzling thought. Why didn't the airlines, who are now threatened with bankruptcy, do more to make security measures more effective? More than any other group, they should have been aware of the inadequacy of airport security.
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Bill:
My guess is no one thought that any human being could do such a thing. Unfortunately, when you throw common humanity out the window, there are so many scenarios leading to disaster you simply go crazy trying to prepare for all of them.
As to the airlines -- we haven't had a hijacking in the US in something like 10 years. Lulled into a false sense of security. My guess on that is that terrorists worldwide knew there was something big coming down and that a hijacking prior to the big event would cause the whole plot to come to naught as security was tightened.
TEd
TEd
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and let us not forget that, up until Tuesday, the pilot's handbook said "cooperate with the hijackers, get them to where they want to go".
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Why didn't the airlines, who are now threatened with bankruptcy, do more to make security measures more effective?
Because in tightening the financial side they paid the security folks at the gates minimum wage and gave minimal training? And did not forbid knives when they forbade guns. ?
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Up until about five years ago I flew pretty regularly between DC and Denver. I quit carrying a Swiss army knife as the "anchor" for my keys because of the hassles with security. I understand that the things the hijackers had were not metal and thus did not set off the metal detector.
Interestingly enough, when I went to Ireland ten years ago, not even the Irish security people, who patted me down at Heathrow, made a fuss about the swiss army knife.
TEd
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For a couple years I've carried a Victorinox swiss army card, which is the size of a credit-card (just a bit thicker) and fits in my wallet like one. It includes both a small knife - 1.5 inch blade - and scissors, each quite sharp.
And it has never set off a metal detector. I go through those detectors routinely, whenever I enter the court building, with nary a quiver.
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Mav, I agree 100% with most of what you were saying in this post. The idea of the U.S., particularly when being led by two old oil men, going to war against the oil states of the Middle East is ludicrous. And yes, the politicians' use of the word war is distressing, but good sense, absolute truth, and levelling completely with the public are always the first victims of a jingoistic campaign, and that's what too many people in DC are up to now.
On the same post, a little correction. Bush does not have the power to declare war on his own. By the terms of the U.S. Constitution, war can formally be declared only with the consent of the Congress. The last time a U.S. president asked congress to declare a war was Dec. 8, 1941, when FDR began his speech to a joint session with the now-immortal words, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a day which will live in infamy ..."
In any case, it is most unlikely that Bush or any other president will ever again ask for a formal declaratin of war. To begin with it isn't necessary. As commader in chief of the military, a president has wide discretion to take such actions as he sees necessary for the defense and protection of the nation, and he need not consult Congress, although there is usually some consultation, at least with the leaders. And he can always get a sprecial resolution from Congress, as Bush has done, and as LBJ suckered Congress into with the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. Secondly, a formal declaration and resultant state of war has serious legal consequences. For starters, much insurance coverage would be voided. So the "war" will officially be a "police action" or some such nonsense.
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addict
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a Victorinox swiss army card,..includes both a small knife - 1.5 inch blade - and scissors
British Airways have announced that they will no longer be selling these on the inflight Duty Free trolley.
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OP
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Well, Bill, while I was still thinking about your suggestion concerning a religious jihad as a better description, I see your dear President has taken up the cudgels in the name of a "crusade".
My heart sinks. Is it possible that those in such positions of power over so much of humanity can lack either the rudimentary knowledge of world history that would prevent them using this word now, or alternatively the lowest level of wit that would do the same?
tongue tied and twisted...
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patomorph;adj., An obvious problem which no one will face or acknowledge. An object of mass denial. (Sp. pato + morfo: in the shape of a duck, e.g. "if it walks like a duck ...") invidial; adj., Blinding or blocking of sight or understanding; so charged with emotion as to render rational discussion moot. Also Brit: infidial. (Gr. invidion: a piece of dirt in the eye) perspection; n., Presentation of "big picture" concepts without sufficient attention to feasibility of details. (L. per specto: to see around) prohensile; adj., With a foregone conclusion or hidden agenda built in. (L. pro hensa: to reach around) pandrigo; n., A hasty solution to a problem which brings unforeseen disastrous consequences; a failed quastic. Also pandrigous. (Latvian. pandrigo: ambush) viriscent; adj., Clearly dangerous or threatening; intentionally threatening. Mimicking a dangerous object or condition, especially as a defense mechanism. Also viriscence. (L. corruption of Aracauna: uwa-iri: rainbow death frog) spuctant; n., Any task, project, or responsibility which carries an overwhelming probability of failure. adj., doomed; ill-fated; gerbate. Also spuce, spuctancy. (L. sputum: sputum)  http://www.home.earthlink.net/~skilton/dictionary.html(thanx Bill!)
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