What if they had been shot down?

[southerngale]

So yesterday the 9/11 Commission played back the radio transmissions from the 9/11 hijackers. They were disturbing, with one of the hijackers, believed to be Mohammed Atta, saying to passengers "Just stay quiet and you'll be O.K." Of course, we all know what happened when that murderous Islamic terrorist crashed that plane full of innocent people into the World Trade Center.

Also presented was evidence that the government bureaucrats at the FAA then took forever to contact the military, and eventually reached someone who asked if it was a real emergency or an exercise. By the time the F-16's were scrambled, it was too late. Later, the president, through Vice President Dick Cheney, authorized shooting down planes that were headed for Washington, but the orders never made it to the pilots. It's pretty sad when direct orders from the President of the United States aren't carried out.

Anyway, all of this begs the question: What if they had been shot down?

What if the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania was shot down, the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center -- what if they had all been shot down, crashing harmlessly to the ground. Can you imagine what would have happened?

Even though less that 300 lives would have been lost instead of almost 3,000, people would have been in an uproar. Democrats would have been calling for President Bush's resignation the next day. The left would be calling Dick Cheney a murderer, and the victim's families would be holding press conferences. The media would align against the president, saying that if only they had waited, maybe we could have talked to the terrorists. Maybe we could have negotiated; found out why they were angry. Surely they weren't going to crash those planes into buildings. Impeachment proceedings would get underway.

An absurd idea? Maybe...but think about all of this in terms of September 10th. On September 11, the United States was not on a war footing, nobody anywhere could envision what happened. All we can do is not let it happen again.



http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

[Rainband]

Even though less that 300 lives would have been lost instead of almost 3,000, people would have been in an uproar. Democrats would have been calling for President Bush's resignation the next day. The left would be calling Dick Cheney a murderer, and the victim's families would be holding press conferences. The media would align against the president, saying that if only they had waited, maybe we could have talked to the terrorists. Maybe we could have negotiated; found out why they were angry. Surely they weren't going to crash those planes into buildings. Impeachment proceedings would get underway.

An absurd idea? Maybe...but think about all of this in terms of September 10th. On September 11, the United States was not on a war footing, nobody anywhere could envision what happened. All we can do is not let it happen again.



http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

Kelly this isn't intended for you but the article you posted I hardly think they would have thought the President should be impeached ,after they found out what the planes were going to do. Like I said this country would be in a lot better shape if the democrats and Republicans could compromise, and stop pointing fingers ,like so many elementary school children. It infuriates me to read articles like this. The bickering and pointing of fingers within our own Government only shows weakness. The events of that day and the people that died that day..should never be forgotten..but all this pointing fingers is immature and senseless. Lets spend the time productively and make sure September 11th, 2001.. NEVER happens again!!! Instead of trying to put the Blame somewhere The dems say Bush could have done more. The republicans say Clinton should have done more.. The simple truth is, the ONLY way 911 could have been prevented is if those COWARDS, know as the 911 Hijackers didn't board those aircraft

[stormie_skies]

The dems say Bush could have done more. The republicans say Clinton should have done more.. The simple truth is, the ONLY way 911 could have been prevented is if those COWARDS, know as the 911 Hijackers didn't board those aircraft

Absolutely! To play the blame game fairly, we would have to implicate every president in modern history, including both Bushs, Clinton, Reagan, etc etc. Fact is, we were ALL asleep, Democrats and Republicans. The sooner we all admit that and stop pointing fingers, the better.

[GalvestonDuck]

One problem -- what if it happened and there wasn't enough evidence to determine just *what* had been prevented. What if we were unable to prove that thousands of lives were saved? Don't you guys think a lot of people would call any answers that were provided lies, charging that Bush and the American government were trying to deceive the American people? Like Boortz said, a lot of people would argue that we should have negotiated. IMO, I think that just as many fingers that are being pointed W's way now would still be pointed at him had things gone the other way.

[rainstorm]

simple fact. had president bush knew some kind of major attack by plane was going to happen, and he ordered all muslims and arabs to be screened at airports and singled out for special treatment in aug 2001 the dems would have called him a racist bigot.

[abajan]

Southerngale and rainstorm, you're both correct. Good posts and food for thought.

[Stephanie]

I agree Johnathan.

I think that even if one of the planes did stike the WTC or the Pentagon and the others were shot down, I think that the majority of the public would've been understanding. It would've been shocking and debated for a long time, yes, but it also not the first time we've seen airplanes hijacked.

The fact of the matter is that 9/11 took EVERYONE by surprise and as tragic as it was, we've learned alot from it and hopefully continue to do so.

[rainstorm]

heres another point. the useless 9/11 commision is saying the immediate response to 9/11 was "un-coordinated". so what? look at it this way. lets say you own a gun, and have expertise in that, and have a safety plan in place at home. then, someone breaks in your house and is in the process of killing your family. will your response be "un-coordinated? of course. the commision has been a ridiculous waste of time and money. i already know we were attacked by muslims on 9/11.

[vbhoutex]

heres another point. the useless 9/11 commision is saying the immediate response to 9/11 was "un-coordinated". so what? look at it this way. lets say you own a gun, and have expertise in that, and have a safety plan in place at home. then, someone breaks in your house and is in the process of killing your family. will your response be "un-coordinated? of course. the commision has been a ridiculous waste of time and money. i already know we were attacked by muslims on 9/11.

AMEN!!!! EXCELLENT POST HELEN!!

I can't disagree with any of the points above except one. If we had no more proof than the fact that a plane had been hijacked and our millitary had shot them down, I think it would have played out just like Kelly said.

We could have spent the millions spent on this useless finger pointing led by democrats trying to win the white house a lot better!!! Like for setting up procedures to insure that COWARDS such as those that boarded our planes and KILLED THOUSANDS are never allowed to do that again.

[rainstorm]

very true, VB!!

[Rainband]

I give up

[george_r_1961]

So yesterday the 9/11 Commission played back the radio transmissions from the 9/11 hijackers. They were disturbing, with one of the hijackers, believed to be Mohammed Atta, saying to passengers "Just stay quiet and you'll be O.K." Of course, we all know what happened when that murderous Islamic terrorist crashed that plane full of innocent people into the World Trade Center.

Also presented was evidence that the government bureaucrats at the FAA then took forever to contact the military, and eventually reached someone who asked if it was a real emergency or an exercise. By the time the F-16's were scrambled, it was too late. Later, the president, through Vice President Dick Cheney, authorized shooting down planes that were headed for Washington, but the orders never made it to the pilots. It's pretty sad when direct orders from the President of the United States aren't carried out.

Anyway, all of this begs the question: What if they had been shot down?

What if the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania was shot down, the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center -- what if they had all been shot down, crashing harmlessly to the ground. Can you imagine what would have happened?

Even though less that 300 lives would have been lost instead of almost 3,000, people would have been in an uproar. Democrats would have been calling for President Bush's resignation the next day. The left would be calling Dick Cheney a murderer, and the victim's families would be holding press conferences. The media would align against the president, saying that if only they had waited, maybe we could have talked to the terrorists. Maybe we could have negotiated; found out why they were angry. Surely they weren't going to crash those planes into buildings. Impeachment proceedings would get underway.

An absurd idea? Maybe...but think about all of this in terms of September 10th. On September 11, the United States was not on a war footing, nobody anywhere could envision what happened. All we can do is not let it happen again.



http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

Kelly thats why I dont like liberals in any way shape or form. I do not waste my time trying to reason with them.

[stormchazer]

Isn't it amazing how smart people are in hindsight? 9/11 changed our whole posture as a country. Even the NY Times when talking about Clinton's book remark how irrelevant it is in comparison to post-9/11. Yet he dominates the news along with America hating Michael Moore and the Hollywood elite.

If we had shot down those planes, the families would be suing the Government and Bush would be impeached. The Republicans would have been drummed out of every seat up for grabs in the 2002 elections and the terrorist would be having a fiesta.

Knowing what we know now its bad enough, the peacniks seem to dominate the news and the liberals think terrorism is still a law enforcement problem. The UN is a cess pool of corruption and most of our so called Allies in Europe are crouching in the corner in fear. The press can only talk about prison abuse while 2 Americans are savagely murdered for the Cyber-World to see. Meanwhile, 3000 innocents are collectively rolling over in their graves and our brave men and women are giving the fullest measure to keep terrorist off our soil.

I have avoided serious debate at S2K lately as I have tired trying to defend something that seems so clear to me against others who think Sheryl Crow's statement "the best way to avoid war is not to have enemies" is the only way to believe. Forget taking in to account that even here in the great USA there are those who would kill you because your skin is the wrong color. I wonder if you should hug them before they hang you? I respect your opinion, but it was just that thought process that allowed our intelligence services to degrade so much that they could not foil a plot by 19 Arab men to kill 3000 of our brothers and sisters.

God help this country and may God please bless our President, the Administration and our heroes, men and women who bravely defend our shores. Sorry for my angered emotion, but streaming video of Nick Burg and Paul Johnson have finally burst my seething anger.

[Rainband]

I respectfully disagree. In order for our country to fight it's enemies..we must make peace within our own government.

[stormchazer]

Peace at whose terms? If you are speaking politically, how do you make peace with those who call you worse then Hitler? Those who say you knew 9/11 was going to happen? How do you make peace with this group of people?

I mean, check this out....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=601959

I realize this is the fringe, but how much fringe? How do you make peace with that?

[Rainband]

I see your point but I am not talking about just this administration. I am talking about all Republicans and democrats!! I know ,I am dreaming

[stormie_skies]

southerngale wrote:
So yesterday the 9/11 Commission played back the radio transmissions from the 9/11 hijackers. They were disturbing, with one of the hijackers, believed to be Mohammed Atta, saying to passengers "Just stay quiet and you'll be O.K." Of course, we all know what happened when that murderous Islamic terrorist crashed that plane full of innocent people into the World Trade Center.

Also presented was evidence that the government bureaucrats at the FAA then took forever to contact the military, and eventually reached someone who asked if it was a real emergency or an exercise. By the time the F-16's were scrambled, it was too late. Later, the president, through Vice President Dick Cheney, authorized shooting down planes that were headed for Washington, but the orders never made it to the pilots. It's pretty sad when direct orders from the President of the United States aren't carried out.

Anyway, all of this begs the question: What if they had been shot down?

What if the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania was shot down, the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center -- what if they had all been shot down, crashing harmlessly to the ground. Can you imagine what would have happened?

Even though less that 300 lives would have been lost instead of almost 3,000, people would have been in an uproar. Democrats would have been calling for President Bush's resignation the next day. The left would be calling Dick Cheney a murderer, and the victim's families would be holding press conferences. The media would align against the president, saying that if only they had waited, maybe we could have talked to the terrorists. Maybe we could have negotiated; found out why they were angry. Surely they weren't going to crash those planes into buildings. Impeachment proceedings would get underway.

An absurd idea? Maybe...but think about all of this in terms of September 10th. On September 11, the United States was not on a war footing, nobody anywhere could envision what happened. All we can do is not let it happen again.



http://boortz.com/nuze/index.html

Kelly thats why I dont like liberals in any way shape or form. I do not waste my time trying to reason with them.

Hmmm... lets change the scenario a little bit. Lets say its before 9/11, during the Clinton presidency, but long after the first WTC bombing (maybe 98 or 99). Four planes are hijacked, and Clinton orders them all shot down. All the passengers die, perhaps people on the ground who are unfortunate enough to be in the path of the crashing planes die also. You are saying the Republicans would let it go? No investigation, no trials, no nothing???
Partisanship SUCKS, but it goes both ways. And before the tragedy of 9/11, I dont think the majority of people in EITHER party fully grasped the danger that we were in.
Just a thought.

[GalvestonDuck]

Clinton...Bush...either way, I stick by what I said above. I'm sure they're be some finger-pointing and party affiliation would have nothing to do with it.

If it had happened during Clinton's administration and he had actually acted to defend the country, I sure as heck wouldn't throw any blame his way. I'd probably be too shocked to react.

[Rainband]

I'm sure they're be some finger-pointing and party affiliation would have nothing to do with it.

Do you really believe that shawn

[GalvestonDuck]

Yeah, actually I do.

I know that not all the currently heard anti-war voices are Democrats or Independents (at least, not those I hear locally). And not all the voices in support are Republicans.

So, I'm sure it would be the same way otherwise.