Originally Posted by Botnst

I was in an airport getting ready to fly GA when the manager came into the lobby and said that an airplane had hit one of the towers. I walked over to watch TV and saw the video of smoke pouring from the tower. We watched and talked and listened to the clueless talking heads. I remember say, "It could be an accident or it could be a nut or it could be on purpose. We wont know for a couple of hours." Then the second plane hit. At that point there was no question about it in my mind, this was deliberate attack.

So I put myself in the president's jacket. My responsibility is to protect the USA from all dangers, foreign and domestic. I get word that an airplane has hit a building. What would I do? Knowing that we have this vast military power, federal and civil police system, intelligence, etc, and knowing that we had no hostile relationships of any consequence since the fall of the USSR, I would have done nothing and let events unfold. For there was NOTHING that the president could do at that point. If there is nothing that can be done, why do anything?

Then the next one hit. Again, what could be done immediately that couldn't wait several hours? Nothing. The military and intelligence and police systems have systems to crank-up for response. Let them get warmed-up before you muck-around with the system.

Only a complete freaking dumbass would believe that the president acts like the "Independence Day" president. In reality, a president must be patient and allow things to unfold so that a rational path can be followed. Getting over-wrought, panicky responses early in a crisis panics everybody up and down the chains of command. Only a fool would risk that for no good reason.

B