Page 15 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - September 2009

9/11 As Reported By Washington Post 15 9/11 As Reported By Washington Post 15 Terrorists Hijack 4 talked in recent years about cyber-attacks and terrorist web, known as al Qaeda. Terrorists Hijack 4 Journalists with access to bin Laden said Airliners, Destroy World biological attacks. Security officials issued his followers have been boasting about Airliners, Destroy World warnings just last month about bin Laden's Trade Center, Hit threats to American installations abroad. preparations for major attacks against the Trade Center, Hit But yesterday's attacks caught a vast Pentagon; Hundreds Dead security apparatus off guard. The military United States in retaliation for American Pentagon; Hundreds Dead support of Israel. Bin Laden has already been Continues from Page 14 command center in Colorado's Cheyenne linked to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Continues from Page 14 Mountain, responsible for U.S. air defenses, Center, the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya Wireless networks buckled under the received word just 10 minutes before the first and Tanzania, and last year's attack on the USS barrage of cell phone calls. The besieged aircraft struck the World Trade Center that a Cole in Yemen. Yesterday, government officials Internet search engine Google told Web surfers American plane had been hijacked. The said they intercepted messages from bin Laden to try radio or TV instead. Amtrak train and notification came too late for fighter jets to take associates gloating about hitting their targets. Greyhound bus operations were also halted in action, a senior Air Force officer said. Before the mayhem, though, U.S. the Northeast. But amid all the sadness and all the intelligence all pointed to an attack overseas. Last night, fires were still burning amid outrage, there were questions about lax security The State Department had warned travelers in the rubble of the World Trade Center, and pools and inadequate intelligence, as Americans tried an advisory Friday, and U.S. military and of highly flammable jet fuel continued to hinder to fathom how such a catastrophe could happen diplomatic posts abroad have been on alert as rescue teams searching through waist-deep with no apparent warning. On at least two of the well. rubble. airliners, according to federal officials, the Terrorism experts have repeatedly The Federal Emergency Management hijackers were armed with nothing but knives. warned that U.S. airport security is extremely Agency dispatched eight search-and-rescue How did they get away with it? lax, warnings that have been backed up by a teams to New York and four teams to the In fact, counterterrorism experts have stack of studies. When Department of Pentagon. The Department of Health and talked in recent years about cyber-attacks and Transportation investigators tried to breach Human Services sent medical teams and biological attacks. Security officials issued security at eight airports three years ago, they mortuary teams, and activated a national warnings just last month about bin Laden's succeeded 68 percent of the time. medical emergency cadre of 7,000 volunteers threats to American installations abroad. "The security of airports is pathetic," for the first time. But yesterday's attacks caught a vast said Harvey W. Kushner, a Long Island The Empire State Building went dark as security apparatus off guard. The military University professor and terrorism consultant to a symbol of national mourning. In Washington, command center in Colorado's Cheyenne several federal agencies. "It's very easy to have Republicans and Democrats presented a united Mountain, responsible for U.S. air defenses, someone get on a plane and wreak havoc." front in condemning the attacks; members of received word just 10 minutes before the first Today, at least, the debates over Congress delivered a spontaneous rendition of aircraft struck the World Trade Center that a education, health care, Social Security and the "God Bless America" after a news conference American plane had been hijacked. The budget surplus that have consumed Washington on the Capitol steps. notification came too late for fighter jets to take in recent months have been put on hold; perhaps "We are outraged at this cowardly attack action, a senior Air Force officer said. for the first time since the Gulf War, national on the people of the United States," the leaders The Federal Aviation Administration security is at the top of the agenda. Rep. Curt of Congress said in a bipartisan statement. "Our promptly banned takeoffs nationwide, ordered Weldon (R-Pa.) was preparing to call for more heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their domestic flights to land at the nearest airport military spending at a news conference at the families, and we stand strongly united behind and diverted international flights to Canada. But time of the attacks. the President as our commander-in-chief." officials soon confirmed that a fourth plane, "This is a failure of the U.S. intelligence The impact of the attacks reverberated United Airlines Flight 93, carrying 45 people system, caused by a lack of resources and by not just in the United States but in every major from Newark to San Francisco, had crashed in complacency," he said. "Today, our government capital. European and Asian airlines canceled Shanksville, Pa. It had been hijacked as well -- failed the American public." all flights to the United States and recalled or one passenger called 911 from a cell phone -- But that was a discordant note yesterday diverted those already in the air. Flights over and had been heading toward Washington when in Washington, where solidarity was the London, Paris and other capitals were re-routed it went down. watchword of the day. In his speech last night, over less populous areas. London's financial Then it was back to the World Trade Bush emphasized the nation's harmony, noting district was largely evacuated; security was Center. Shortly before 10 a.m., the South Tower that "a great people have been moved to defend bolstered around U.S. schools and embassies in collapsed with an earthshaking roar. Smoke a great nation." After reading from the 23rd many countries. replaced steel as if the building had suddenly Psalm, he proclaimed that even amid suffering Panic buying caused oil and gold prices imploded. A half-hour later, the North Tower and death, Americans will remain committed to to soar while stock investors in all major foreign collapsed. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani publicly their freedom-loving way of life. markets dumped shares in the most frenzied urged New Yorkers to stay calm and stay put -- "This is a day when all Americans from wave of selling since the 1987 crash. In the unless they were below Canal Street in lower every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice Middle East, China and the Yugoslav republic Manhattan. and peace," he said. "America has stood down of Serbia, some people welcomed the attacks, "If you're south of Canal Street, get out," enemies before, and we will do so this time." [] but an array of international leaders pledged he warned. "Just walk north." support for the victims. America's battle against terrorism, it Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon seemed clear last night, will never be the same. condemned the attack in blistering terms, and The nation's airports are expected to reopen at described it as a "turning point" in the global noon today, but with beefed-up security war against terrorism. Palestinian leader Yasser measures: no more curbside check-in, and a Arafat condemned the attack as well, although possible return of armed "air marshals" to some Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories prevent future hijackings. and Lebanon celebrated with glee. Many members of both parties declared But amid all the sadness and all the that for all practical purposes, the nation is at outrage, there were questions about lax security war. At a briefing last night in the battered and inadequate intelligence, as Americans tried Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald H. to fathom how such a catastrophe could happen Rumsfeld warned that America's enemies with no apparent warning. On at least two of the should not rest easy. airliners, according to federal officials, the For now, those enemies have not been hijackers were armed with nothing but knives. publicly identified. But government officials How did they get away with it? said they have strong evidence from multiple In fact, counterterrorism experts have sources linking the attacks to bin Laden and his