911: Window of Exposure

[stevenleser]

52. Every single point you raise is speculative, "I think this is what would have happened"

There is a basic issue you are not addressing. It was the same issue at Pearl Harbor, Taranto, and various similar situations.

When you are surprised by a tactic of an enemy, the response tends to go very badly. That is why militaries spend a lot of time, effort and resources trying to surprise each other and spend lots of time, effort and resources at trying not to be surprised.

That being said, again look at what happened at 9/11

1. Planes were hijacked.
What normally happens when planes are hijacked? The planes land, the hostages are released or are rescued by armed commandos on the ground, etc. These situations are not normally resolved by air-to-air combat.

2. It wasn't immediately clear what was happening.
Sure, the hijackers mistakenly indicated on one plane that it was hijacked and some others might be (atta's infamous 'we have some planes comment'), but the other planes werent immediately identifiable as being hijacked. It wasnt until the second plane hit the towers that it was clear that you had multiple planes being hijacked and their intention was to hit buildings with them.

3. By the time it was clear that you had multiple planes being hijacked and their intention was to hit buildings, it was all pretty much over. There was certainly no opportunity to scramble jets or have any other meaningful military response.