Have you heard the "Conspiracy Theory" that the military didn't scramble fighter's in response to 9/11?

Question

No Stand-Down Order
CLAIM: No fighter jets were scrambled from any of the 28 Air Force bases within close range of the four hijacked flights. "On 11 September Andrews had two squadrons of fighter jets with the job of protecting the skies over Washington D.C.," says the Web site emperors-clothes.com. "They failed to do their job." "There is only one explanation for this," writes Mark R. Elsis of StandDown.net. "Our Air Force was ordered to Stand Down on 9/11."

FACT: On 9/11 there were only 14 fighter jets on alert in the contiguous 48 states. No computer network or alarm automatically alerted the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) of missing planes. "They [civilian Air Traffic Control, or ATC] had to pick up the phone and literally dial us," says Maj. Douglas Martin, public affairs officer for NORAD. Boston Center, one of 22 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regional ATC facilities, called NORAD's Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) three times: at 8:37 am EST to inform NEADS that Flight 11 was hijacked; at 9:21 am to inform the agency, mistakenly, that Flight 11 was headed for Washington (the plane had hit the North Tower 35 minutes earlier); and at 9:41 am to (erroneously) identify Delta Air Lines Flight 1989 from Boston as a possible hijacking. The New York ATC called NEADS at 9:03 am to report that United Flight 175 had been hijacked--the same time the plane slammed into the South Tower. Within minutes of that first call from Boston Center, NEADS scrambled two F-15s from Otis Air Force Base in Falmouth, Mass., and three F-16s from Langley Air National Guard Base in Hampton, Va. None of the fighters got anywhere near the pirated planes.

Why couldn't ATC find the hijacked flights? When the hijackers turned off the planes' transponders, which broadcast identifying signals, ATC had to search 4500 identical radar blips crisscrossing some of the country's busiest air corridors. And NORAD's sophisticated radar? It ringed the continent, looking outward for threats, not inward. "It was like a doughnut," Martin says. "There was no coverage in the middle." Pre-9/11, flights originating in the States were not seen as threats and NORAD wasn't prepared to track them.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com

Answer 1

Nice job on refuting the nutcases, but I am fearful you are wasting your time if you are in hopes of getting even one to "think".

Gotta tell you, I don't think most who post their crap concerning a conspiracy even believe it. They are just intent on hating and demeaning our country and government.

BTW, they do this without any regard for all of those killed on that disastrous day.

May God bless all of those murdered in the planes, the towers, and those involved in the rescue efforts. May God's hand of comfort embrace the families of those slaughtered and allow them the peace they need.

Answer 2

good question. Cheney had set up training for that day for many if no longer all militia jets. there replaced into extremely some time to respond. did no longer all of us watch the 2d airplane hit the tower and become conscious we've been below attack? Its troublesome to have self assurance no longer one guy or woman in the federal government observed that each and each single television channel had minute via minute coverage. much greater atypical, Bush had unheard of secure practices on a visit he took some weeks till now to a summit. He stayed on a boat instead of at a motel through many comments of intentions to fly planes into American hobbies. whilst he stayed in Florida the nighttime earlier 9/11 he additionally had unheard of secure practices-floor to air missile secure practices. somewhat previous the traditional secure practices, and by some means regarding airplane... yet he sat and did no longer respond whilst advised the planes hit the towers. Later we've been advised that the biggest failure replaced into the failure of mind's eye. no one imagined terrorists might use planes against American hobbies. humorous, the President knew weeks previous to time and controlled to guard himself. Does it worry all and sundry else that Bush DID stay with the toddlers on the college? He replaced into on television, and anybody knew the place he replaced into....would not this be an invite for terrorists to get him? weren't the toddlers in jeopardy? i think of that the excuse of 'working out of the room' and frightening the toddlers (like there is not any different determination-like excusing himself good) is a much greater effective determination than exposing the toddlers to incineration via jet gas. purely my opinion.

Answer 3

There are so many conspiracy theories on this tragic event. Its really sad that people want to add grief to those who have lost someone in that day, we miss those people and from my reading of not only the commission report but everything else I could devour on it, it was a terrorist action undertaken by Al quedda to try to knock us off course and it has since it seems like we now have some who want to negotiate with terrorists or deny what happened. The problem, as I had found out years before in local government is that we have a mulitplicity of communication channels - the reason police could not speak to fire personnel in the WTC that prevent cross talk in a real emergency. Due to our early fear of the military control we isolate defense from intellegence agencies and other civilian agencies and this was the breakdown in scrambling the planes. Plus to be the first to order the shoot down of an american airline by friendly fire would make many step back for a moment. Its something no civilian or military leader or fighter pilot wants to do. All the US citizens who dies that day in PA, NYC, and Suburban Virginia are national hereos in a war that will take generations to finish. This is one we have never had to undertake as a country before and we already are becoming cowards in the fight. We are too "fast food" oriented in that we want everything done in a minute. This is a fight to the finish like what happened in the Dark ages of Europe and we need to stand up no matter what the costs no matter who is on our side.
As one of our greatest leaders said we shall pay any price, bear any burden, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty. JFK knew the fight to come for the survival of our ancient heritage. His party has betrayed the courage of this man from Massachusets
I might be a conservative but I learned that you analyze all data from each side so I looked at the background data from the report. I don't buy into anyone until I back it up even if they are from my party. So I do ask questions unlike the fringe left who buy into people like Michael Moore who has no creidibility on govt or foreign policy. I want a president who waits to find out the facts before launching off. That was always the fear in the cold war that we would be lauching an attack on Russia and find out later it was some rogue military officer in Siberia or some other country. Its like those who thought JFK's death was a coup by Russia. Bush was right to wait till he had the facts before running to Air Force 1.

Answer 4

By the time anyone really knew the threat both towers and the pentagon had been hit. Kind of late to scramble then

Answer 5

The fighters were scrambled and shown on T.V. shortly after it started. The response wasn't effective , but there was a response.

Answer 6

Popular Mechanics is owned by the Hearst Corporation, founded by William Randolph Hearst.

If you remember from history class, this was the media mogul responsible for the yellow journalism that got the US citizens behind the unjust war against the Spanish in 1898.

Answer 7

Be enlightened read the following for the truth:

"The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions", By David Ray Griffin.

Answer 8

hindsight is 20/20

if it happened now
they'd be shot out of the sky

Answer 9

You know, it really doesn't matter how much you debunk their conspiracies. They are completely blinded by the wacko kings of conspiracy. No truth for them!

Answer 10

the Bush government claims that things are better now,,, he says Commercial Airlines have better communication with the US military now,,, security is beefed up on all commercial airlines,,, but of course our borders are wide open,, the US even encourages Mexican illegals to come on down,,,,, bring um on,, Bush will give you amnesty,,, our businesses will hire you,, they don't fear breaking US laws,, heck we have a Mexican Attorney General protected by the president,,,
lie, cheat and steal your way into the USA,, it's allowed by the Bush administration,,, in fact,, lie, cheat and steal are the axis of good,, if you choose to be born-again,, forgiveness is guaranteed,, just don't get caught having sex with another woman, if your married,,, the Creed of the GOP,,,,,,,
,, sex with another man,, well,, if your married to a woman,, contact Pastor Ted Haggard,, he is George W.'s spiritual man,, he buys meth but says he doesn't use it,, he had sex with a male prostitute for 3 years, made monthly payments to him using evangelical funds,,,, but he is back with his wife and 5 kids, after one week in rehab,,,, for more information and other advise about how to get meth,, and become a Log Cabin Republican,, just contact,, your local Evangelists.....

George W. Bush makes a mockery of our Nations Laws !