[finnman69]

Very interesting hypothesis. I have not thought of this before. Let me throw this into the mix. What if dozens of members of congress had been killed? How would that affect the political climate here in the US for action?

[epluribus_2]

If most of congress had been killed, there would have had to had been new elections so anything would have been possible. (try saying that in french/german). Hopefully Bush and Cheney would have survived and southern command might have been able to prosecute a war (with SAC). But any country aiding/harboring or even the least bit supportive of terror groups would have been toast. Still might be someday.