[neverdem]

BANG

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[TomasUSMC]

All this talk at the 911 commission about how 911 was unavoidable. Rice and Clarke both saying it and both lying about it. The truth is that if either Republicans or Democrats had armed pilots or put armed Marshals on flights, 911 WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED.

Sure, it would have needed 20,000 marshals but then thats peanuts compared to the cost of 911.

You needn't have had any intelligence at all. Just common sense and the guts to do it. Hijackings were going on since the 70's.

Spys and Intelligence gathering is useless if you lack the will to exploit it.

[Travis McGee]

BANG!

This is a perfect example of federal priorities and institutional values.

The fedgov would prefer to shoot down a loaded 747 with a missile from an F-16, than see armed pilots. Why? Because the F-16 pilot is a member of the US military, and in the National Command Authority chain of command.

The airline pilot, even if he is military trained and trained and qualified to fire pistols, is not in the fedgov's chain of command.

It's all about control.

[henderson field]

"Slow to arm pilots?"
That's because they're not really interested in air safety.
If planes were made safe by armed pilots, can you imaging how many bureaucrats would lose their jobs?
No more job-for-life!

[Zetman]

About time they did this!! I cannot believe how long the foot-dragging has gone on. It is almost as if the government WANTS there to be another hijacking. The airlines themselves are also opposed to arming pilots, and I cannot understand why (probably because they are more afraid of being sued than they are of losing another flight to terrorists). Who knows?? Maybe the airlines were using their massive lobbying power to entice the TSA into dragging their feet?? One can only guess at what has been happening behind the scenes. Either way, I hope this new legislation will put and end to all the procrastination.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If Bush wanted the pilots to be armed, they would be armed.