[alisasny]

Frankly even if they were known prior to 911 and still had legal visas what could have been done to keep them off the planes? Yeah they had boxcutters but I assume they knew they may get caught with them and would have left them behind if caught and overpowered the planes without them.
Also they were obeying the US laws for all intentions so how could they have been profiled before 911 when boarding the planes?

[maestro]

.....I'm sure the 'INS' had the 'history' on these guys?

/sarcasm

[numberonepal]

Also they were obeying the US laws for all intentions so how could they have been profiled before 911 when boarding the planes?

Someone could have made it a priority that these guys were either quitely watched like hawks or very noisily made their lives hell.