Makes no sense. The Air Force is charged with the air defense of the continental U.S. and not the Navy.
In any case, we will probably never know what kind of intelligence the government had and how it figured into any tactical decisions regarding this threat, if indeed, this is how events unfolded that day.
We'll never know if any such threat existed at all or if it is all a figment of someone's imagination.
I do not think it was insanity to fire missiles at a target that was seen as a bona fide threat. No, I do not think the military leadership is stupid, but they do have to operate in this real world of limited information and opportunities.
You don't think it's insanity to be shooting missiles in the general direction of dozens of civilian airliners? May I ask what your military background is?
This was not a threat to our continent. The terrorists were already here.
You don't think it's insanity to be shooting missiles in the general direction of dozens of civilian airliners?
It is insane to shoot in the "general direction" of anything. In this case, they would have been shooting at a bona fide target that just happened to get too close to TWA 800. There is always the possibility for unintended consequences when you shoot at anything.
May I ask what your military background is?
My military background is irrelevant to this discussion. But, if you must know, you can check my profile.