[RDangerfield]

DoughtyOne: why didn't we have contingency plans to protect the capital from attack by air?

Coop: Such as??

Such as: fighter planes scrambling immediately after the first plane crashed into the building, protecting the airlanes over major cities. Haven't you ever wondered why there was no such fighter presence in that interim time in New York? No, not a conspiracy theory. Bush obviously didn't know the attack was coming as it did. But you asked for a contingency plan. That is certainly one possible plan.
--Raoul

[DoughtyOne]

Not only that, but the Airforce base closest to W., D.C. doesn't even have fighters assigned to it. The capital is wide open to attack. Never in my life did I even consider this was a possibility.

[Coop]

Such as: fighter planes scrambling immediately after the first plane crashed into the building, protecting the airlanes over major cities. Haven't you ever wondered why there was no such fighter presence in that interim time in New York?

Huh? There was like 11 minutes between the tower attacks. You really think you're gonna get planes scrambled and into position in that time? Concerning the Pentagon, the planes were scrambled and in the air, but they were still transiting to the D.C. area when the building was hit. Hindsight is wonderful.