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To: Travis McGee
I don't think they would need to mess with the sprinkler systems- this was a liquid fueled fire- jet fuel floats and moist floors would just spread the fuel like a slick throughout the levels where water would run. If this was a foam system, rather than a water system, then it might have had some effect- but people who escaped mentioned water sprinklers only.

Plus, the aircraft probably broke the pipes coming in anyway, which would do a number on water pressure, and the massive fire would overwhelm whatever water the broken system could put out.

Some old buildings used to pump water up into a storage tank located at the top of the building, and then the water would flow down, giving you all the pressure you need if the tank was kept topped off. In that case a break in the lines would send a lot of water gushing down at the break. Once the tank was drained though, you were in trouble if you couldn't pump more water up. Or, if someone rigged it so that you though the tank was full when it was not, there would be no emergency water reservoir. I don't know if the WTC had such a system; I guess not since technology has improved things since then.

I wasn't thinking of something tinfoil- I wasn't at all surprised to see the buildings come down- I thought the buildings would collapse from the stress, shifting towards the weakened areas like a coke can collapsing under your foot when tapped. Once it was obvious how hot it was and how long it was going to keep burning, it was a given the steel would fail. I'm just wondering if there could have been some other reason to have people on-site than just fiddling with water sprinklers- unless the terrorists were just doing it as an insurance policy, or to have souvenier photos made for their sick little videos so they could gloat.

19 posted on 02/17/2002 7:46:28 PM PST by piasa
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To: piasa
Just a guess, but it may have been an attempt to get "insurance". OTOH, putting agents into the target pre attack carries a great risk of arrest and exposure of the plot.

Just "lose these guys in the system" long enough to let the Philippinos talk to them for a few days and we will get all the answers.

20 posted on 02/17/2002 8:05:51 PM PST by Travis McGee
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