The Clinton Administration apparently with DOD backing took the US forces off of Ready Alert status, esp. fighters which is why there were no fighters at Andrews Air Force Base or Bolling Field in nearby Maryland, nor at the Glenn Martin NG base at Middle River east of Baltimore.
Jets had to come from far away Langley AFB in southern Virginia and arrived too late to do anything.
Not even a helicopter was armed at the Pentagon (I live a few miles away). Nobody was on the roof with AA missiles (Stingers, Blowpipes or peashooters).
While some stand down from nuclear alert was logical following the so-called collapse of the Soviet Union regarding B-52’s on constant airborne alert, there was absolutely no reason for THERE NOT TO BE A CONTINUAL ARMED FIGHTER AIRBORNE ALERT IN PRACTICE.
This is one of the Clinton Administration’s least know military downgrading scandals.
I got my information directly from a military person involved in that process, and he was not happy the way the Stand Down was planned or executed.
That is why 9/11 happened so successfully. NOT A DAMNED ARMED PLANE OUT OF BOSTON OR NEW YORK OR NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE OR MARYLAND WAS OPERATIONAL.
Thanks, I remember reading the same. When you elect a president, you get the WHOLE PACKAGE, not just the parts you like - which is why electing someone with Clinton’s background was really, really, stupid. Same for Obama, of course, also. Hopefully those days are over, for a long time.
“That is why 9/11 happened so successfully. NOT A DAMNED ARMED PLANE OUT OF BOSTON OR NEW YORK OR NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE OR MARYLAND WAS OPERATIONAL”
So the sonic booms from F-15’s flying from Otis ANGB that morning were just a figment of my imagination then?
Good to know.
(By the way, I thought I knew the sound of an F-15 being flown in anger but I learned that morning that there’s a whole other level of fury that bird can unleash)