On 9/11, U.S. radar was facing wrong way

Star Ledger ^

[Sub-Driver]

WASHINGTON -- A top U.S. air defense official testified yesterday that an outdated "cold war" view of the world before the 9/11 attacks blinded the nation to mounting evidence that hijacked airliners were becoming the terrorist's weapon of choice.

Maj. Gen. Craig McKinley, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said even the nation's radars were, in retrospect, turned the wrong way, looking out to sea for incoming invaders rather than searching the skies for threats from within the country.

[ladyinred]

Yesterday's hearing also revealed that two unarmed District of Columbia Air National Guard jet pilots who mobilized over Washington, D.C., that day had expressed a willingness if necessary to fly their planes into a hijacked jet to thwart an attack.

God bless them. It is amazing to me the sacrifices that some members of our military are willing to make for our country. This should shame those who attack President Bush for his service in the National Guard.

[ladyinred]

Clinton had cut those bases where the jets that would have been there were. Just on a thread talking about this! I had heard that on Sept 11th, but then it wasn't spoken of after that much, if at all.

[ladyinred]

Maybe I am mixed up, but didn't Clinton change the rule about first strike? I am not sure that has anything to do with the Dew line you are talking about, I admit ignorance about it, but is sounds like it would be about the same thing. Pardon me if I am way off base so to speak! :-)

[green team 1999]

bump

[Defender2]

It(RADAR) used to be pointed all over America AND outward from America, prior to the Clinton Cutbacks!!!!:-( The people monitoring the radarscopes were reduced during that time period as well. Post 09/11/01, President Bush changed it back to the way it used to be prior to the CLINTON REDUCTIONS!!!!

[Howlin]

Thank you for that information. I guess that's why they needed Clintonistas on the committee, eh, to divert the direction of the investigation.

[Defender2]

#46. You Got It!!!!

[Howlin]

Read this.

[Fawnn]

On 9/11, U.S. radar was facing wrong way

It's misleading headlines like that one that's caused most media to lose credibility!

[deport]

Pointing in or out, there is still a lot of conjecture as to what could or would have been done. True it would have been nice to have everything in place and all contingencies accounted for...

[Defender2]

please see #45.

[Defender2]

Clinton cutting back our air defense alert strips from 26 to 7 was a major factor!!!! One of those strip alerts cut back from duty prior to that infamous day, happening under Clinton, was Atlantic City, N.J. only minutes away from N.Y.. President Bush after 09/11/01 reinstated alert at those 26 sites.

[Young Werther]

The link to the Pave Paws mentioned that the Clear radar had been replaced by a Solid State Advanced Radar which is also a component of the National Missile Defense System.

Hoo Hah! Keep up the good work.

[amom]

Thanks for the info and the ping. So nice to 'see' you again. You have been missed.

[Defender2]

Good to see You, Sweetie!!!!:-)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for the insight! Hugs!

[Defender2]

HUGS!!!!:-)

[Consort]

Can NORAD patch into the Air Traffic Controller radars? Did the scrambled fighters have orders to shoot. Weren't skyjackings treated as hostage/terrorist situations and not suicide missions?

[Defender2]

#54. Hugs and Kisses for You too Sweetie!!!!:-)

[Defender2]

NORAD(I used to work for NORAD/ADCOM) used to have their own radars scanning all over the U.S. and outward from the U.S.. They would randomly check air tracks at all times. Anything that could not be identified within a certain specified time frame would be turned over to the weapons
controllers. they would vector interceptors to the suspect
tracks. Emergency aircraft and airliners off course would
be monitored also so if they turned out to be "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing"!!!!