I hesitate to bring this up, but perhaps there has been an official speculation that I have missed. How was AF1 targeted? I suppose we don't really know the intended target for the Penn. plane (might have been Camp David, for instance), but a commercial flight wouldn't have taken out AF1. At least I don't think so. Anyone have any ideas?

I think the Pentagon was a far better target for their purposes than the White House. More in-your-face IMO. I'd regret the loss of the historic artifacts inside, but AFAIC, the White House can be rebuilt.

Getting to our president is another matter. I think that would have been the most tragic, disruptive outcome of all.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

Answers

According to a report a little while ago, a caller not only knew the code name of the airplane ("Angel") but also knew code words for certain operating procedures which are definitely not common knowledge. That was enough for the Secret Service to be spooked (pun intended).

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

I mean, how were they planning on taking out AF1??

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

There is the possibility that there were other teams for other flights that would have gone after AF1.

Just a few minutes ago the talking heads on NBC were discussing an altercation at JFK involving three [middle eastern types] and the ticket agent. They were on the plane and were asked to deplane. Port authorities were called, but by the time they arrived the men were gone.

Then there is the feeling that the purps had plans for some flights from the west coast to be commandeered [not discussed in the news but just feelings from others on line] and that the immediate grounding of all flights foiled those plans. Possible, and also possible that they are just awaiting the opening of the airports so they can continue.

Whatever the actual target(s) the purps wanted, the fact is they hit the pentagon, and the message was delivered most eloquently.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

Again, according to what I see on TV, AF1 doesn't usually have a fighter escort. I suspect the hijackers were planning to ram AF1. Could be there was another team around--or several--waiting to grab another plane to take out AF1.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

We may never know for certain just how many lives were saved by the FAA shutting down all airports and ordering all planes in flight to land immediately.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

Full story

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

Independent (UK)

Coded warnings raise the spectre of a mole inside the White House

Government

By Jeremy Laurance

14 September 2001

As the second airliner slammed into the south tower of the World Trade Centre, Vice-President Dick Cheney was staring at a television in the White House. It was 9.03am. His Secret Service men grabbed him and hurried him down to the President's emergency operations centre, an underground bunker hardened to withstand a nuclear attack

On the way to the tubular structure, Mr Cheney was told that another plane, or a helicopter loaded with explosives, was headed for the White House. He promptly called the President in Florida, who had just boarded Air Force One, and urged him not to come back to Washington immediately.

In the bunker, the Vice-President was joined by Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, and the Transportation Secretary, Norman Mineta, among others. They were told six commercial aircraft were unaccounted for, all of which were potential missiles. One had supposedly crashed in Kentucky (not true), and another in Pennsylvania (accurate; its passengers or crew, apparently struggling with the hijackers, may have saved the White House).

The airliner that had taken off at Dulles – AA Flight 77 – did a 360-degree turn, away from the White House and, at 9.45am, slammed into the Pentagon.

At about that time, accounts began coming into the White House bunker that four international flights were headed toward Washington over the Atlantic and another from Korea. It could not be determined whether they were hostile; part of the terrorist scheme. US fighters and an Awacs control aircraft scrambled.

A threatening message received by the Secret Service was relayed to the agents with the President that "Air Force One is next." American code words were used showing a knowledge of procedures that made the threat credible.

Karl Rove, the president's senior adviser, told William Safire of the New York Times:"When the President said 'I don't want some tinhorn terrorists keeping me out of Washington,' the Secret Service informed him the threat contained language showing the terrorists had knowledge of his procedures and whereabouts. It was decided to get airborne with a fighter escort."

After the President landed at an air force base in Louisiana and made a tape for broadcast, he was, in Mr Rove's words, "pretty antsy" about not being at the centre of command.

George Bush made clear to the Vice-President his intense desire to return to Washington. The Secret Service objected strongly. Mr Cheney, a former Defence Secretary, suggested Air Force One go to Offutt base in Nebraska, headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, where the president could convene the National Security Council.

A White House official, quoted by Mr Safire, said "It would have been irresponsible of him to come back, pounding his chest when hostile aircraft may have been headed our way. Any suggestion that he should have done so is ludicrous."

The most puzzling aspect of the events concerns the credibility of the "Air Force One is next" message. It was clearly viewed as a threat, not a friendly warning – but if so, why would the terrorists send it? It is also unclear how they got the codeword information and transponder know-how.

The worry now must be that knowledge of codewords, presidential whereabouts and secret procedures indicates the terrorists may have a mole in the White House – or the Secret Service, FBI, FAA or CIA.

If so, America's war on terror may well have to start in its own front room.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001