NYTimes - Letter to the Editor
Threats Before 9/11
The New York Times -- February 14, 2005
Letter to the Editor:
"9/11 Report Cites Many Warnings About Hijackings" (front page, Feb. 10) makes us wonder why the Federal Aviation Administration made a decision before 9/11 to remove sky marshals from all domestic flights. With 52 threats from Al Qaeda being posed against United States airliners, why would anyone cut the domestic use of sky marshals?
Who is responsible for this decision, and why has this person not been held accountable?
Moreover, how is it possible that Condoleezza Rice, then the national security adviser, testified before the 9/11 commission that the threats presented in the Aug. 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing were "historical" in nature? These threats were current, specific and concerned domestic suicide hijackings. Ms. Rice testified that there was nothing the government could have done to thwart the attacks. Increasing the presence of sky marshals on domestic flights might have made a difference. So, too, would have securing cockpit doors.
One would hope that the new national intelligence director would override such deadly financial decisions by the F.A.A. and the airline industry.
Kristen Breitweiser
Monica Gabrielle
Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
Feb. 11, 2005
The writers are members of September 11 Advocates.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/op...l14terror.html
