Reply #6: #2, with modifications

[vincent_vega_lives]

OBL financed it, most likely planned it. Saddam had nothing to do with it although I'm sure he got a kick out of it, at first.

US Military, NORAD weren't FUBAR, just not set up for asymmetric threat type. Despite some high level memos passed around, hijacking was still viewed as a law enforcement issue, SOP was to negotiate. No plan to shoot down. Bureaucratic inertia made it hard to adjust decision cycle. Airport security was always a joke, thinking otherwise is kidding one's self.