NELSON NETWORK NEBRASKA

Nelson Presses Military Brass on Post-9/11 Air Civil Defense Plans for U.S. Cities Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson this week pressed NORAD Commander General Ralph E. Eberhardt and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale to provide the Senate Armed Services Committee with information pertaining to military plans to use military fighter jets to respond to potential terrorist attacks against U.S. cities.

During the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the closest military fighters to the cities of New York and Washington were on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The two military fighters scrambled at the time were unable to reach New York City before either of the attacks on the World Trade Center. Military leaders have indicated that few airplanes were on alert on September 11 and that the situation hindered the military response to the attacks.

Nelson also asked Eberhardt to provide information on new policies pertaining to the military’s authority to engage confirmed hijacked commercial aircraft in the event of another airborne attack in the United States. News accounts have indicated that during the immediate response to the attacks of September 11, instructions on engaging commercial aircraft were unclear.

Eberhardt told the panel that indeed “the rules of engagement are quite clear now.” Eberhardt added that the best way to prevent terrorism is to capture the terrorists and improve airport security and not to depend on U.S. fighters to intercept hijacked commercial airliners. McHale indicated that steps had been taken to speed the sharing of information and to maintain authority for decision-making at a high level of command. McHale also said that he would share more information on the matter in a closed meeting with members so that national security wouldn’t be threatened by public release of the information.

Nelson’s questions were designed to confirm that the air civil defense plans and rules of engagement have been modified to preclude confusion and clarify military instructions.

“Without endangering national security, we need to know that some of the identified obstacles to our response to the September 11 attacks have been addressed and appropriate steps have been taken to ensure our capability to respond if necessary,” said Nelson. “General Eberhardt and Asst. Secretary McHale indicated that indeed steps have been taken and national security has been enhanced.”

Next Week: The Senate is in session. The Senate will consider the reauthorization of the 1996 welfare reform act and possibly return to consideration of the JOBS bill.

Quote of the Week

“Without endangering national security, we need to know that some of the identified obstacles to our response to the September 11 attacks have been addressed and appropriate steps have been taken to ensure our capability to respond if necessary. General Eberhardt and Asst. Secretary McHale indicated that indeed steps have been taken and national security has been enhanced.

-Senator Nelson on air civil defense plans

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