NORAD QUESTIONS

(1) Officials from NORAD have repeatedly expressed that -- prior to 9/11 - NORAD's
mission was to protect the U.S. from EXTERNAL threats.

["Until the morning of Sept. 11,2001, NORAD's focus was almost exclusively fixed on threats
coming toward the Canadian and American borders, not terrorism in our domestic airspace."
(NORAD website, 5/13/03)]

Why was NORAD exclusively focused on external threats? Prior to 9/11 was any
consideration given to the possibility that America could be attacked by a domestic
aircraft?

(2),What policies and procedures were in place to respond to dpmetically hijacked : Deleted: What was NORAD's written
policy on 9/11 with respect to hijacked
airliner^? Please explain NORAD's role vis-a-vis the FAA in responding to hijackings. airliners?
Deleted: such incidents
(3) In terms of response on the morning of 9/11, why were NORAD's assets limited to 14
planes at severj, locations? Could,NORAD task ANY other military aircraft to respond to Deleted: 7
the hijackings? For example, as I understand it General McKinley, you wear two hats; Deleted: Why couldn't
you're both the Commander of NORAD's continental region (CONAR) and you're the
Commander of the First Air Force. £puld, your predecessor on 9/11 - General Arnold^ Deleted: why c
bJSY^J>ldej^djj^ojj_now_order any military plane under the command of the First Air Deleted: n't
Force to respond to the hijackings? Deleted: -

(4) When and how did NORAD first leam of the hijackings on 9/11? What specifically
was NORAD told? Please describe the chain of events and decisions that took place after
FAA's notification.

(5) Published reports indicate that, on the morning of 9/11, the President authorized the
military to shoot down commercial flights that were suspected to be controlled by
terrorists. What is your understanding of the substance of the order? How was it
communicated down the chain of command? Did any of the pilots that were scrambled
receive the order?

(6) Published reports indicate that there was a conference call that morning involving
NORAD, the FAA and other decision makers. When was the Air Threat Conference Call
initiated and by whom? Who participated in the call? What decisions were made and
what orders were given on the call?