On the Eve of 9/11, 2014

On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attack, there are some things we may want to consider. ~~~~~ For some time now, blogs and some media have been reporting that jihadists have stolen several commercial jetliners in Libya. Most of the reports contain the warning that the theft of these planes has raised concerns with intelligence officials about 9/11-style terror strikes as the 13th anniversary approaches. The Algerian news site al-Fadjr reported on August 6 that 11 aircraft went missing from Tripoli International Airport during fighting between militias, according to the highly regarded IHS Jane's 360 reports, which added that the Algerian report was "probably not credible." Subsequently, Mohamed Frikha, CEO of the Tunisian airline company Syphax, told Tunisia's Shems FM that two Airbus-A320 aircraft belonging to Libyan company Ifriqiya were missing from Misratah, Jane's reports. It seems some aircraft were taken from Tripoli airport by jihadists -- whether two Airbus-A320s or 11 unidentified aircraft is really not important. ~~~~~ On July 19, I was watching a program on CNN about missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 when I heard a former senior official of the US National Transportion Safety Board say that some time before 9/11, Osama bin Laden operatives bought a Boeing 747 in Texas, saying it was for a private client, took it to the Middle East and combed over it and then crashed it -- all to learn everything they could before 9/11. The planes used by the 9/11 terrorists were Boeing 757s and 767s. She said it was a known fact, but none of the other panelists acknowledged her comment and it was not picked up by the CNN moderator. Because the remark came from a respected member of the professional group of experts who investigate and represent survivors and families of victims of air accidents, I have no reason to doubt her comment, although linking the earlier purchase of a 747 to the 9/11 attack is beyond my skills. ~~~~~ But, these two incidents together could shine a new light on MH370 -- whether it disappeared because someone hijacked it and not because it crashed into the Indian Ocean, as the world believes. One peculiarity in the silence of the CNN panel was that no one else on CNN at the time picked up on the similarities between the alleged purchased plane prior to 9/11 and the missing Flight MH370 plane -- and now we could add the stolen Tripoli planes. ~~~~~ Are we looking at another trial run with a similar plane (Airbus-A320) before a new hijacking and terrorist attack on America or Europe. Or was Flight MH370 hijacked and the plane, a Boeing 787, meant to be used later as a phantom commercial flight that turns into a terrorist attack. Or is this simply putting 2 plus 2 together to equal 5. And as we await President Obama's speech on ISIS tonight, if any of these possibilities exist, we must ask if he would be psychologically able to give the order to destroy a terrorist plane in the air if it entered American territory -- if this is not a standing order that would be acted upon automatically by American military fighter jets. ~~~~~ Dear readers, whatever 9/11 brings this year, whether from the air or ground or simply from an eerie silence in our souls, and whatever President Obama says tonight, we know bit by bit where we are headed. The White House has just leaked this information, as reported by AP, that US military will also "assist with lethal targeting" of ISIS leaders, explaining that thus far US intelligence has not advanced to the point where this has been possible. I take this phrase to mean that US Special Forces commando teams will be on the ground in Iraq, and possibly Syria, to take out ISIS leaders. A statement from House Speaker John Boehner's office said that he "...would support the deployment of US military personnel to Iraq in a training and advisory role and to "assist with lethal targeting" of Islamic State leadership," according to the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity. If this sounds familiar, think Vietnam. How can US military be ONLY advising while assisting with lethal targeting of ISIS leaders? This may be a perfectly valid approach in Iraq, but my hesitation comes from the indecisiveness and evasively vague policy statements coming from the Obama White House. Is Barack Obama capable of walking up to the edge of the Vietnam "advisor" line without accidentally crossing over into a US ground war in Iraq and Syria. If that is where America is headed, I for one, would prefer that it be led by a Commander-in-Chief with a better track record. So, tomorrow, as the world and America pause to remember 9/11 and contemplate its meaning, we should, each in our own way, promise never to forget it. And all of us should take care to be safe, to be careful and to remember to pray for all of us everywhere who have been targeted by terrorism and for those who protect us, despite all.