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Of course, this should be the second to last line of defense, with the last line of defense being the crash axe in the cockpit.
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The point is it shouldn't be "counted" on as
any line of defense.
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The odds of terrorists seizing a plane are very low now.
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Why? They were considered pretty low on 9/10/2001 and look what happened 24 hours later.
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Then there's the rule that the cockpit door does not open, period. It's hard to get access to the flight deck if you can't get past the door and more difficult when there's a pilot sitting there with the crash axe ready to take your head off if you do manage to get in.
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But cockpit doors are still pretty flimsy. The case of the AA flight to South America proved it. It was a "re-enforced" door but the guy still managed to get his head inside the cockpit.
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Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a hijacked plane will NOT be allowed to hit a target. It will be shot down. The likely goal of terrorists would be to not only kill the passengers and crew on the plane but to also inflict massive casualties on the ground. Well, if they can't accomplish that, then it's likely they won't try.
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If the object is to kill and terroize American citizens I see no greater demoralizing event than forcing our own military to shoot down a civil aircraft.
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I think we ought to be trying to anticipate the next tool the terrorists will use instead of fighting the last war.
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I completely agree - but assuming they won't strike the same place wice is unfounded. The same targets are hit on a weekly bassis in Isreal/Middle East (busses, cafes, etc.) - the fact that these targets are known and watched over doesn't stop them from beig targeted.