The concept was well in the American mind. NORAD had war gamed the scenario prior to 9/11. Tom Clancy even flew a 747 into the White House in one of his books. (The one just before Executive Orders. The title escapes me just now). I think this whole country just needs to take a collective deep breath and quit seeing phantom terrorists in the bottom of every teacup. Seems an awful lot like the Red Scare of the '50s.

Bountyhunter: In the '90s we conspiracy theory geeks used to say that if you claimed it was "for the children" you turn this country into a police state with little effort. Now we use "to protect against those who would do us harm" in the same context. The majority of the people of this land will gladly sacrifice every freedom and civil liberty in any attempt to achieve a utopia that is unattainable.