In a startling revelation from his memoirs, former Vice President Dick Cheney has disclosed the terrifying reality of America's defence capabilities during the devastating September 11 attacks. The political heavyweight described moments when the nation's air defences were completely unprepared for the unprecedented threat unfolding in its skies.
The Day Everything Changed
Cheney's account paints a picture of chaos and desperation in the White House bunker as officials realised the horrifying truth: the United States had no immediate means to intercept the hijacked planes threatening Washington DC and other potential targets.
"We were looking at a situation where we had hijacked airliners there, headed for the Capitol, headed for the White House, and we had no protection," Cheney revealed in his memoir, capturing the sheer vulnerability of the nation's defences at that critical moment.
A Nation Caught Off Guard
The former Vice President detailed how the attacks exposed critical gaps in America's security apparatus:
- No fighter jets were on immediate alert to respond to domestic threats
- Communication breakdowns between civilian and military authorities
- Unprecedented nature of the threat left standard protocols useless
- The realisation that multiple aircraft had been simultaneously hijacked
The Pentagon Strike: A Turning Point
When American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 AM, the situation escalated dramatically. Cheney described the moment he understood the nation was under coordinated attack and that more planes could be heading for Washington.
"We received a report that there was another hijacked aircraft, this one headed in the direction of Washington," Cheney wrote, highlighting the tension in the underground bunker as officials scrambled to respond.
Legacy of 9/11 Defence Reforms
The shocking revelations from Cheney's memoir underscore how the events of September 11, 2001, fundamentally transformed America's approach to national security and air defence protocols. The immediate aftermath saw:
- Complete overhaul of air defence response procedures
- Establishment of new communication channels between agencies
- Implementation of rapid response protocols for potential airborne threats
- Significant increases in defence spending and preparedness
Cheney's candid account serves as a chilling reminder of how vulnerable even the most powerful nations can be to unexpected threats, and how a single day can permanently alter a country's approach to its own security.
