RCMP retiree remembers her role in controlling the thousands of planes diverted to Eastern Canada.
8429 passengers.
78 planes.
"9-11 was the greatest test of my Communications skills! On Tue. morning, Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. was attacked by terrorists. I was the RCMP Senior Communication Strategist for Newfoundland & Labrador. I had never experienced anything like this before.
Background info on planes diverted to Newfoundland.
Goose Bay - 5 planes, 816 passengers
Gander - 38 planes, 6500 passengers
Stephenville -7 planes,1108 passengers St. John’s -27 planes, 1 private plane, 5 passengers
Number of monkeys arriving in Gander - 2.
It was the first time I’ve ever heard the word terrorist. I will never forget that day.
Mary H.
"9/11 terror attacks reverberate as US marks 21st anniversary"
"The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, reconfigured national security policy and spurred a U.S. “war on terror” worldwide. Sunday’s observances came little more than a month after a U.S. drone strike killed a key al-Qaida figure who helped plot 9/11, Ayman al-Zawahri."
We must remember that the attack was a long time coming, a breach of our security which the CIA and Washington were aware.
CIA operative Robert Bauer was sent covertly to Iraq to work with the Kurds to topple Saddam Hussein. During his months of negotiations with tribal leaders, and the delivery of millions of dollars, he was in the presence of Osama bin Laden during the meetings.
Bauer knew who he was of course but was unable to persuade Washington to give him the green light to kill the terrorist.
Osama lived and organized the bombing of the Twin Towers.
America spent billions to track bin Laden and kill him.
It is terribly sad that our inefficiency may have caused the death of almost 3,000 Americans.
