Publicizing arrest could have halted Sept. 11 hijackers

Report indicates Moussaoui case likely key to detecting terrBy DAN EGGEN
Washington Post


WASHINGTON -- The commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has concluded that the hijackers probably would have postponed their strike if the U.S. government had announced the arrest of suspected terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui in August 2001 or had publicized fears that he intended to hijack jetliners.

A report on the case released this week noted that "publicity about the threat" posed by Moussaoui "might have disrupted the plot." Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, said the conclusion is based in part on extensive psychological profiles of the Sept. 11 hijackers, who were "very careful and very jumpy."

"Everything had to go right for them," Kean said. "Had they felt that one of them had been discovered, there is evidence it would have been delayed."

Such a delay could have given the FBI, the CIA, and British and French intelligence services more time to discover Moussaoui's ties to al-Qaida and the terrorist cell in Germany that planned the attack. The FBI also might have had more time to track down two hijackers who had entered the country but were not located before the attacks.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2512531

known to the underground groups. So am not sure publicizing would have delayed anything.

Publicizing Moussari's arrest might have raised a red flag to the Florida and Phoenix flight schools, and the general public who may have come into contact with the hijackers. Who knows how many tips may have resulted from a mention on the news, in papers, and perhaps "America's Most Wanted". Of course, if the FBI didn't then follow up by assigning the manpower to follow up on those tips, it wouldn't have mattered.

hijackings. He was going something like 90 mph in MD.

These guys were acting like they didn't have to worry about anything, much less crossing paths with the law.

Like they had a guardian angel in some high place in government.

I'm sure they knew about Moussaui's arrest. And I'm sure they didn't worry.