As noted here:
CNN is also reporting that investigators now believe that other planes were intended to be hijacked Tuesday, perhaps more than one. The unprecedented shutdown of all commercial air travel nationwide shortly after the attack may have thwarted the additional attacks, they believe.
My question that’s up for debate is this: Even just hypothetically for the moment, what if the two guys picked up in Texas did indeed have box-cutters? What if one or both had been training as a pilot? And what if it can be determined they had some level of affiliation with others directly connected to the attack?
What do they get charged with? Possession of a box-cutter?
It seems to me that something like attempted murder or attempted hijacking would be extremely difficult to prove, given the evidence of the above situation. I was going to fly, I had to cancel, I had a box cutter, and I had had conversations with some of these other people.
“So what?” their attorneys will say. “Doesn’t prove anything.” And, more or less, they will be right.
It chills me to the bone to consider that there are other terrorists out there that wanted to make Tuesday an even more horrific event. Maybe they are waiting their chance now. And even if we caught them, all they could likely face is some half-assed criminal charge involving false documents, or deportation because of expired visas.
Thoughts?