Sept. 11 panel underscores US defense gaps

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2004

WASHINGTON, (AFP) — Public hearings held this week by the independent commission investigating the September 11, 2001, attacks revealed an ill-prepared US defense system, a fatal problem that raises the question of whether US authorities are ready for another such strike.

The hijacked airplanes used in the attacks on New York and Washington and an aborted attempt that crashed in Pennsylvania caught US intelligence services off guard, while authorities scrambled to respond to the surprise strikes that killed nearly 3,000.

During hours of intense hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, relatives of victims wiped away tears as the strikes were relived, showing the country's top officials confused as to how they should respond to the event.

"I think the question...