New policy could save many lives

Thursday two Air Force generals were granted the authority to order fighter jets to shoot down a civilian plane if it appears to threaten an American city or enter restricted airspace. The authority belonged chiefly to President Bush or Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, but now two generals stationed in Florida and Alaska can make the call. Scared to fly? Certainly the idea of 'friendly' fighter jets with their guns pointed at your plane headed home for the holidays isn't comforting. The extension of authority sends a message to would-be air travelers: if the terrorists don't take the plane down, the generals may. This isn't the kind of boost to consumer confidence the industry needs after the dramatic drop in flights since Sept. 11. With about 90,000 airline jobs gone, it seems more airline employees are packing up than travelers are. \nThe extension of authority sends a clear message to would-be suicidal terrorists, too: your mission will not be accomplished. It is backed up with fighter jets at 26 bases across the country, poised to take off within 10 minutes of an order. Bush can be reached on a secure phone within two minutes to make a critical decision, but apparently the White House and Pentagon officials who granted the authority don't want to play with 120 seconds. They want to sacrifice centralized control for the sake of safety, for the chance that ending 50 lives might save 5,000.\n"If the plane is nose down and threatens the safety and security of the American people, that is the type of situation we're is talking about," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan, according to Reuters. "And that's the last resort."\nFor all of those who are frightened to fly, there might be more who feel safer knowing the U.S. armed forces are empowered to protect America to the highest to degree. Those who forced the plane down in Pennsylvania were heroes, accepting certain death so others could live. The same situation could arise again. If the passengers are not so brave, the decision to broaden the authority to shoot down a civilian plane might become an act of heroism itself.\nStaff vote: 4-2-1