Talk of Alaska: 9/11 in Alaska, Six Years Later

Tue, September 11, 2007
Posted in Talk of Alaska

Like the rest of the nation, Alaska felt the shock of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Air traffic halted. A recreational pilot in the interior found himself suddenly escorted by military fighter jets. A cargo jet headed to Alaska from Korea was diverted to Whitehorse. It was a Tuesday, and Talk of Alaska went on the air as usual, even on a day unlike any other.

Join the conversation about 9/11 and how Alaska and Alaskans have changed in the last six years.

HOST: Steve Heimel

GUESTS:

Stephen Haycox, Professor of History, University of Alaska Anchorage
Live callers statewide

RESOURCES:

Download the official 9/11 Commission report

LIVE BROADCAST: Tue, Sep 11 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide

PARTICIPATE:

Call 550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast
Send e-mail to talk [at] aprn [dot] org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)

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Comments

6 Comments to “Talk of Alaska: 9/11 in Alaska, Six Years Later”

Larry on September 11, 2007 at 10:51 am

Have we learned from events of Sep 11? NO
1. We have always had terrorism in the USA. Whiskey Rebellion, John Brown, Free Puerto Rico, Anarchists, Weatherman, SLA, Unabomber, etc…recently McVeigh, DC Snipers and the Anthrax attacks. The Sep 11 difference was the terrorists were “acting globally, thinking locally” and not motivated by US related issues.
2. We have not taken steps to minimize the risks and losses by reducing the size of the targets. Many places have dealt with terrorism for years by increasing police forces (usually operating within the law) and decreasing access to large scale targets.
3. Pam is right - we have not seriously planned for disasters large or small in a realistic manner. The planning is institutional when the individual, family and neighborhood should be involved.
Susan on September 11, 2007 at 10:59 am

We need to remember that information was available to FBI agents, that was not acted on, which had the potential to stop or reduce the impact of 9/11. Also, I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said “those who would sacrifice some freedoms to achieve security deserve neither.”

I’d like to add that the group in Homer is right - impeaching this administration, even this late in the game, will help to curb future erosion of our Constitution by future presidents. Presidents are always in a position to say that there is precedence from this or that prior administration. And it would be a travesty if our next president were to point to actions of the Bush/Cheney administration to validate their own anti-Constitutional actions.
Steve Rennell on September 11, 2007 at 11:06 am

I did’t hear the entire show, but nothing was mentioned(that I heard) about the possiblity of 9/11 being a hoax… There is a great deal of evidence that points to that on U-Tube, etc. Reminds me of all the information that came out about the Kennedy assination. It maybe a fringe viewpoint, but it certainly points out what a great manipulator fear is. And how easy it can be to distract the public in America.
Keith White on September 11, 2007 at 11:41 am

Today is not the day to remember 911. Today is the day to remember how we brought America to peace. How did the Great Wall of China come down? What ended the first and second World Wars? How was Egypt able to sustain its great periods of stability?

Stop discussing the spilt milk (blood) start cleaning it up. The simple fact is that our little war on “terror” has not done anything to make situations better. Give them air-conditioning not bullets. Restore their energy to what it was before we invaded.
Steve Heimel/host, producer on September 11, 2007 at 2:45 pm

These are impressively thoughtful comments, as were the ones made by the callers to the show. Most seem to answer the question “Have we grown up and learned to face our threats realistically?” with a resounding “No! We have yet to learn!” The callers also seemed very respectful of one another’s vews. Perhaps there is some way we can follow up the comparisons with the Red Scare and Prohibition.

PS - It is true that no one mentioned the theory that the terrorist attacks were pre-meditated (hoax is not the right word). Back in the day, nobody would have believed J Edgar Hoover was in the pay of the mob,either. Sometimes the most unbelievable explanation turns out to be the true one. But as for a hoax, well, I personally know one person who lost a close relative in the WTC thing, and there certainly seems to be a big hole in the ground in lower Manhattan.
Steve on September 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm

Deception is synonymous with hoax according to the dictionary, that is the sense I was trying to communicate. One of the questions raised by u-tube video I’ve seen was: were the buildings demolished on 9/11 really hit by planes? All of them (3 not 2) imploded in the same fashion as a building demolished by explosives.

My comments were never meant to dismiss any family’s loss or grief. The possiblity mentioned above only makes their grief more profound.