Comments on: September 11th, A Short Remembrance http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 4 Dec 2008 01:12:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: car rental chicago » Car rental chicago - Return to Release http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-98661 car rental chicago » Car rental chicago - Return to Release Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:08:36 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/09/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-98661 [...] September 11th, A Short RemembranceOutside Beltway - I then cancelled my afternoon meeting, checked out of the hotel, got in the rental car, and drove 24 hours straight to get back home, picking up two colleagues who were supposed to meet me in Detroit but got diverted to Chicago. Posted by: [...] [...] September 11th, A Short RemembranceOutside Beltway - I then cancelled my afternoon meeting, checked out of the hotel, got in the rental car, and drove 24 hours straight to get back home, picking up two colleagues who were supposed to meet me in Detroit but got diverted to Chicago. Posted by: [...]

]]> By: DC Loser http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-97199 DC Loser Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:23:45 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/09/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-97199 I was working in the basement of the Pentagon that day, supporting a global command and control exercise. We had TVs in the room and I watched it all unfold from the moment they switched to the North Tower after the first plane hit. At that time they were thinking it was a small plane hitting it by accident. When the second one hit, there was no mistake it was intentional. I called my colleagues back in my office at Bolling AFB to turn on the TV. Our exercise was pretty much OBE (overtaken by events) and we just watched the TV awaiting further instructions. I jokingly said that Pentagon security better be on the ball because we could be next. 15 Minutes later someone ran into the room and said to get out as a plane hit the building. The evacuation was eerie as it was very calm and looked like a normal firedrill. Only when I went outside did I see the smoke. I knew from the TV there could be more coming my way, and that it was not likely I would be allowed back in the Pentagon that day. The radio had all kinds of rumors and unconfirmed reports of bombs at the State Dept. I decided to get out of there and go home, seeing as the road headed that way was completely empty. I made it back in 30 minutes. The roads were all strangely deserted with occasional emergency vehicles headed into DC. I heard the two towers had collapsed on the radio driving back. I couldn't reach my wife as all the cell phone lines were jammed. When I got home, she burst into tears and we hugged for a long time. We kept our kids home from school that day and just watched the TV, and spent time at a neighbor's house. My parents and sister live in NYC and I couldn't get in touch until that evening to tell each other we were all okay. The skies were silent for the next few days (I live under Dulles' landing pattern). It was all very strange and it all stayed with me. I still think about this every now and then. I was lucky, many others weren't, and they are always on my mind. God Bless them and their families. Be kind to strangers and you never know when your number is up. I was working in the basement of the Pentagon that day, supporting a global command and control exercise. We had TVs in the room and I watched it all unfold from the moment they switched to the North Tower after the first plane hit. At that time they were thinking it was a small plane hitting it by accident. When the second one hit, there was no mistake it was intentional. I called my colleagues back in my office at Bolling AFB to turn on the TV. Our exercise was pretty much OBE (overtaken by events) and we just watched the TV awaiting further instructions. I jokingly said that Pentagon security better be on the ball because we could be next. 15 Minutes later someone ran into the room and said to get out as a plane hit the building. The evacuation was eerie as it was very calm and looked like a normal firedrill. Only when I went outside did I see the smoke. I knew from the TV there could be more coming my way, and that it was not likely I would be allowed back in the Pentagon that day. The radio had all kinds of rumors and unconfirmed reports of bombs at the State Dept. I decided to get out of there and go home, seeing as the road headed that way was completely empty. I made it back in 30 minutes. The roads were all strangely deserted with occasional emergency vehicles headed into DC. I heard the two towers had collapsed on the radio driving back. I couldn't reach my wife as all the cell phone lines were jammed. When I got home, she burst into tears and we hugged for a long time. We kept our kids home from school that day and just watched the TV, and spent time at a neighbor's house. My parents and sister live in NYC and I couldn't get in touch until that evening to tell each other we were all okay. The skies were silent for the next few days (I live under Dulles' landing pattern). It was all very strange and it all stayed with me. I still think about this every now and then. I was lucky, many others weren't, and they are always on my mind. God Bless them and their families. Be kind to strangers and you never know when your number is up.

]]> By: yetanotherjohn http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-97188 yetanotherjohn Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:36:32 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/09/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-97188 I was on a business trip. I was talking on the phone to one of my employees about a task I had for him to complete. He kept losing the thread of the conversation and eventually told me he was watching TV about a plane that hit the world trade center building. I remember thinking about a plot in a book where terrorists hacked into an airport navigation signal and caused a plane to crash. I couldn't believe a pilot would trust his instruments more than his eyes and follow the instruments into the side of a building. I turned the TV on and shortly afterwards saw the second plane hit. I then cancelled my afternoon meeting, checked out of the hotel, got in the rental car, and drove 24 hours straight to get back home, picking up two colleagues who were supposed to meet me in Detroit but got diverted to Chicago. I was on a business trip. I was talking on the phone to one of my employees about a task I had for him to complete. He kept losing the thread of the conversation and eventually told me he was watching TV about a plane that hit the world trade center building. I remember thinking about a plot in a book where terrorists hacked into an airport navigation signal and caused a plane to crash. I couldn't believe a pilot would trust his instruments more than his eyes and follow the instruments into the side of a building. I turned the TV on and shortly afterwards saw the second plane hit.

I then cancelled my afternoon meeting, checked out of the hotel, got in the rental car, and drove 24 hours straight to get back home, picking up two colleagues who were supposed to meet me in Detroit but got diverted to Chicago.

]]> By: Spam filtering help http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-133376 Spam filtering help Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/09/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-133376 <!--%kramer-pre%-->s digital lives, and many see spamming as the ultimate in selfish, inconsiderate Mako’s system acts as an all-in-one router, Web filter, firewall, ADSL modem and spyware detector. It’s pitched as a total September 11th, A Short Remembrance Outside Beltway - NOTE: My spam filter automatically deletes any TrackBacks that do not actually link and refer to this post. Those doing it manually should ensure they have linked the post before sending the TrackBack ping.<!--%kramer-post%--> s digital lives, and many see spamming as the ultimate in selfish, inconsiderate Mako’s system acts as an all-in-one router, Web filter, firewall, ADSL modem and spyware detector. It’s pitched as a total September 11th, A Short Remembrance Outside Beltway - NOTE: My spam filter automatically deletes any TrackBacks that do not actually link and refer to this post. Those doing it manually should ensure they have linked the post before sending the TrackBack ping.

]]> By: » Gone Hollywood http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-133377 » Gone Hollywood Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2006/09/september_11th_a_short_remembrance/#comment-133377 <!--%kramer-pre%-->[IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] Republicans to Concede RI if Chaffey Loses Primary Gay Runs Fast Name The Breed: The Answer Ohio State Student Drives into Crowd after Big Win Fifth Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Caption Contest September 11th, A Short Remembrance “Path to 9/11″ Video Clips Professors Cancelling Classes for Conferences Non-Monetary Endowments [IMG OTB Sports] In memory of Ken Marino, NYC Firefighter, Father, Husband, and Baseball/Strat-O-Matic fan<!--%kramer-post%--> [IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] Republicans to Concede RI if Chaffey Loses Primary Gay Runs Fast Name The Breed: The Answer Ohio State Student Drives into Crowd after Big Win Fifth Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Caption Contest September 11th, A Short Remembrance “Path to 9/11″ Video Clips Professors Cancelling Classes for Conferences Non-Monetary Endowments [IMG OTB Sports] In memory of Ken Marino, NYC Firefighter, Father, Husband, and Baseball/Strat-O-Matic fan

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