“Between March 14 and May 15, 2001, the FAA’s [Federal Aviation Administration’s] Office of Civil Aviation Intelligence conducted a series of classified briefings for security officials at nineteen of the nation’s busiest airports… The briefing discussed the threat posed by terrorism generally and bin Laden and al Qaeda in particular, including the groups’ renewed interest in hijacking. In particular, the briefing stated that ‘a domestic hijacking would likely result in a greater number of American hostages but would be operationally more difficult. …We don’t rule it out. …If, however, the intent of the hijacker is not to exchange hostages for prisoners, but to commit suicide in a spectacular explosion, a domestic hijacking would probably be preferable.’ ”
– John Farmer, The Ground Truth, Pages 98-99