According to presidential advisor Karl Rove, when President Bush was evacuated from Florida on Air Force One on the morning of September 11, 2001, “Almost immediately after we were airborne, Vice President [Dick] Cheney phoned with a tough decision for Bush to make. The Air Force had scrambled to put up a combat jet patrol over Washington but needed rules of engagement. What should happen if another plane were hijacked and could not be controlled? Could it be shot down? The president uttered a forceful ‘Yes.’ Cheney asked again and Bush said, ‘You have my authorization.’ ”
– Karl Rove, Courage and Consequence, Page 253