[El Blanco]

The major part of planning an attack is mapping out strategies to bypass the defense/security system in order to ensure you will succeed. How could have bin Laden known he was going to be able to defeat the defense system, let alone the US spending 300 million per year on it, during the planning of the attacks?

The defenses were ponted outward. Thats how. al Queda was able to take advantage of the fact that we are very open to immigration and visitors.

I understand you look at the performence of US defense as a way of laziness and complacent, but that's not the reality. Each and every security departments are fully trained and equipped for an event like this.

No, they were fully equipped and trained for incidents that happened prior to this. Ever heard the saying "generals always prepare for the last war"?

What I mean is that the first strike occured on the upper part of the tower, it gives the workers in BOTH towers an opportunity to evacuate.

Or maybe its just too damned hard to fly a 767 street level through Battery Park City.

And if you are going to hit the building and kill a few thousand anyway, why are you going out of your way to make sure people escape?

And the first strike occured at around 845 in the morning, rush hour in NYC usually take place around the same time. It's perfect timing to grab attention of bystanders and cameras were pointing at the burning tower, hence the second strike in the tower right next to the other tower has produced maximal shock. It's brilliant, if you think about it

I know, I thought the same thing after seeing the second plane hit over and over.

"You think whoever did this planned it that way to cash in on the live coverage?"

Honestly though, that may have been a lucky break for al Queda. Turbulence, flight delays, etc etc can really screw that up.