9/11 Report: 10-Plane Attack Was Planned
By: Richard Stewart | Source: NewsMax.com
June 17, 2004 2:42AM EST

WASHINGTON – Sept. 11 plot mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed originally envisioned an attack involving 10 hijacked planes, including one he would pilot and, after all male passengers were killed, land at an airport and make an anti-American speech, according to a report Wednesday from the commission investigating the attacks.

The report, compiled by the commission's staff from interviews with government officials and documents they reviewed, said Mohammed initially proposed hitting CIA and FBI headquarters, unidentified nuclear plants and tall buildings in California and Washington state, in addition to the World Trade Center, Pentagon and White House or Capitol.

Mohammed, who is in U.S. custody at an undisclosed overseas location, told interrogators that rather than crashing his hijacked plane into a target, he wanted to land and make a political statement. Mohammed proposed killing every male passenger, landing at a U.S. airport and making a "speech denouncing U.S. policies in the Middle East before releasing all the women and children."

That plan was rejected by Osama bin Laden, who ultimately approved a scaled-back mission involving four planes. Training for it began in 1999.

Officials Stymied Some of the Terrorists

The report said Mohammed wanted more hijackers, up to 26 instead of the 19 who participated. The commission identified at least 10 al-Qaida operatives who were to participate but could not take part for various reasons including visa problems and suspicion by officials at airports in the United States and overseas.

Far from a seamless operation, the report portrays a plot riven by internal dissent, including disagreement over whether to target the White House or the Capitol, a conflict that apparently never was resolved before the attacks. Bin Laden also had to overcome opposition to attacking the United States from Mullah Omar, leader of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who was under pressure from Pakistan to keep al-Qaida confined.

The pilot of the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, Ziad Jarrah, nearly quit the plot, leading Mohammed to consider replacing him with Zacarias Moussaoui, who was taking flight training in Minnesota, according to the report. Mohammed, however, has told his interrogators that Moussaoui was being considered for a second wave of attacks still in the early stages of planning.

Moussaoui is awaiting trial on conspiracy charges. He's the only person charged in the United States in connection with the Sept. 11 plot.

German Connection

Ultimately, Jarrah was persuaded to participate by Ramzi Binalshibh, who helped plan and finance the attacks from Germany. He also is in U.S. custody overseas.

Among other new disclosures in the commission's report:

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