 |
Bush Authorizes Two Generals to Order Downing of Jets
President Bush has authorized two midlevel Air Force generals to order commercial airliners that threaten American cities shot down without checking first with him, a senior military officer said today.
The senior officer, Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart of the Air Force, the head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said in an interview that such life-or-death decisions would be made by the generals only as a last resort when an attack was seconds away and there was not enough time to consult with General Eberhart, a four-star officer, or the president.
Maj. Gen. Larry K. Arnold, a two- star officer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., would have that authority for the continental United States. Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, a three- star officer at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, would have authority for Alaska. Hawaii is covered by the United States Pacific Command, headed by Adm. Dennis Blair, instead of NORAD.
In This Section
|