re: #743 WriterMom

True-the aircraft being used as the actual weapon was new. But the highjackings were not. If you think about it, though, the use of a moving vehicle loaded with explosives was the technique used against the marines in Lebanon. So, the vehicle was different, and more lethal, but the strategy of using people as suicide bombers in a moving vehicle was not totally new. The scope was unprescedented of course.

Pure taxonomy, but I’d categorize the 9/11 hijackings as being a new and different thing. They were neither “traditional” hijackings, with the idea of hostages, demands, etc.; nor “kamikaze” attacks against military targets with military planes; nor flying truck bombs.