September 10, 2021 - Legion Magazine

10Sep 2021

By David J. BercusonNo Comments

Weak point

Norad needs stronger cyber defences This year marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. The day will no doubt be marked by sombre reflection on what happened and grief for the victims. But will anyone think of that day as marking the greatest failure of the North American Aerospace Defence Command? Norad is responsible for protecting North American airspace against attack, but it responded only after the fact by closing U.S. airspace and ordering all operating aircraft to land at the nearest airport. Even today, Norad has no recourse against another 9/11-type attack except to shoot down a hijacked airliner. There is a lot of discussion in the United States and Canada these days ...

10Sep 2021

By Don GillmorNo Comments

Canada Corner, O Canada

Operation Yellow Ribbon

On Sept. 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center towers fell, 2,871 people died, among them 24 Canadians. One of them was former NHL player Garnet (Ace) Bailey, who was on United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the South Tower. The last person out of that tower before it collapsed was believed to be Ron DiFrancesco of Hamilton, who worked on the 84th floor. When the American Airlines passenger plane hit the North Tower first, an announcement told everyone that the South Tower was secure; there was no need to evacuate. DiFrancesco decided to leave anyway. Before he could get to the elevators, the plane carrying Ace Bailey hit the tower between the 77th and 85th floors. DiFrancesco was able to run through smoke and burning debris and finally get to the ground floor. The building then began i...

10Sep 2021

By J.L. GranatsteinNo Comments

Canada Corner, Home Front

Afghanistan goes to the Taliban

Is this the end of nation-building wars? The 20-year war to eliminate the Taliban that had sheltered and assisted Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorist organization he led has come to an end. After the stunning attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001, America’s call for vengeance was immediate and strong. The Taliban was quickly driven from power thanks to U.S. support for the Northern Alliance that had been fighting the Islamist regime. Badly battered, the Taliban was relatively quiet for three or four years. But by 2006, it was mounting large-scale attacks in Helmand Province, where British troops had the lead, and in Kandahar Province, where Canadians led operations. The Taliban lost heavily. Canadian troops won in combat but then lacked sufficient numbers to...

10Sep 2021

By Sharon AdamsNo Comments

Artifacts, Military History

Poignant remnants

Several steel pieces from the World Trade Center have come to rest in Canada The centrepiece of a ceremony in Gander, N.L., marking the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, will be a piece of steel recovered from the wreckage. The piece of beam was donated in 2011 by the fire department of Bethpage, N.Y., in gratitude to residents of Gander and surrounding small communities for the support shown to more than 6,500 passengers and crew of four military and 38 passenger flights diverted from U.S. airports on the day of the attack. Newfoundlanders opened their hearts and homes to people stranded for days. The beam remnant, on display inside Gander Town Hall since the 10th anniversary of 9/11, has been incorporated into the ...

Day: September 10, 2021

Weak point

Operation Yellow Ribbon

Afghanistan goes to the Taliban

Poignant remnants

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