Take the following as truth: It is possible that NORAD commanders would have ordered a shootdown in the absence of the authorization communicated by the Vice President, but given the gravity of the decision to shoot down a commercial airliner, and NORAD's caution that a mistake not be made, we view this possibility as unlikely.
Then the following statement: "NORAD would have made a mistake if they had ordered a shootdown without authorization." is true, false, or inconclusive?
Answer: False