Clear the Skies - 9/11 Air Defense
Strategic response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is thoroughly analyzed in the riveting BBC documentaryClear the Skies: 9/11 Air Defense. This hourlong program examines the events on 9/11 from the perspective of U.S. domestic defense, beginning at 8:30 a.m., shortly before the first hijacked jet struck the World Trade Center towers, and ending late that afternoon when President Bush safely returned to Washington, D.C. Dozens of startling details are revealed, including the fact that only four Air Force fighters were available to defend the entire Northeastern United States; the blast doors in the North American Air Defense command center, deep within Colorado's Cheyenne Mountain, were closed for the first time since operations began in 1966; and President Bush assured reporters on Air Force One that "two-bit thugs" would not keep America down (a candid off-the-record expression of Bush's anger).What emerges from this chronological account is the sobering conclusion that America was unprepared for this "new kind of war." ButClear the Skiesalso demonstrates how admirable efficiency prevailed under extreme circumstances, as Air Force pilots, reporters, and government officials share their memories of those unforgettable hours. Emphasis is placed on procedures that grounded nearly 5,000 aircraft to achieve an unprecedented state of "Air Traffic Control Zero." Actual radar footage shows how quickly this was accomplished, and a step-by-step analysis of the day's events (using file footage, photos, and dramatic reenactments) shows how the protection of America's executive chain of command was 100% successful. With a compelling combination of split-screen images and deep-background investigation,Clear the Skiesoffers an all-access pass to the complexities of air defense. Among the many fine DVDs that chronicle 9/11 from a variety of perspectives, this is one of the best.--Jeff Shannon