US to examine feasibility of 9/11 defense system

The US intends to conduct a top-down assessment of the air defense system it has operated since after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil to examine its viability.

A Friday report by The New York Times suggested that the main aim of the current assessment is to see whether it is necessary to keep on alert the costly defense system, which includes an array of military planes and hundreds of air crews, or to dismantle it.

"The fighter force is extremely expensive, so you always have to ask yourself the question 'How much is enough?'" said Major General Pierre Forgues, a Canadian who is currently in charge of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, commonly known as Norad.

The review by the US military officials due to be completed by next spring, is going to look into the possibility of a potential air attack on US and Canadian soils by terrorists hijacking planes or using their own small aircraft.

Forgues said that with enhanced security measures in place, including airport screening, passenger tracking and secured airliner cockpits, terrorists can barely succeed in launching a 9/11-like attack.

"The ability of terrorists to do what they did on 9/11 has been greatly curtailed," Forgues told the Times.

This is while, many maintain that the 9/11 attacks would have been impossible without inside help from individuals or groups from the US government.

The review does not necessarily dismantle the defense program, rather if deemed necessary, it may be kept at current level or even be upgraded, said the top brass.

The September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil left more than 3,000 people dead.