Was the target the US Capital or the White House?

[demtenjeep]

The memorial is nice

[Ohio Joe]

1. I suspect no one will ever know for certain

Personally, I suspect the White House. Nothing to back that up, just my own suspicion.

[demtenjeep]

2. that is what I have thought all these years

but watching the memorial and Tweety saying it was the US Capital made me question which would have been worse.

[FarCenter]

3. Cheney hasn't said

[kentuck]

4. We can't handle the truth....

..it is very possible that the orders were given to shoot the plane down.

[Supply Side Jesus]

5. I heard it was the Capitol

no, i don't have a link, but I'm pretty sure that was the target.

In United 93, the terrorist pilot had a pic of the capitol he put on the pilot controls. (yes I know it was a movie, but Greengrass made sure no bullshit got into it.)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. neither

[lunatica]

7. They went for the highest symbols of America and Capitalism

I think it would have been the White House because they would want to cut off the head of the Country too. Not just the WTC which was the highest symbol of Capitalism and the Pentagon which is the highest symbol of the US military. Terrorists like Bin Laden always go for the symbols.

[RZM]

8. There was an NPR story the other day about this

Allegedly there were differences of opinion within the terrorist clique about which would be the best target. I might be wrong here, but I believe Atta was arguing for the Capitol building. Perhaps the Pentagon was a backup target - it's larger so maybe the pilot went for it because he thought he had a better chance of actually hitting it.