Chicago Daily Observer

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, after planes had crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Vice President Dick Cheney was in the White House bunker and had to make a momentous recommendation to President Bush, who was in flight aboard Air Force One: that Bush authorize the military to shoot down any civilian airliners that might be hijacked and headed for other targets.

Bush concurred—and shortly after, the moment of truth arrived. A military aide approached Cheney: “There is a plane 80 miles out,” he said. “There is a fighter in the area. Should we engage?” Cheney had thought through the complex implications of that question, had discussed it with his boss, and didn’t hesitate to answer: “Yes.” That plane was United Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania before fighter jets could reach it.

Driving down the Dan Ryan one recent day we passed a Wal-Mart semi headed south on its way out of Chicago. It easily could have exited the expressway at 83rd Street, turned right and proceeded several blocks past the new Lowe’s store and a Potbelly Sandwich Works in the Chatham Market to deliver goods to what by now should have been Wal-Mart’s second Chicago store. But the semi stuck to the Ryan. And the lot at 83rd and Stewart on Chicago’s South Side? It’s a vast expanse of vacant land, empty and forlorn.

In case you missed it, Todd Stroger says he’s not hearing from upset people regarding his latest tax increase proposal. If you’re not happy with his $890 million a year tax grab (or if you are happy with it), let him know. His phone number is 312–603-6400.

More at the Tribune

Conrad Black, the British noble who built a newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times, is convicted of mail fraud and obstruction.