News conferences this morning report that all of the suspected hijackers were of Middle Eastern descent. Wealthy Middle Easterners have, for many years, sent their children to Europe and the US to be educated, so of course their English would be perfect.

I do not think this act was perpetrated by any US citizen. Anyone can go to flight school. I do think there is the possibility, however, that airline employees could have been involved.

As for the knife issue - I have always assumed that no knives of any kind were allowed on your person in an aircraft. Whenever I have been to the airport I have made sure to remove my Swiss army knife from my handbag. I have also heard of people not being allowed to take knitting needles on a plane. I am sure security probably varies from airport to airport.