As DG seems reluctant to provide the information I asked for, here are some details about hi-jacking.

Since an early rash of hi-jackings of US civilian aircraft to Cuba during the 60's, the US has been relatively untroubled by the hi-jacking problem. In the period I referred to in my question, almost every single hi-jacking has had some fundamentalist Islamic dimension to it, all have taken place outside the USA.

The response to hi-jacking has never been to launch interceptor aircraft, not in the USA, nor anywhere else for that matter.

Remember DG's big question to me was - "Why did the NORAD interceptor jets remain on the ground for 75 minutes after 4 airliners were hijacked on Sept 11?"

Had the administration been previously advised that an attack such as the attack on 11th September, 2001, was possible? - Yes it had, on the basis that anything is possible. Had the administration been previously advised that such an attack was probable? - No it had not, because there was absolutely no precedent, or information, upon which such an assessment could be made. The balance of probability on 11th September was that Islamic fundamentalists had hi-jacked four aircraft, and that the administration was faced with a "normal" hi-jacking incident.

Another question for you DG - How many hi-jacking's have there been subsequent to 11th September, 2001? There is a reason for that - tell me what it is?

To assist you in arriving at the correct answer, look at how many El-Al aircraft have been hi-jacket - look at hostage taking in general, and ask yourself why no-one takes Israelis hostage.