<b>Vigilant Guardian</b> is an annual training exercise conducted by [[North American Aerospace Defense Command|NORAD]] in which a threat to North American airspace is simulated. The simulated scenario is varied from year to year.
==Vigilant Guardian and the September 11th Attacks==
Vigilant Guardian 2001 was to be a week-long exercise beginning on September 10th. According to the [[9/11 Commission Report]], it 'postulated a bomber attack from the former Soviet Union' on North America. The exercise was sponsored and conducted by the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] in coordination with [[America]]n and [[Canadia]]n [[NORAD]] regions and sectors. The exercise was ongoing when the first hijacking occurred.
The [[National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States]] investigated the possibility that preparations for Vigilant Guardian compromised the military's response to the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|terrorist attacks]] on September 11th. They concluded that the exercise may have had the effect, if any, of expediting the response to the attacks. However Vigilant Guardian was only one of at least four large-scale exercises being conducted on the morning of [[9/11]].
[[FAA]] and military officials reported trouble decerning the war game operations from the actual attacks. After being notified of the first hijacking, General Larry Arnold originally thought it was part of the exercise,[http://911research.wtc7.net/cache/pentagon/attack/abcnews091102_jenningsinterviews.html] [http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/searchResults.jsp?searchtext=commander+Major+General+Larry+Arnold+first+thing+went+my+mind+part+exercise%3F&events=on&entities=on&articles=on&topics=on&timelines=on&projects=on&titles=on&descriptions=on&dosearch=on&search=+Go+] as did NEADS Commander Col. Robert K. Marr Jr.[http://911research.wtc7.net/cache/planes/defense/aviationnow_jumpstart.htm] and his deputy Lt. Col. Dawne Deskins, who said "everybody" at NEADS first thought the attacks were part of Vigilant Guardian.[http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1a012802.html]
==External Links==
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/vigilant-guardian.htm Entry on Vigilant Guardian] at [http://www.globalsecurity.org/ globalsecurity.org]
*[http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1a012802.html <i> Amid Crisis Simulation, `We Were Suddenly No-Kidding Under Attack'</i>] at [http://www.newhousenews.com/index.html Newshouse News Service]
==References==
*[http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/index.html The 9-11 Commission Report Final Report], see notes to Chapter 1, Note 116.
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