"Only the last two planes, I think, had any shot of being intercepted and taken down on 9/11"

Richard Ben-Veniste, a member of the 9/11 Commission, was reflecting on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when four business airplanes were hijacked by terrorists, resulting in ravaging attacks on the United States. In his declaration, "Just the last two planes, I think, had any shot of being obstructed and removed on 9/11", Ben-Veniste is revealing a nuanced view concerning the feasibility and timing of prospective military interventions on that day.

On 9/11, the very first two aircrafts-- American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175-- crashed into the World Trade Center towers in fast succession, and there was little to no caution that such attacks could occur. At that point, there was prevalent confusion and shock, and authorities were unprepared for this mode of attack. Consequently, there was no reasonable chance to stop these aircraft because the occasions were unfolding too rapidly and all of a sudden.

The latter part of Ben-Veniste's declaration describes the 3rd aircraft, American Airlines Flight 77, which struck the Pentagon, and the 4th, United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after travelers tried to retake control from the hijackers. The timelines for these aircrafts were a little extended compared to the first 2, possibly enabling fighter jets or other military responses more time to set in motion and identify the danger.

Ben-Veniste indicates that, with a more coordinated and prompt action, there may have been a possibility to obstruct these airplanes. Nevertheless, this is speculative and acknowledges the chaotic nature of the scenario, as the whole national defense framework was caught off-guard by an unmatched type of attack. The quote reflects an understanding of the logistical challenges dealt with by defense and air travel authorities on 9/11, recognizing that while public safety procedures and military readiness have since developed substantially, the immediate response capacity on that day was restricted.