The North American Aerospace Defense Command told WTOP that District residents might “see or hear fighter jets and other military planes flying along the Potomac River and around the District over the next two days.” They assure us that “It’s a training exercise.. like others done in our area and around the country since the September 11th attacks.”

Meanwhile, the Denver Post reported last week that the 9-11 commission squarely blames NORAD for failing to adjust its Cold War focus on missiles from Russia “even though the intelligence community had gathered intelligence on the possibility that terrorists might turn to hijacking and even use of planes,” observing that “On the morning of 9/11, the existing protocol was unsuited in every respect for what was about to happen … “

Playing a little catchup, eh boys?