http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=753222
The single-engine Cessna that prompted a frenzied evacuation of the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court on Wednesday veered away from downtown landmarks just before that decision needed to be made.

Lt. Col. Tim Lehmann, one of two F-16 fighter pilots who tracked the Cessna, said he was prepared to use deadly force.

Ridge Sees Red Over Alerts
http://wired.com/news/furthermore/
"Former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge revealed Tuesday that he often clashed with the Bush administration over decisions to raise the terror alert level in the United States. "Sometimes we disagreed with the intelligence assessment," Ridge said, adding that his department sometimes felt flimsy evidence was used to justify raising the threat level."

Scare was not enough to alert Bush, aide says
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/11633615.htm
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The White House yesterday defended the decision to not interrupt President Bush during a bike ride to inform him of a suspected threat that led to the evacuation of thousands - including his wife - from government buildings.

The scare Wednesday turned out to be merely a wayward Lancaster County pilot.

Agents told Bush about it when he finished the bike ride.