Posted on 03/02/2006 1:29:43 AM PST by MindBender26
Europe objects to El Al's anti-missile shield
European countries set to bar Israeli aircraft equipped with ant-missile system from landing at their airports Eldad Beck
El Al passenger planes will be barred from landing in some European countries because they have been equipped with defense systems against shoulder-held missiles, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported.
The Swiss aviation authority has already barred El Al aircrafts equipped with the new system from landing in the country, and the German paper said more countries are expected to soon follow.
"If we catch Israeli planes fitted with this system in our airports, they will be grounded," a spokesman for the Swiss aviation authority told Der Spiegel.
The "Flight Guard" defense system is a military system that has been modified to fit civilian aircraft. This battle-proven system is capable of detecting an approaching missile, warning the crew and automatically activating countermeasures in the form of flares that will divert the missile from its course.
The system has already been installed on a Boeing 767, and will soon be fitted on other planes as well.
'System will cause no damage'
According to defense sources in Israel, the European ban is "odd and based mostly on a misunderstanding." The officials say European countries are primarily concerned about false alarms that will result from the launching of decoy flares over central airports.
"Because these are unique flares, such a malfunction will cause no panic or collateral damages. Instead of thanking Israel, some countries prefer to stick their head in the sand," an Israeli source said.
However, a source at the Ministry of Transportation said the objection in Europe is not surprising, adding that "countries who oppose the landing of system-equipped planes are not on the list of countries where the threat of a missile attack is high. Therefore, this is not such a big problem."
More idiocy.
Terrorists always strike at the soft underbelly. They go where the threat to them is not high. A reminder, if needed: Boston and Newark airports were not thought of as terrorist havens on September 10, 2001.
More importantly; is this simply more European cowardice?
After innocent cartoons offend the Islamic thug masses and give excuses for riots throughout Europe, the thought of the Israelis actually taking a totally defense step to stop terrorists from destroying an airliner and 400 innocent lives must be very offensive to oh-so-sensitive French-dominated Europeans.
L
It could divert a heat seeking missile. Optically guided, could be another story.
They never learn, do they? I wonder where the European confidence comes from. Where do they get the idea that they can fight the islamists by surrendering? I guess they expect the US to save their hides for the third time in a hundred years (after WW1 and WW2).
I also see that the British have raised no objections. They are the only sensible people in the whole of W. Europe. The majority of the rest are pathetic cowards!!
It sure sucks if these anti semitic euro facists (switzerland) hold EL AL from flaring all over their fuel depots... you never know - everyone walks the street with manpads in switzerland.
Switzerland is not safe anymore !
Protecting lives? I truly don't understand, can this article be correct?
L
completely correct.
It is bravery to allow El AL to flare over airports in switzerland. Only cowards fly without.
Given the bif threat of manpads wielding islamofacists on the rampage in switzerland it is irresponsible to holf brave nations from fullfilling their duties by installing pyrotechnics to aircraft.
Seriously - you are quite safe in switzerland - unless you stand next to an airport fuel depot and someone is raining burning magnesia over it.
double dare you
There may not be a threat in Switzerland, but for damn sure there's one in Israel. Maybe they could leave their defenses on a cloud and pick it up on the way back.
L
I cannot imagine any legitimate reason why Europe would object to this system being present on Israeli aircraft. Perhaps a better compromise would be a mechanism to 'safe' the system while flying in European airspace.
And of course the Swiss are removing similar systems from their own military aircraft, right? I mean, since they're so awfully dangerous and all.
Let's be honest, shall we?
The oh-so-sophisticated Europeans have never gotten over the failure of their attempts to kill all the Jews and this nonsense is a not so subtle reminder that anti-semitism is alive and well.
They just hate the fact that Israel will not roll over and die.
And they hate the US because we interrupted their little Jew-killing party (otherwise known as WWII.)
How dare Israel defend itself!
What is their logic for not allowing planes with these systems?
The system is a set of flares to divert heat seeking missles...I don't see a problem with this. If the flare inadvertantly go off it is not a big deal.
But if a flare goes off and the missle is diverted what is the likelihood of it making impact in a populated area? And if the system is more likely to save lives on the ground and in the sky the objections are unreasonable.
So, you think that these think fire flares everytime they land? Or are you saying Muslims fire rockets at planes alot but miss
I wonder how safe you'll feel when some Muslim miss-reading his Koran fires a missle at one of those planes and brings it down on those fuel depots.
I dunno about causing no harm. I worked at a company that made similar counter measures for B-52's back in the 1970's. Some genius figured they could save a trip to Otis AFB and do a little testing from a tower, on site. Well a flare went skidding down Main Street of a town North of Boston, crashing through the plate glass window of a barbar shop. Fortunately, no one was hurt and damage was minor.
It's a good thing half the town's selectmen were lawyers on retainer to the company, the company took a full page "public relations" add every week in the local Thursday paper and the cops liked the paid overtime they got doing traffic details. It pays to have friends.
According to defense sources in Israel, the European ban is "odd and based mostly on a misunderstanding...
Uh, no, it's actually hatred of the Jewish people and rage over the fact that the Jews have come up with yet another way to thwart attacks on themselves.
Usually the simplest explanation for something is the correct one.
as I said - that's what switzerland is famous for - anti semitism...
sorry but that's just plain BS.
yeah lets be honest
... jewish immigration to germany is higher today than the immigration of jews to the US....
certainly these people come here because people like me hate them and terrorize them all day.
What a load of stirred BS
Every time Israel comes up with something and we dare say :"Maybe it's the second best idea..." they run around like a headless chicken screeming ANTI SEMITISM ! WE ARE GETTING OPRESSED ! WE DEMAND MORE HOLOCAUST MEMORIALS !
I am so tired of this...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.