McCain was a POW when U.S. began to use laser-guided bombs

tribune-review ^ | salena zito

[Salena Zito]

McCain was a POW when U.S. began to use laser-guided bombs TRIBUNE-REVIEW By Salena Zito

Sen. Rockefeller got down and dirty today with colleague John McCain in an interview with the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia when he said: "McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues." Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki had this to say about the Rockefeller smack down: "Senator Obama has a deep respect for Senator McCain's service to this country and doesn't agree with what Senator Rockefeller said."

[Nowhere Man]

I heard that over Hannity today and was thinking about what I know of Vietnam War history, I do believe laser guided bombs came in use for the first time around 1968 to 1972, give or take. McCain was captured in 1965 so he was a POW before they has laser guided smart bombs.

[LSUfan]

What a pure scumbag Rockefeller is.

[Salena Zito]

Three Vietnam vets confirmed that

[Reaganesque]

Senator Rockefeller, is it true, sir, that when someone massages your head and neck you get taller?

[Williams]

Wow, the left will get worse and worse like a spoiled brat unless they are denounced forcefully and embarrassed publicly.

Rockefeller shows you how crazy they are - we're supposed to "sympathize" with the enemy McCain was attacking in war, and view McCain as "cowardly" or "uncaring" because he did his duty fighting for our side. That is just so twisted.

[Mr Rogers]

I don’t believe A-4s EVER dropped laser guided bombs.

[XeniaSt]

Does that mean that Sen. Rockefeller is an ignorant fool as well as a liar ?

[dbacks]

[What a pure scumbag Rockefeller is.]

WTF does it have to do with anything anyway? Jeezus, those dem bung wipes smear everything they come into contact with. They are scum, pure and simple.

[Williams]

Yes, it's important that Rockefeller is wrong and an idiot, he probably thinks we used laser bombs in WWII.

But who the Hell would dare, except a degenerate left winger, to attack a fighter pilot who does their duty and uses our best technology in war, as somehow a bad person for doing their duty? Rockefeller just insulted every American serviceman and woman who contributes to combat without shooting the enemy at point blank range.

[ilgipper]

Every day I am more disgusted by the sub-human vermin in the Democratic party. Someone needs to demonstrate to the people of American who these scum really are.

[BGHater]

A interesting history behind the LGB. One of the first targets destroyed by one was the Thanh Hoa bridge. With out LGB we would have alot more [John McCain's]POW's.

"Dragon Slayers," original art by Robert Bailey. Navy F-4 Phantoms and A-4 Skyhawks attack the Thanh Hoa Bridge (Dragon's Jaw) in North Vietnam. One hundred and four pilots were shot down within a seventy five square mile vicinity of this infamous target. The communists used the bridge to push Russian and Chinese supplies southward to the front by rail, truck and foot. It stood for almost ten years against every conceivable ordinance that the Americans could muster via air power, surviving wave after wave of determined airmen. For the North Vietnamese, it assumed a prominence that approached mythical status and became a symbol for the North of their determination, fortitude and cause. Presented by oldgloryprints.com

"Jaws of the dragon," original art by Stan Stokes. The Ham Rong Bridge in North Vietnam was a frequent target for F-105s. Ham Rong translates into English as “Dragon’s Jaws,” and this very important north-south rail and highway line was a vital supply link in allowing the North Vietnamese to send streams of men and materials south. The Ham Rong Bridge was 546 feet long and was 56 feet wide. SAMs and antiaircraft batteries heavily defended it. From 1965 to 1968 almost seven hundred aircraft flying about 800 sorties had attacked the bridge, hitting it with more than 10,000 tons of high explosives. Despite these attacks, repair crews worked around the clock, and the bridge remained usable. The North Vietnamese knew that American fighter-bombers would have to pass directly over the Dragon’s Jaws to release their bombs. A wall of antiaircraft fire would be directed directly over the bridge during such attacks, and a horrific toll was exacted on attacking American aircraft. Presented by Stan Stokes Art

Unguided bomb craters known as "Valley of the Moon" mark the approach to Thanh Hoa Bridge. Photo presented by Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Ahhh but you have to give him credit. He’s a veteran....of the Piss Corp.

[Chinstrap61a]

Unfortunately, the laser-guided "smart" bomb wasn't in service while John McCain was flying combat missions. While he and his fellow Navy, Marine, and Air Force pilots and crews were fighting the North Vietnamese, they had to get down close to their targets through some of the heaviest antiaircraft defenses of all time so they could ensure a hit on their targets.

In other words, our pilots risked their lives to press in close to hit the enemy, rather than just releasing the bomb and risking innocent bystanders.

When the LGB entered the inventory, the pilots could attack from a higher altitude and evade after release because the bomb had a very high probability of striking the target and again, not hit innocents.

What is it that liberals and enemy sympathisers like Rockerfeller fail to understand about that?

[jwalsh07]

The issue isn’t technology, the issue is that Jay Rockefeller is a limousine liberal commie loving piece of shit.

[Lumper20]

Not sure when they had the microchip to drop those bombs, but; I would guess about 73. Maybe some AF jet pilots know? I doubt McCain had them as he was shot down. I would guess he may have had improved camera sights to drop regular bombs?

[Right Wing Assault]

What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn't know.

No, numbnut. The whole point of laser-guided bombs is that you DO know where they go.

[Hoodat]

Is this the same Sen. Rockefeller who was the first to state for the record that Iraq was an “imminent” threat?

[LSUfan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIe1eLdWgeU

[Bushbacker1]

What, with all of Rockefeller's military experience, I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. What's that? He's never served in the military? He was a VISTA volunteer?

Well, I guess he doesn't know what he's talking about and he IS a blithering fool and idiot!

[toddlintown]

Nice “x”s.

[cricket]

Of course, McCain won't; but perhaps some Repubs will. ..make a campaign ad with Nelson giving his op-ed against McCain.

It screams again; the warning. . .vote for a Demrat; at your own risk; and only if willing to put your entire country at risk.

How frickin stupid can these people be. . .obviously, for Libs; 'stupidity' is a never-ending slippery slope - and with no bottom in sight.

[RoadKingSE]

What a pure scumbag Rockefeller is.

This punk political hack would piss all over himself and cry like a girl if he was ever to find himself in the kind of peril that comes with strapping on a jet and heading for Indian country.

West Virginians should do the honorable thing and evict this crapload the next chance they get. But I won't hold my breath.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

RWA: You got it RIGHT re the main point of the use of the laser guided bomb. It was used against “STRATEGIC” targets such as bridges and anti-aircraft weapons sites/complexes, not villages or individual small AA guns. When they were good, they were very, very good and accurate, which is why the bridge in question was dropped into the river on the first LGB strike on it.

Only stupid civilians would live around a strategic target that had been attacked so many times.

Only a stupid traitor like Rockefeller would say something stupid like this. And he heads the Senate Intelligence Committee? Oxymorons, both, they are.

[Skooz]

I didn’t think I could possibly hold Rockefeller in any more contempt. Until now.

The man is sleaze.

[steveyp]

That is the only certain thing about the Senator we know.

[Hamilcar_Barca]

The incredible hypocrisy of the Democrats. They (Roosevelt) carpet bombed Europe and firebombed cities in Japan and then as if not enough civilian were killed they (Truman) nuked two cities in Japan.

[PRO 1]

And where was Rockefeller during this time frame? In his silver lined highchair being fed designer baby food? Or perhaps in his plush snooty richie-brat school being fed a daily diet of liberal, self centered, eugenics centered, Leninist, anal excretions from America haters? Or perhaps in his uppity private college brat Pi Cappa Me Me Fraternity wearing his family coat of arms smoking jacket intellectually masturbating himself over a discussion about the merits of Cino Communism? Or perhaps calling Jane Fonda up for intellectual or phallic stimulation? Or perhaps with his like self centered egotistical business piers planning a screwing with a stock deal, after wards attending a private dinner planning how they are entitled to “benefit the world” with their presence and “benevolent” guidance?

Yeah, he sure was sharing the sweat along with the working stiff and the grunt getting an honorable dose of life's lessons. Yeah Right.

Who knows and who gives a danm. Rockefeller hasn't earned the right to hand John the toilet paper used to wipe his ass, the symbolic gesture of the value of Rockefeller and his lefty homies. Let alone consider a comment on the value or execution of McCain's service.

[Regulator]

I have no interest at all in McCain being President.

That said, this is about the most vile thing that could come out of Rockefeller's mouth.

[Reily]

To all

Rockefeller's stupidity was legendary when he was governor of WV. I knew democrats who dealt with him, who in private moments who despaired about his thickness. Of course they didn't despair enough not to vote for that empty suit. I also knew WV voters whose sole reasons for voting for him was 'he is too rich to steal' and they also seemed to think he would spend the Rockefeller fortunate on the state.

[Travis McGee]

I believe the only guided bombs used a TV camera in the nose, and were “flown” by the copilot in two seaters. (RIOs or NFOs.) Walleyes?

[SunkenCiv]

Rockefellers don’t belong in gov’t, or really anywhere other than the golf course.

[BusterBear]

Well, it’s not the facts that are important - Senator Rockefeller thinks he’s showing that he CARES about people. (The US military don’t count.) It’s what in your heart that’s important, right?

[Squantos]

Walleye was post Vietnam.......

The Paveway series of laser-guided bombs was developed by Texas Instruments starting in 1964. The program was conducted on a shoestring budget, but the resultant emphasis on simplicity and economical engineering proved to be a benefit, and a major advantage over other more complex guided weapons. The first test weapon, using a Mk 117 bomb as the warhead, took place in April 1965. Prototype weapons were sent to Vietnam for combat testing starting in 1968.

[AlphaOneAlpha]

No doubt, Rockefeller is a flaming Jackass and poster-boy as to what is all wrong with the Democratic Party and Washington in general. We are being represented by not so bright non-achievers. All politicians who give little damn about the bigger picture and the country. They are not smart enough to think and act at that level....or think that's someone else's problem.
May Jay Rockefeller rot in hell, that SOB. Not the first time he's gotten swept up in the Dems case of the vapors and shot off his ignorant mouth. But, have you noticed, nothing ever sticks with the MSM.

[doug from upland]

[Travis McGee]

Was the Paveway fire and forget, seeking the laser designator on its own?

[Squantos]

No....I believe one would paint the target and other would shoot / drop.

[Grut]

A interesting history behind the LGB. One of the first targets destroyed by one was the Thanh Hoa bridge.

You may be right but I have a distinct memory that it was (also? earlier? later?) destroyed by mistake by a B-52 that went offset-direct during Linebacker 2.

Well, I could be wrong. It was a long time ago.

[trimom]

Sen. Rockefeller never before allowed the facts to get in the way of the headline. What a jerk.

[Cheapskate]

“What a pure scumbag Rockefeller is”And that’s on top of being a DUMBASS!

[piytar]

Isn’t it hard to shoot golf with your head that far up your @@@?

[EDINVA]

Rockefeller thinks it would be ever so much more civilized if we went back to dueling. Perhaps a croquet match, or cricket?

[Halgr]

I was in an A-4 Squadron in the Nam (Chu Lai)....no lazers on my tour. (66-68)

However the Air Force did use paveway lazer guided bombs in 1972 against hanoi bridges.

It wasn’t until later that the Navy and Marines got this weapon.

Would someone please wack Rockyfella up the side of the head??!!!

[maine-iac7]

We've always known he's an but he seems to need to keep reminding us.

I just pray that people start getting clue, watching all the chaos and inanity of the dimRats that they'll realize what a disaster it would be to let these vermin back into the WH

[Always Right]

Does that mean that Sen. Rockefeller is an ignorant fool as well as a liar ?

Not at all. He was both long before he made this stupid comment.

[Trailerpark Badass]

I think the first laser guided bombs were used during the Easter offensive/operation linebacker, which would have been 1972.

[dighton]

Sen. Rockefeller got down and dirty today with colleague John McCain in an interview with the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia when he said: “McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn’t know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues.”

Ping to a dazzling show of imbecility.

[RDTF]

infuriating!

[FReepaholic]

...dropped laser-guided missiles...

The idiot doesn't know the difference between a bomb and a missile.