Posted on 12/31/2012 8:30:50 AM PST by kiryandil
Think drones only fly above Pakistan, Afghanistan, or other quasi-theaters of war?
Think again. Yesterday, an unmanned helicopter was photographed flying above the Metrodome plaza before the Vikings-Packers game. A Homeland Security Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response [VIPR] team was also photographed milling around the plaza.
Here's a photo of the VIPR team, followed by a full-size shot of the drone (all photos courtesy of Nathan M. Hansen's Twitter):
Local "information operations" and "spinstorms" blogger Dan Feidt writes that the drone "is comparable to the sports photography drone... I figured it might just be a civilian hobbyist drone or some weird sports media project until the VIPR team was found by Hansen." (We've done two interviews with Feidt this year: read them here and here.) [UPDATE: In fact, the unmanned aircraft appears to have been under the control of a local production company -- see update below.]
Here's some context about VIPR teams [also known as "viper" teams] from a Los Angeles Times report published late in 2011:
The TSA's 25 "viper" teams -- for Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response -- have run more than 9,300 unannounced checkpoints and other search operations in the last year. Department of Homeland Security officials have asked Congress for funding to add 12 more teams next year.
According to budget documents, the department spent $110 million in fiscal 2011 for "surface transportation security," including the TSA's viper program, and is asking for an additional $24 million next year. That compares with more than $5 billion for aviation security.
TSA officials say they have no proof that the roving viper teams have foiled any terrorist plots or thwarted any major threat to public safety. But they argue that the random nature of the searches and the presence of armed officers serve as a deterrent and bolster public confidence.
Of course, one person's "public confidence" is another's "police state." And either way, your tax dollars paid for a VIPR team that probably spent most of its time in Minneapolis staring at drunken football fans walking to and from a game.
:::: UPDATE ::::
It appears the presence of the drone was unrelated to the presence of the VIPR team. TCRover, a reporting truck used by the Pioneer Press, shared a photo indicating the unmanned craft was being used by a local production company to shoot aerial scenes of the Metrodome.
Why is the TSA at a ball game?
Just ensuring the safety of the ball's travels.
Re: Update
“oh shyt. we got caught, quick use the front company!”
Every breath you take
And every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
Ill be watching you
All part of King Obama building and training his gestapo.
what’s the bag limit on these things anyway?
Welcome to the USSA, comrades.
get used to it, you’ll see more and more of them.
If I were nearby with a .30-06 rifle(NOT an “assault rifle”), that damn thing wouldn’t have been flying very long.
“”””It appears the presence of the drone was unrelated to the presence of the VIPR team. TCRover, a reporting truck used by the Pioneer Press, shared a photo indicating the unmanned craft was being used by a local production company to shoot aerial scenes of the Metrodome.”””
Yeah, that’s it.
No one really wants to contemplate whom that 73% increase in government jobs are and what they were hired for
No one wants to consider really, REALLY defending their home or life from an un-warranted assault by some agency that says "We have a paper" .. or .. "an order" .. or .. "a warrant" .. and you scratch your head and flash through all those reports of mistaken address or shot dogs and et cetera's
But SOMEwhere along the line, average Americans are gonn'a be forced to face the reality that ... we're no longer free and de-facto have no rights
Yeah that's what this was a fly over, yeah that's it. nothing to see here move along.
TSA has become a training ground for a future cadre of para-military police to spy on Americans.
It was searching for a new Browns head coach.
That Team looks armed to the teeth. Tactical holsters, knives and flex cuffs.
The TSA’s 25 “viper” teams have run more than 9,300 unannounced checkpoints PAPERS PLEASE
Flyover for a domed stadium.
The Goodyear blimp shows up, why not? :)
“Welcome to the USSA, comrades.”
_______________________________________
You are right. It is not just drones, but from what I hear, cameras are going up all over the place.
Big Brother is, or will be watching you.
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