Exploding the “That Wasn’t A Missile” Myth

FreeRepublic ^ | November 10, 2010 | Gargantua

[Gargantua]

Exploding the “That Wasn’t A Missile” Myth

By Gargantua

What appeared to be a missile rose from below the horizon, streaking into the sky off of California leaving a condensation trail identical to the kind that have been filmed being left by a ground-or-sea-to-air launch of a Minuteman missile or ICBM.

First, the Government was inexplicably mum on the topic. Next came a series of sometimes contradictory explanations. Now, days after the event, the finally agreed-upon explanation hits every news station all at once. “It’s the con-trail of a jet returning from across the Pacific.”

There are two glaring problems with this obviously false “explanation.”

First, the shape and density of the con-trail.

A missile launch would be more dense and wide at its base, just as we see in the images we’ve been shown. A jet’s con-trail would be thinner and smaller the further away as it trailed off toward the horizon. We see the opposite in the availale video footage.

Second, the lighting.

In the video footage, we see stratus clouds out over the ocean behind the rising missile. The setting sun is shining on, and illuminating, the bottom of those clouds. On the con-trail, however, the illumination from the sun appears on the right-hand-edge; just as it would if this were a launching missile’s vertically rising con-trail. There is no illumination of the underside of the “jet’s horizontally oriented con-trail” because it is not a jet’s con-trail, it is a vertically-oriented missile’s launch contrail with the sun lighting up the side away from us. Very obviously so.

The Government must think we are at least as stupid as they are if they think this lame explanation is going to “fly.”

;-\

[Gargantua]

"I’ll just declare victory and move on."

Well, congratulations on your "victory." LMAO!!!!

Bye!

8^D

[Gargantua]

Okay, so just like all the government disinfo operatives who smear every whistleblower, you don't like Haggman and his NE Intelligence Network (who, by the way, has a 'fatwah' death threat issued against him by Al Qaeda, and this comes from Agence France Press and Al Arabi newspapers). Pretty weird for a bogus conspiracy site, don't you think? Fine.

What's your objection with "Reuters?" You know, the internationally respected news organ? I hope they never ran an article on "Bigfoot."

Tell me, what is one to do when all the "reputable" news sources are spreading the Government lie under threat of professional annhialation? Just lay face down, grease your a## and wait for the schtupping?

Sorry, not my idea of a fun weekend.

Like I said, the truth will come out, and very soon. The Chinese will be emboldened, not discouraged, by the mewling of the sheep like you who hear this crap and run for their Vaseline. Dittz.

;-\ ;-\

[tuckrdout]

Well, I think it is obvious that we perhaps made a mistake, and are trying to cover it up.

[The Comedian]

Hey, Comic.

Yeah Tarantula?

Check out my post #450, then look at this.

Dude, post #450 contains no information. It is a series of unsubstantiated and unattributed rumors. It has zero information value.

And then your referenced Reuters article quotes a Chinese general thusly: "A country needs respect, and a military also needs respect. 'If someone doesn't hurt me, I won't hurt him; but if someone hurts me, I must hurt him," wrote Major General Luo Yuan in the paper.

Duh.

I've seen this sort of collapse of rational thinking before, many times. The weaving together of ideas, rumors, and theories as though they were data, facts, and logical conclusions.

Truthers use this sort of tortured pseudo-thought all the time.

Dude, step back from the brink. It was a friggin' airplane contrail. It was Flight AWE808 from Hawaii to Phoenix, or possibly UPS902.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Gargantua]

Chill, gnarly C-dude. I'm just trying to get this post to 500 replies. I don't care if it was a bottle rocket from Oxnard.

If it's the chang, I say bring it. If it's the kids from Oxnard, we'll mow 'em down.

(Gotta stay controversial)

8^D

[vigilante2]

Maybe it was Nancy Pelosi! Do broomsticks make contrails?

[Gargantua]

"I've seen this sort of collapse of rational thinking before, many times."

How very sad. I thought you were one of the good guys.

Everyone knows, Comic, that the only true "collapse of rational thinking" occurs when people are bullied or cajoled into not asking the questions. Close examination of what's under every overturned stone is the healthiest exercise a republic can indulge in. Obeying when told what stones to leave unturned is the death of the republic.

You had me going there for a while. Ciao.

;-/

[The Comedian]

How very sad. I thought you were one of the good guys.

How very sad. I thought you were one of the smart guys.

the only true "collapse of rational thinking" occurs when people are bullied or cajoled into not asking the questions

Or when they refuse to accept that 2+2=4 because of some deep-seated need to gain attention. This is far more common than external bullying. We call it "attention whoring", or in more extreme circumstances, schizophrenia.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Gargantua]

None of which resolves the inconsistent quandary, the un-bridgeable gulf... between "resist authority" and "here, this is what you should think, and if you don't, then you're stupid."

You're not talking to one of your high school teachers, here, gnarly C-Dude. The standard manipulations don't even make a sound in this room, much less receive any attention.

I only said what I did in four-six-four to get Ditto and his two attached-at-the-sphinc sidekicks to go away: they are more easily read, lead and controlled than a finger-puppet. One last mini crash course clue for today:

Every last person with a logon at FreeRepublic likes attention. Those who don't avoid these sites. Refer to someone else's affinity for contact as though it were a disease or character flaw if you must, just know the same microbe is making runny scabs on your ass too. And you can stuff the "nuance" argument: "Yeah but you need it more." One, it's beneath you. Two, it's way beneath me.

%\

[Gargantua]

"Or when they refuse to accept that 2+2=4."

Here's the "2+2=4"; LA area has lots of flights. Several airports, and thousands of flights. I'm sure the public is extremely attuned to the appearance of jet contrails, as they must be as common as traffic jams in LA.

If this wasn't something remarkably different, something truly unique, why all the fuss? Things you wouldn't normally give a second glance take on a different potential when you hear that the tape might have been seized, or see the F-16 racing into the frame; the mere invlovement of the Pentagon transcends the normal (lack of) gravitas one might otherwise allow an unattributed "quote."

There are all sorts of "2+2=4's" flying around. Asking the questions is very different from drinking the kool-aid. Those who try to lump the two together very rarely have a noble reason for such subterfuge. It's a red-herring. You know it, and you know I know it. I wonder why you'd bother.

%\

[The Comedian]

Have you read ANY of the links I posted, or looked at ANY of the pictures I've posted?

You sound like the arguments I'd get from a blind person who couldn't respond to any visual data I supplied.

Why don't you refute some piece of evidence I've supplied, instead of these pointless rants you tend to go off on, demanding I adopt your Missile Truth position out of emotional conviction?

"when you hear that the tape might have been seized"

More unsubstantiated, unattributed rumors. Do you know what a *fact* is? Do you know how to differentiate it from a *rumor*?

. It was Flight AWE808 or more likely UPS902.

Or watch this video and then address its specific contents.

No more free education. Any more lessons, and you're going to receive a bill from me for tuition.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Gargantua]

Okay, I've viewed all the links and watched all the videos, and I've even read over a dozen reports. One thing strikes me.

When you're on a ship's conning tower (depending on the ship, 30-50 feet above the water for the sake of this example), and you look to the horizon, you can see approximately 30 miles before the curvature blocks your view of the surface. At 30,000 feet, you can see 200 miles or more.

According to the LAX Air Traffic Control Tower, there were no fewer than 4 dozen aircraft at 30,000-plus approaching LAX at that time of day.

Why is there only one "jet contrail"? We know that there were at least two jets approaching from the west at that time, and that the flights were within 200 miles of each other for both to be possible sources of the "contrail."

Yet there's only one. Defies logic. Defies physics. Defies science.

Another mistaken assumption you seem to make is that I care whether you or anyone else sees what I do. That ain't gonna happen. It is impossible for you to see anything from my perspective, because I'm the only one standing exactly here.

Filling the gulf between all these points of perspective is the discussion we engage in as we compare what we see to what each other sees. That is what intruigues me; that and trying to understand how you (or anyone else) comes to the conclusion that you do based upon a few very similar constants that we all share the view of, albeit from various perspectives.

I will admit that I allow a grudging respect to those who can stare down logic, physics and science and declare a victory. Whether or not that is "intelligent" we'll leave for the historians to debate. That it is interesting to me I make no apology for.

The one flaw I see in the most recent video you asked me to watch is that the MIT guy says that the entire contrail is evenly lit, unlike how it would appear were it indeed a ground-launched missile efflux. In the hi-res video on my hard drive (downloaded from the internet while the full-length version was still available) (?), the bottom-third of the efflux is in shadow.

It is what it is, and like the opinions of those still discussing it, it ain't gonna change. I accept that.

8^D

[The Comedian]

Now *that* was a good response. I think we'll just agree to disagree.

Don't misunderstand my skepticism. I never believe anything I'm told by anyone. I just ruthlessly apply Occam's Razor.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Gargantua]

BTW, I never thanked you for my new nickname, "Tarantula." Thank you.

The next time the admin mods kick me off FreeRepublic and I have to get a new ISP to create a logon/legend, I'll come back as "Tarantula." It actually makes me homesick.

Back in the day a group of black-ops ghosts were pinned down in a steep-walled, narrow valley in Columbia, hunted by the powder-crazed soldiers of Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha. They were lying submerged in about 2.5 feet of water in a stream at the bottom of the cleft.

They stayed there for 48 hours, finally making it the 3 kliks to the EP on day 3, just catching their last chance for a flight home. The Huey only checked for smoke at that time of day 3 days in a row, then had orders to return to base, assuming that the ghosts weren't gonna make it out. One of the group, it's leader, had started life as an OCS ninety-day-wonder butter-bar who somehow managed to survive his three deployments to Nam and ended up leading an elite force that no brass would ever admit to the existence of.

He made it out that day, by was DOW within a week of getting home. His code-name in all radio communications for that, his last op, had been "Tarantula."

If I ever get the chance, I'll wear it with pride. Thanks again.

;-\

[The Comedian]

You betchya bud. And if I ever get booted and have to come back again, I'll be "The Comic", the nick name you hung on me that sparked my "Tarantula" response.

:-)

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Wee-Weed Up]

“Not true. I have a photographic memory, and I remember how many times you’ve written to me on this thread. That’s all I’ve metioned here. You big silly. You may very well be paranoid if you actually believe what you said here.

In fact, you’re either a paranoid with a persecution complex, or a liar. That is one sad self-portrait to be painting here, for the whole world to see...”

Photographic memory? lol, you must have nothing better to do than remember who responds to your posts. I personally have better things to do with my time than memorize everyone on here. Paranoid? lol, Yeah, that’s it. You sit around praying for people you don’t even know. I feel sorry for you, not paranoid.

[Wee-Weed Up]

Something someone said “Tell the truth, Ditto, how many time have you been asked for your autograph? How many times have you needed for your security detail to tackle women (plural) trying to just touch your clothing? In all honesty, I lost count over thirty years ago.”

Your response “Oh boy oh boy. A real celebrity in our midst!
I’m so honored to be in you presence. I’m not worthy. < /s >
Is your ego feed enough now?
Go get your narcissistic personality disorder treated and stop playing the “I’m Famous” card. No one here gives a rats ass who you are. But they can all see that you are a total jerk.”

That wasn’t me who said that “tell the truth,ditto” paragraph. Did you forget to take your ADHD medication?

[Wee-Weed Up]

Disregard what I said Ditto. I thought Gargantua was confused and sent this to me.

This Gargantua fellow really is a loon, isn’t he?

[Gargantua]

"You sit around praying for people you don’t even know."

Jesus died for people He never met. Praying doesn't seem like so much to ask. Praying for people isn't a character flaw, Wee one. Like I said, you've obviously had some really despicable examples set for you. You need prayer.

We all do.

;-\

[Gargantua]

"Disregard what I said Ditto. I thought Gargantua was confused and sent this to me. This Gargantua fellow really is a loon, isn’t he?

Priceless! Nothing I can add here... speaks for itself. Wow.

LMAO

(Gnarly C-dude, you see what I have to deal with here? You just can't make this sh*t up, nobody'd believe it.)

8^D