Posted on 07/23/2005 10:00:02 AM PDT by SLB
Three men described as Middle Eastern-looking were seen aiming a rocket launcher at a low-flying B-1 Bomber near Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
Air Force security pursued the suspects, who got away, but left behind their rocket launcher, according to a July 14 Air Force staff directive obtained by WND.
The three suspects were observed outside the perimeter of the air base, looking through binoculars and aiming the weapon at chest level, according to the report.
The FBI and Air Force security are investigating the incident, which suggests a threat to military and commercial flights within the U.S. from rocket launchers – or MNAPADS, Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, as they are called.
According to Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Center, "MANPADS form part of the arsenal of weapons available to almost 30 insurgent and terrorist groups worldwide, their apparent proliferation on the black market making them relatively easy and, depending on the model in question, cheap to acquire."
U.S.-made "Stinger" missiles were widely distributed by the Central Intelligence Agency among rebel Mujahedeen groups fighting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980s. Given the weapon's record against agile military aircraft – at least 270 confirmed kills – the threat that such an advanced system poses to much slower civil aviation is obvious. Conservative estimates state that at least 100 such missiles are still in the country out of around 900 originally supplied.
Article does not say whether it contained a live round or not.
One thing that has been going on here, off and on for quite awhile, are various anti-terror drill. I wonder if someone caught wind of some of those and got their wires crossed?
"C'mon, this would have been a HUGE story if it had been true."
Was the blackout followed by the London blackout a huge news story? Remember all the lies and distortions swirling around it? The same thing will happen here.
"These "terrorists" could be figments of Farah's imagination."
Ok. That's it. Name ONE report Farah was caught fabricating. Just one. Some of his quotes of foreign papers might seem unbelievable, but they are accurate quotes of foreign papers. This is a quote from a US source. He didn't make it up.
Even if this was bogus, there have to be more that aren't, and only vigilance and quick thinking will stop them. Interesting bit on either Fox or MSNBC the other day, when they were discussing London's bombings. One US terrorist expert said a single US policeman who knew what to look for decided one man was acting weird. Something wasn't quite right about the man, so he reported it, and they discovered he was indeed a terrorist intent on blowing up Americans. I'd be more specific about this, but I can't remember exactly what city this happened in. When I heard it, though I was amazed. Maybe someone else reading this heard about it, too, and can tell the story better than I.
I kinda doubt it's related...
a B-1B and an AWACS look nothing alike except that they are planes.....
"...but when they are the only source I sure want to wave the BS flag."
What is Farah's 'Rathergate'?
One thing I've noticed lately is that school security seems to have disappeared in smalltown America. No locked doors, no badges, I.D.'s. It's back to business as usual....and this was before summer started.
I am certain they have had different threats in different cities from both homegrown terrorists and leftists.
However, this would have been an attack on the MILITARY, something the terrorists seem reticent to do. Why is that? Iraq gives a great example. We will kill terrorists by the bushel if we have too.
I think his is Joe Farah cheerleading again. I am glad he is wrong for a few reasons. First of all because I really hope there was no attack and secondly because it just shows Farah for what he truly is - a fruitcake.
"Three men described as Middle Eastern-looking..."
Right in the first sentence - that cannot be right...
So Farrah may have gotten the type of plane wrong.
I have often heard that they've caught far more than has ever hit the news. Still, living so close, it seems odd that I never heard anything about this particular incident. Not even a rumor.
I see someone is ducking my challenge. Quick with the insults. Slow with the goods.
Keeping us calm?? Much more going on we don't EVER HEAR 'bout...except when some American happens to see or hear it...then reports seem to appear especially here at FR. Thank God for the internet...
his bulletin
David Hackworth reported the same thing earlier in the week. http://www.sftt.us/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Unlisted%2edb&command=viewone&id=36
I see what you mean. As you said, the two planes are nothing alike.
But it would be too much of a coindicence to have TWO separate incidents on the same day, at the the same base.
Since the AWACS story is confirmed, I think there was SOMETHING, but we really don't know any more beyond that.
yeah...
and a B-1B is MUCH louder than an AWACS too, but that is again a relative term. Both can be loud :)
That alarm could have been ANYTHING. maybe a wheel was showing as not completely deployed or maybe the pilot needed to go #2. It's the Air Force after all :)
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