Fallon NAS
Bellefontaine AFS
Tachikawa AB
Fortuna AFS
Hofn NI
Posted on 07/30/2004 9:12:01 PM PDT by Defender2
(Author's note: I have served for 28 years, including service in our defense as well as overseas)
Out of All the years that I have been here at FRee Republic, this is the first article that I have posted.
I wanted to share this little bit of disregarded history with all of you.
Two things that President Carter did that in later years that contributed to 09/11/01 happening.
1. Not supporting the Shah of Iran and letting violent revolutionaries(at least some of them current terrorists) take over the country, overunning our embassy at the time and holding members of our Embassy Staff and other Americans hostage for 444 days.
2. Discontinuing Aerospace Defense Command in late 1979, which led to a continual degradation of our Air Defenses and which led to valuable lessons in Air Defense, Strategy and Tactics, being thrown away and disregarded. Eliminating Aerospace Defense Command started the demoralisation of those Air Defense Forces. Eliminating those Squadrons responsible for our nation's Air Defense also aided in the demoralisation of those Air Defense Forces. Before that, It was regarded a high honor and very important responsibility to Defend our Nation's Airspace.
After that Air Defense was regarded as wasting time and the degradation of U.S. Air Defenses ensued. Under Aerospace Defense Command(jointly with NORAD), ALL U.S. Airspace was monitored, not just outward from our borders and shores. The innermost Air Defense center then was in Missouri covering our Nation's interior(Richards-Gerbauer A.F.B., along with the then Air Defense assigned 71st F.I.S.) .
President Bush served in Aerospace Defense Command, Serving with the 111th F.I.S., 147th F.I.G., Texas Air National Guard before ADCOM's disbandonment in 1979. See how he is today being ridiculed for participating in our nation's Air Defense. Even after 09/11/01, The importance of our nation's Air Defence is being ridiculed starting with President Bush's Service defending our homeland's airspace with the Texas A.N.G..
You would figure that after 09/11/01, anyone participating in our nation's Air Defense would be regarded in honor. Even today, post 09/11/01, the importance of our nation's Air Defense is being ridiculed, starting with the ridicule of President Bush's service in this regard. I am deeply angered in this.
Something that under the President Clinton administration that happened which contributed to the events of 09/11/01.
Of course We ALL know about the "Gorelick Wall" but here's something else.
26 Air defense Alert sites that were in operation prior to President Clinton's inauguration were reduced to 7 under his presidency. Including the closest site to New York, Atlantic City. Airtime between Atlantic City and New York is minimal, meaning it is possible that the attackers possibly could have been headed off if the Atlantic City site would have still been in operation.
Since 09/11/01, President Bush has restored the importance of Our Nation's Air Defense. ALL of those 26 sites have been returned to duty with added importance. Thank You, President Bush!!!!
Some how, I get the impression that the 09/11/01 commission does not know or care to know or have not shared any of the above information in their report.
The Left's attitude in this country's defense contributed greatly to 09/11/01.
Just look at Senator Kerry's voting record on defense as an example.
I was at Cheyenne Mountain for my first duty station. I left there in October of 1979 and headed out to the Pave Paws radar station on Cape Cod at Otis AFB then. It was shortly after I arrived that Jimmuh killed ADCOM. I still have my ADCOM patches. SAC took over our mission and never understood it. I left Otis for Woomera in 82 which was also acting as a misunderstood SAC base. Shortly after-wards, Spacecom took over and things got a lot better.
You're right about Jimmuh. I was home watching a football game on that Sunday in November of 79 when our embassy was taken. I told my family I had to get back to the base that minute. They asked why? I told them an Embassy is considered the soil of its nation and this was a direct attack on America, so we were at war. However, for the next 444 days we played paper tiger with these guys. That, as you so eloquently put, brought forth Islamic terrorism against this country. Thanks, Jimmuh!
tHANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE and for teaching me about an area that was unaware of. Keep up the great work, I have bookmarked it and saved it to give to some friends.
God Bless You!
Keep the postings coming. Enjoyed reading it.
#138. Thanks Very Much, 4woodenboats!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards, Defender2
#139. I've posted commentary to over 5,000 posts.
This is the first time that I posted an Article, however.
Very Best FReegards,
Defender2
#140. Thanks Very Much, MEG33!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards, Always,
Defender2
#141. Thanks for the Patch Pics, Links and Your Service To Our Country, Cannoneer No. 4!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards, Always,
Defender2
D2
:-)
Thank You For Your Service To Our Country and Also For Your Commentary!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards, Always,
Defender2
D2
:-)
Thank You, rotundusmaximus!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards, Always,
Defender2
D2
:-)
Here's a site, you might like:
http://www.f-106deltadart.com/index1.htm
Best FReegards,
D2
Thanks. Looks pretty neat.
#152 and #153. Thanks Very Much, Cannoneer No. 4.
The F-106A You have pictured here is F-106A s/n 90146(59-0146) then assigned to the 194th F.I.S., 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing, California A.N.G., Fresno. This photograph was taken in July, 1980 Over Tyndall's Gulf of Mexico Range during a live fire sortie of an ATR Genie Rocket. The 144th participated in that year's(1980) William Tell Bienniel Air Defense Competition, later that fall of that year. The 144th Won the Competition that Year.
Very Best FReegards,
Defender2
D2
:-)
The Genie had a nuclear warhead. Did they ever fire and detonate a live Genie?
I have said for a long time that Carter is the reason we have to fight the WOT
The only live one fired was over Yucca Flats, July, 1959. Called "Test Shot John". It was fired by a crew of an F-89J. The ATR was a conventional spot charge trainer version. SEE Don Mclaren and Marty Isham's book, "F-89 Scorpion" for details.
FReegards, D2
Exactly. If we had taken out the revolutionaries in Iran at that time, it is doubtful anyone else would have challenged U.S., there in the region. After Sadam fell, look how fast quadafi caved in. He did not want to be trashed.
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.
