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.
WOW! What a trip down memory lane. Some amazing stuff at those links. Thank you!
Nice painting of F-106A s/n 90060(59-0060) of the 159th F.I.S., 125th F.I.G., Florida A.N.G., intercepting a Soviet TU-142, Soviet Naval Maritime version of the the TU-95 Bear Bomber off the Coast of Florida, either enroute to Cuba or on its return flight from Cuba back to Murmansk.
Best FReegards,
D2
#160. Nice Artistry and article, Cannoneer No. 4.
The F-102A in the picture, s/n 61447(56-1447) is in the Markings of the 57th F.I.S., Keflavik, Iceland, the famous "Black Knights".
FReegards,
D2
You're very welcome. My Dad was in radar maintenance. Most Americans don't remember or never knew about the hundreds of thousands of airmen who protected us by sticking to their posts on cold and lonely remote sites.
That bubble might be Hofn, then. My Dad played midnight softball there July 4, 1971.
Did President Bush ever intercept any Bears?
Bump!
They also serve who sit and wait.
Worked many a lone night shift, hoping that the scramble phone didn't ring. Worked Air Defense from 1981 to about 1990. Been doing so again since 9-11. Many folks STILL don't know what we do for them. But that's OK, WE know.
The pic you posted didn't show up. :-(
D2,
Very good for a first article. Lurk no more, sir. We definitely need to hear from you. In fact, we all need to pull together, now more than ever.
I lurked here a bit myself, before I started posting. I would read, and agree, and say that I wished I could respond, but after a while I said, "Let me just dive in and FReep."
I must say, to have a first post with over 170 entries is pretty darn good! Thank you for your service to our country (and to Free Republic), and I hope to see you at the FReepers Inaugural Ball in January...because if (when) President Bush is re-elected, I am going to make the trip.
Congrats again, and welcome to Free Republic.
#165. Could be. Thanks for your post and Very Best FReegards, Defender2
:-)
#166. There is a slight possibility of that. I'm sure the President stood alert at Houston, however Soviet "Bear" aircraft incursions into that area were rare. One that made national news when a Cuban delegation landed at an airport in Louisiana in 1974 unannounced in a TU-114 Aeroflat Civil Transport version of a TU-95 Bear Bomber in 1974. Alert in LA was stood down in 1970 prior to that incident after maintaing alert for over 15 years previously with F-86D, F-102A/TF-102A aircraft. After that incident Alert was maintained in Louisiana as well as Texas until into the Clinton Presidency when alert was shut down for several years and was re-instated by President Bush on 09/11/01 as were ALL of the 18 other sites that were previously closed down under Clinton(Only 7 on alert starting 1994 roughly).
AM, ping for your interest as well
BUMPING and bookmarked!
Excellent first post, Defender2. Thank you for the history lesson. I had no idea air defense had been knocked down so drastically and am glad to know Pres. Bush has built it back up again.
Looking forward to future posts. :-)
Thanks for the ping, Tonk!
And thank you both for your service!
Hopefully, I can make it to the FReepers Inaugural Ball. I'll Try.
Very Best FReegards, Always,
Defender2
P.S. I posted some more info above:-)
ping
Thank You Very Very Much, radu!!!!:-)
Very Best FReegards and God Bless ALL of U.S.!!!!:-)
BUSH/CHENEY 2004!!!!:-)
Our Detachment in Goldsboro, NC escorted Bears on a regular basis. As time went by, the War on Drugs took over as a new priority.
Thanks for a great post. The true story of our decline in defense will be told by the enlisted men, not politicians.
Their stories of the dismantling of our defense systems come from every branch of the military.
If we had decent news media in this country, John Kerry would be no where close to George Bush in the polls.
I served at "'Ol Shady J" as well returning from the R.O.K. in 1984. Selfridge had F-4Cs' there at the time, I remember!!!! I was with the "Chiefs", then.
Very Best FReegards and please post to me when you can,
Defender2
:-)
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