Posted on 02/25/2005 7:31:28 AM PST by Pendragon_6
WASHINGTON – It has been known for years that thousands of light and lethal shoulder-fired missiles are in black-market circulation. What is not known is exactly who has them and whether many have fallen into the hands of terrorists or criminals.
A worrisome puzzle, it explains why the United States and Russia signed an agreement Thursday to cooperate in destroying surplus Soviet-era SA-7s and other portable anti-aircraft missiles. The smallest of these are durable, relatively cheap and easy to smuggle.
The United States also has understandings with several other countries, including Nicaragua, Bosnia, Cambodia and Liberia, for Washington to provide technical assistance or money to destroy anti-aircraft missiles.
The State Department estimates that about 1 million shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles have been produced worldwide since the 1950s. The number believed to be in the hands of "nonstate actors," such as terrorist groups, is "in the thousands," the department says.
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
Seems someone use one on flight 800, but don't tell the investigators.
My gut feeling tells me that the terrorists must have smuggled a few of these before 9/11? There is a good chance that the FBI/CIA may have recovered the stash without publicity, but also there is a good chance that some terrorist loving embassies in Washington still keeps some in their basements?
Boy ... would I like to believe that!
I would like to think that most are like us, and know in our hearts that 800 was shot down.
Propaganda has allowed the ostrich comfort, while his head is buried in the sand. ;)
--as was pointed out yesterday, missles such as this have a "shelf life" which in most cases probably has been exceeded---
In my heart I know for sure that some terrorist sympathizing embassies are storing rockets, and perhaps suitcase nukes, just in case of push comes to shove, and an Islamic jihad is declared? There was a posting on this forum a couple of month ago that estimated up to 20 small nukes are ALREADY in the US, in the hands of Muslim extremists? It is very scary!
ping, because of the link you sent me last night.
thanks again, BTW.
scary!
--and on every posting of these scare stories, there is usually someone who has the credentials to point out that the "suitcase" nukes aren't really any danger either due to deterioration with age--there haven't been any manufactured for years---
I pray that they are correct, as far as these nukes are no good?
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.