ALERT: Danger to US Commercial & Military Aircraft in CONUS (Debunked)

The following "REAL WORLD" notice was just received from an SFTT supporter. The full notice is a 2-page document posted below. The danger to US commercial & military aircraft in CONUS appears to be very real. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SITUATION: On 14 Jul 05, three individuals were observed outside of the perimeter of Tinker AFB, OK. They were looking through binoculars, taking pictures and one appeared to be holding a large weapon at chest level. The weapon appeared to be aimed towards a low flying aircraft. The three individuals were described as being of Middle Eastern decent and left the area when approached. The weapon was later identified as a rocket launcher (MANPAD) and the low flying aircraft to be a B-1 Bomber. FBI in Oklahoma City and AFOSI determined the threat to be credible. Due to this and other recent incidents and security concerns surrounding Tinker AFB, OK, the potential for suspicious activity in the Tinker AFB (TAFB) Area of Responsibility (AOR) has increased. While there is no specific threat information directed towards the TAFB AOR, it is imperative that all personnel remember their responsibilities to report any and all suspicious activity they observe.

MISSION: The Eagle Eyes (EE) program is the USAF mechanism for early detection of criminal and terrorist threats. All personnel stationed at TAFB must be reminded about the EE program and reporting criteria.

1. Personnel must remain vigilant during their daily activities; take note of any abnormal activities/personnel and immediately up-channel EE reportable criteria as listed below.

2. UCC’s will keep EE criteria accessible as a reference to facilitate rapid communication with law enforcement personnel as needed. The following information must be communicated to TAFB personnel as soon as possible:

TAFB personnel are reminded to keep a look out for any of the following suspicious behaviors:

SURVEILLANCE: Someone recording or monitoring activities, including the use of cameras (both still and video), note taking, drawing diagrams, writing on maps, or using binoculars or any other vision-enhancing devices.

ELICITATION: Anyone or any organization attempting to gain information by mail, fax, telephone, or in person about military operations or people.

TESTS OF SECURITY: Any attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches or to penetrate physical security barriers or procedures.

ACQUIRING SUPPLIES: Purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons, ammunition, uniforms, decals, flight manuals, passes or badges (or equipment to manufacture them) or any other controlled items.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS OUT OF PLACE: People who don’t seem to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishments, or anywhere else. This also includes suspicious individuals outside TAFB’s perimeter fence, those stopped along any adjacent roads, such as Hwy 193, Riverdale Road, I-84 and I-15. Pay particular attention to individuals who appear to be out of place either on or off the installation

DRY RUN: Putting people into position and moving them about without actually committing a terrorist act such as a kidnapping or bombing. An element of this activity could also include mapping out routes and determining the timing of traffic lights and flow.

DEPLOYING ASSETS: People and supplies getting into position to commit the act. This is the last opportunity to alert authorities before terrorism occurs.

REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS; UCC report acknowledgement of this tasking to your Battlestaff Rep. Immediately report suspicious incidents to the LE desk at 801-777-3056.

UCC REQUIREMENT: Ensure this information reaches all levels within your unit. Contact your Battlestaff representative to confirm receipt and compliance in notifying all personnel.

"...Capt. Carter told me the memo was issued to let base personnel know that "there's a threat out there somewhere" and to inform them of what to look for to guard against possible terrorist activity. Hill AFB participates in the "Eagle Eyes" program, an anti-terrorism initiative launched by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations that "enlists the eyes and ears of Air Force members and citizens in the war on terror." Found this news item originally on:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/mm20050727.shtml
Beware of strange men with rocket launchers by Michelle Malkin (excerpted below)
Yup, that's right. Many readers have e-mailed me about a recent report floating on the Internet that reveals military concerns about a suspicious trio of Middle Eastern men who apparently pointed a rocket launcher at low-flying aircraft near Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma earlier this month. It's authentic. Battle Staff Directive No. 41, categorized as "For Official Use Only," was issued at Hill Air Force Base in Utah last week to raise a red flag about the incident at Tinker AFB:
"On 14 Jul 05, three individuals were observed outside of the perimeter of Tinker AFB, OK. They were looking through binoculars, taking pictures and one appeared to be holding a large weapon at chest level. The weapon appeared to be aimed towards a low flying aircraft. The three individuals were described as being of Middle Eastern descent and left the area when approached. The weapon was later identified as a rocket launcher (MANPAD) and the low flying aircraft to be a B-1 Bomber. FBI in Oklahoma City and AFOSI [Air Force Office of Special Investigations] determined the threat to be credible."
Someone leaked the directive to a website called Soldiers For The Truth (sftt.org), and it was picked up by another site, the Northeast Intelligence Network (homelandsecurityus.com). Tinker AFB staff and FBI officials remain tight-lipped about the incident. But Capt. Sean Carter, a public affairs officer at Hill AFB, verified the directive for me.
In a phone interview, Capt. Carter told me the memo was issued to let base personnel know that "there's a threat out there somewhere" and to inform them of what to look for to guard against possible terrorist activity. Hill AFB participates in the "Eagle Eyes" program, an anti-terrorism initiative launched by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations that "enlists the eyes and ears of Air Force members and citizens in the war on terror."
The threat of an al Qaeda attack using shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles has been of increasing concern to homeland security officials. Last year, the FBI arrested two imams in Albany, N.Y., in connection with a sting operation involving laundered funds that the defendants were led to believe were proceeds from the sale of a missile launcher to be used in a New York City terrorist plot. Federal prosecutors noted during the trial of convicted al Qaeda bomb plotter Wadih El-Hage that his role entailed "conveying military orders from Bin Laden including . . . seeking weapons including Stinger missiles for al Qaeda members." In 2002, al Qaeda terrorists used two Russian-made Strela missiles to try and bring down an Israeli-chartered airliner departing from Mombasa, Kenya.
That effort failed, but the terrorists will no doubt try, try again. Hundreds of Stinger missiles have gone missing since the first Persian Gulf War, according to the General Accounting Office. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., noted last year that "there are an estimated 300,000 to one million shoulder-fired missiles in the world today -- thousands are thought to be in the hands of terrorist and other non-state entities." Thomas B. Hunter of Jane's Intelligence Review reported: "Al-Qaeda reportedly possesses a number of MANPADs, including SA-7s and Stingers. . . . It is logical to assume that Al-Qaeda is in possession of additional MANPADs. If this is true, then Al-Qaeda represents the most significant threat to international civil aviation."
Washington has been squabbling over whether and how much money to spend on retrofitting all 6,000 planes in the American commercial fleet with electronic countermeasures to combat the threat. In the meantime, common-sense vigilance is the best defense.
I researched it further and found it only in the two places she mentions. WmShirerAdmirer

Here are some links on this. I tend to think that the allegation is unsubstantiated and we should cease talking about it once and for all. OSI always has to check out this kind of an allegation, of course.

July 25, 2005
Headline: FBI: Tinker Rumor Not Credible
Source: channeloklahoma.com (KOCO5)
URL:http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/4767708/detail.html

July 23, 2005
Headline: Vigilant: Anti-terrorism program keeps base safe
Source: Blackanthem.com
URL: http://www.blackanthem.com/scitech/2005072307.html

July 23, 2005
Headline: Terrorist attack at U.S. air base? (3 spotted aiming rocket launcher at B-1 Bomber)
Source: Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin
URL: http://g2.wnd.com/
NOTE: unsubstantiated

July 21, 2005
Headline: AWACS Plane Lands Safely After Distress Call Reported
Source: Channeloklahoma.com (Koco 5)
URL: http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/4752346/detail.html

July 15, 2005
Headline: ALERT: Danger to US Commercial & Military Aircraft in CONUS
Source: Soldiers for the Truth
URL: http://www.sftt.us/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Unlisted%2edb&command=viewone&id=36

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.

This was all debunked last week.

It's all BS.