Cheyenne Mountain complex may be closed

Gateworld.net ^ | 04/14/06 | Livi Dolgin

[KevinDavis]

The Denver Post reports that the U.S. Defense Department is studying whether to close the real-world facility where Stargate SG-1 is set, because N.O.R.A.D.'s Cheyenne Mountain command post may duplicate the efforts of the newer centers. The war on terror is reshaping the military's response and the facilities necessary.

N.O.R.A.D. (North American Aerospace Defense Command), the U.S.-Canadian partnership that runs it, has a diminished role because of the new facility in downtown Colorado Springs called the U.S. Northern Command, set up in 2002. Creating even more duplication of effort is Canada's own Canada Command.

While the two groups work together, streamlining operations could save $350 million a year. The new command post at Peterson Air Force Base carries out much of the same surveillance, with access to all the same data. That post lies northeast of Cheyenne Mountain. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), FBI, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and others have offices at the new site.

U.S. Navy Admiral Timothy Keating said, "That money could fund important defense projects. We would use it to partner with industry and provide ... a single radio system to link federal, state and local civilian police with military forces."

Stargate Command is housed deep inside the mountain, under N.O.R.A.D., on the fictional television series.

Military analysts say that terrorists may someday weild nuclear weapons. "It still may not be worth the money of burrowing in that deeply," said Michael O'Hanlon, military analyst at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C.

"It actually would be desirable, to be blunt, if terrorists would attack a military command facility rather than a city, but it's not likely to be a target," he said. So combining the two facilities would actually help the situation. Of course, the 800 folks who staff Cheyenne Mountain might disagree.

"I don't know that the N.O.R.A.D. of today is going to be the same N.O.R.A.D. in 2011, five years from now," Keating said.

Who knows -- Stargate Command might need the extra room!

[KevinDavis]

Great, I wonder they are going to put the Stargate at???

[KevinDavis]

[Rokke]

"Great, I wonder they are going to put the Stargate at???"

LOL. Can the media be any more pathetic? With all the history and significance of NORAD, the MSM's first comment concerns NORAD's use to entertainment. More than likely this reporter was asked to do a story on NORAD. "NOR-what?!!?" the intrepid reporter asked. The reply from an equally intrepid colleague..."You know, that place in Stargate".

[KevinDavis]

Even I knew (as many around here) about Norad before Stargate.. To be quite honest, I wasn't aware in how it was setup..

[AliVeritas]

Good one Kev.

[mkjessup]

Can the media be any more pathetic?

Oh you bet they can. The reporter probably considered an interview with the character off of Stargate (don't know him, he's the alien joker with the gold kitchen burner element in his forehead) to see what HE thinks about closing NORAD.

[mewzilla]

Great, I wonder they are going to put the Stargate at???

Well, there's always Area 51 :)

[thoughtomator]

Maybe they could rent out the space to the various MSM editorial boards and production executives. After all, where could they find a better place to bury their heads in a hole?

[TomServo]

"Can the media be any more pathetic?"

You might wanna check out the website. This ain't exactly AP or Reuters...

[Rokke]

"to see what HE thinks about closing NORAD."

Good grief. I can't believe I didn't think of that one. And maybe for some historical perspective on what it all means, they could reunite the cast of "Wargames". I really want to know whay Mathew Broderick's thoughts are on this issue. Or was it Michael J Fox?

[ridesthemiles]

Big mistake, IMO.

[Rokke]

"You might wanna check out the website. This ain't exactly AP or Reuters..."

OK. You got me there. I saw "Denver Post" in the first sentence and pulled a media stunt myself. However, since AP and Reuters have established a solid track record of zero credibility, is it fair to assume "Gateworld.net" isn't at least on par with them as an MSM news source?

[manwiththehands]

I used to work in NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain. A sentimental tear is coming to my eye ...

I don't see the logic behind this decision. CM was designed to withstand anything short of a direct hit from a 10 megaton bomb and survive for 30 days. It seems short-sighted that we would allow the WOT to keep us from thinking that the age of nuclear missiles isn't over yet.

[RadioAstronomer]

I have been in the REAL NORAD.

[RadioAstronomer]

I was there first in 1976 then again in 1994. :-)

(Big change between the two dates)

[Robert A Cook PE]

Ironic that the writer's second biggest concern (outside of Stargate) is the people working there, NOT the defense utility or defense strategy (less nuclear war probability with massed rocket and bomber flights!) that Reagan and Bush earned.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Well, what they are claiming is that the terrorists won't attack Cheyenne Mountain (since it IS a hardened military-control target with no civilians) but rather a defenseless city with millions of innocent (American) lives.

Now, WHAT they ARE forgetting is China's continued threat - in a REAL military sense! And Soviet Union/Russia can come back quickly = Look at Nazi Germany recovering in only a few years from the disastrous climate after WWI.

[rbg81]

of the new facility in downtown Colorado Springs called the U.S. Northern Command

Yes, downtown Colorado Springs is a very secure locaton for Homeland Defense Operations (sneer). Funny thing this. They are moving people out of Arlington, VA in droves -- supposedly because of security concerns. Of course, it could just be about the money.

[rahbert]

at least theres better coffee (BB Bean's) downtown!

[KillTime]

Well, there's always Area 51 :)

I read in the last weeks on some ufo site that Area 51 is closed/closing. Some people who scout that area went past the guard check point unchallanged by anyone since no one was there. Looked like a ghost town.